«Repeat what you just said?»
Emma stood in the middle of the living room, her fingers gripping the back of an armchair. She stared unblinkingly at James, the man she had spent nearly twenty years withthe man she thought she knew inside out. They had no childrenfirst, it was «not the right time,» then «we should wait a bit longer,» and eventually, it just never happened. They had weathered it all together: the mortgage, home renovations, tough times, and rare holidays. Their marriage had seemed steady and dependableno grand passions, but warm, familiar closeness.
James sighed heavily. He winced, as if from a toothache, and looked at Emma with guilt before repeating himself slowly, as though explaining something complicated.
«A few years ago, I had a fling.» He avoided her eyes, studying the carpet pattern instead. «It was stupid, a mistake, a moment of weakness. You remember how rough things were between us back then? I slipped up, and Ill admit I messed up And now shes resurfaced.»
Emma stayed silent, her insides twisting into a tight knot as she braced for what was coming.
«She found me and told me I have a daughter,» James continued, still not meeting her gaze. «Shes three years old.»
The world tilted beneath Emma. Right then, in that very moment, her life and marriage were crumbling apart.
«Em, I swear to you,» James stepped closer, reaching for her hands, «I feel nothing for that woman. I love only you, and Ill stay with you. Understand? Ill help the child financiallykids shouldnt pay for adults mistakesbut I dont need them. I only need you.»
Emma sank into the chair, arms wrapped around herself. Hot tears streaked down her cheeks, but she didnt notice them. James crouched beside her, hesitantly touching her shoulder.
«We can start fresh, Em,» he whispered, his tone almost pleading like a childs. «It was just a mistake, a slip. Shes no threat to us. I promise. Forgive me, love»
It took Emma months to forgive him. Her love was stronger than the pain and humiliation. She truly believed they could fix thingsthat twenty years of marriage couldnt collapse over one stupid mistake. James was so grateful, so tender, that Emma almost convinced herself the worst was over.
But time proved otherwise. James began disappearing more often»just dropping off a gift for the little one,» or «theres a nursery play, I cant miss it.» Soon, he spoke of the girl with a smile Emma hadnt seen on his face in years. Then he started mentioning the mother, warmth creeping into his voice.
«Sophies doing wellshes a great mum,» James said over dinner, cutting into his bangers and mash. «And little Lily looks just like me. Same eyes, same dimples, even the same stubborn streak.»
Emma tried to ignore how James was changing, how his eyes lit up at the mention of his daughter and her mother. But her pain sharpened with each passing day. He stayed late after work, vanished on weekends, cancelled their rare evenings alone. Emma realised she was fading from his life, replaced by the woman who had given him the one thing she never could.
The breaking point came the evening they were supposed to go to the theatrea rare outing Emma had been looking forward to for weeks. Shed bought a new navy-blue dress for the occasion, styled her hair just right. Hope flickered in her chest that things might still mend.
But an hour before they were due to leave, James called. She knew before he spokethe play was off.
«Lilys running a feverforty degrees,» James said quickly, nerves in his voice. «Sophies panicking; the GP wont be here for two hours. I have to go. You understand, dont you?»
He didnt return until morning. Emma knew hed spent the night in another home, under the same roof as that woman and their child. She could no longer pretend everything was fine.
«You only think about them now!» Emma shouted, arms flailing. «Her, your daughter, anything but me! When did you last ask how I was? When did we last spend a weekend together? When did you even kiss me?»
James began to justify himselfno guilt in his voice now, only weariness, irritation at having to explain the obvious.
«Emma, come on shes my child. My daughter. I cant just ignore her needs. I cant not be part of her life.»
That was when Emma realised his «mistake» had long ceased to be one. Sophie and Lily had become part of Jamess world, possibly the most important part. And Emma? She was a shadow now, a relic of the past.
«What happened to your promises?» she asked quietly, sitting across from him. «You swore they meant nothing. That you loved only me. Remember?»
James rubbed his forehead, silent. The longer the pause stretched, the louder it spoke.
«I thought that was trueI didnt lie,» he finally admitted. «But Ive fallen for my daughter. Lilys clever, funny and Ive fallen for So» He cut himself off, realising his slip.
«And?» Emma pressed, though she already knew the answer. «Finish that, Jamie.»
«And Sophie too,» he murmured. «Ive realised what a real family iswhere theres a child, a future.»
The words hit Emma like an icy wave. James hadnt just grown to love the child. Hed fallen for her mother too. This was no mere fling, no financial obligation. He had a second family. And that was the end of everything.
«Youre sleeping with her.» It wasnt a question.
James nodded, eyes down. No point pretending anymore.
«And what am I, then? Not family?» Emma stood, steel in her voice. «Twenty yearsis that nothing?»
«Emma, its different when theres a child,» James defended. «You wouldnt understand!»
«Oh, so thats how youll talk to me now?» Emmas voice rose, all her pain bursting free. «Every time I brought up kids, you had excusescareer, money, bad timing. Now suddenly our marriage isnt enough?»
James looked at her helplessly.
«Yeah, I was wrong then. But now I have a daughter. And youll have to accept that. We can figure something out. We dont have to»
«Dont have to what?» Emma laughed bitterly. «Divorce? What will your precious Sophie say? Though, why ask? She had a baby with a married manclearly shame means nothing to her!»
«Dont talk about Sophie like that,» James snapped. «Shes a good woman. A wonderful mother.»
«And I was a bad wife? Fine, have it your way!»
Emma had endured enough. She turned and marched to the bedroom to pack. James followed, watching helplessly as she flung clothes into a suitcase.
«Emma, lets talk properly. No need for rash decisions. Maybe theres a compromise.»
«Rash?» She didnt look up. «Ive put up with your double life for three years. Watched you become a stranger. Ive tolerated it too long. Let myself be humiliated. While you two»
«Where will you go?» James asked weakly. «The flats in both our names. You cant just leave.»
«Ill take halfthe laws on my side after twenty years,» she said coldly, zipping the suitcase shut. «Then you can run off to your new family. But I wont lie to myself anymore.»
James reached for her arm, but Emma jerked away as if burned.
«I never meant for this to happen. It just did. I didnt plan to fall in love.»
«Nothing just happens,» Emma cut in, lifting her bag. «You chose your daughter and your mistress. Now live with it.»
A month later, divorce papers signed, Emma moved into a small two-bed flat across town. The place was bright but empty. The first days passed in eerie silence. She wandered the rooms, unused to being alone.
She had to relearn how to live for herselfbuying groceries for one, cooking small meals, sleeping in an empty bed.
At the park, she watched mothers with prams, kids on swings. She realised James had robbed her of the chance to have her own child.
But she refused to give up. Her phone browser held tabs for adoption agencies. Somewhere out there was a child waiting for the love she still had to give. She believed it would happen. And one day, shed have a family againreal, honest, and whole.
