“And I’m your wife!” I shouted, my voice cracking under the weight of betrayal. “I carried this baby. I nearly died giving birth to him, and you have the audacity to say this to me?”
Ethan’s face remained unreadable. “I’ll be back when I’m ready to talk,” he said, turning and walking out.
As soon as he left, I collapsed in tears. I called my best friend, Lily, and told her everything. She was furious.
“This isn’t normal,” she said. “Something’s going on, Claire. You need to find out the truth.”
At Lily’s insistence, I hired Lydia, a private investigator. Two days later, Lydia called with devastating news.
“Claire,” she said, her voice steady but serious, “Ethan’s been living a double life.”
My hands trembled as she explained. Ethan had been siphoning money from my inheritance, supporting another woman and their three children. He had married me for financial security, and his family had orchestrated the entire plan.
Worse, Lydia discovered that Ethan had sabotaged some of my fertility treatments. He never wanted me to get pregnant.
I felt like my entire life had been a lie. Every memory, every loving gesture, now seemed tainted. I had blamed myself for our struggles to conceive, while Ethan had been actively working against me.
When Ethan finally came home days later, I was ready. Divorce papers sat neatly on the kitchen table.
“Claire?” he called, sensing the shift.
“I’m here,” I said, holding Liam close.
“Look, I’m sorry,” he began, his tone insincere. “I said things I didn’t mean. I was stressed. Let’s start over.”
“Interesting,” I replied coolly. “What are your three kids’ names?”
His face went pale, and for the first time, his mask slipped. He stammered, but no words came out.
“Save it,” I said, cutting him off. “The papers are on the table. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Ethan left that day, and with the help of my lawyer, I ensured he wouldn’t take another penny from me. The house, the cars, the businesses—they stayed with Liam and me.
Weeks later, I sat in the nursery, rocking Liam to sleep. His tiny hand curled around mine, and I whispered softly, “You’ll never grow up doubting your worth, little one. I promise you that.”
From the wreckage of my marriage, I found something unbreakable: my son and a future filled with hope, free from lies and betrayal.