The Sales Manager, Edward, was unmarried, so when he saw young and beautiful Emily on her first day in his department, he fell for her instantly. He approached her with a warm smile.
“Good morning, colleague,” he said, his tone so kind that Emily couldn’t help but meet his gaze.
“Good morning,” she replied softly, returning his smile.
“Right then, get settled in. Katherine will show you the ropes—she’s our senior here,” he nodded toward her. “Familiarize yourself with the handbook. Best of luck—hope we’ll work well together.”
The team, mostly women, watched curiously as their usually reserved boss took such an interest. The moment he left, Katherine whispered to her desk-mate, Rebecca, “Since when does Edward fuss over new hires?” They both stifled a laugh.
Emily kept to herself at first, observing the dynamics. At twenty-two, she was young but already experienced—having broken up two marriages by seventeen. Even in college, she’d tangled with a much older professor until rumours reached his wife, forcing an end to it.
Weeks later, Edward asked her to join him for coffee after work.
“Why not?” she smiled. “You’re my boss, and it’s good to stay on friendly terms—build connections.”
Her smile seemed genuine, and Edward, thrilled she’d agreed, didn’t suspect a thing. At thirty, he’d never married, though he’d had relationships. This one moved fast—dating, falling in love, and soon, the office was stunned when they announced their wedding.
**Edward’s Married Life**
He indulged Emily’s every whim, even accepting her condition:
“No children yet. I want to live for myself. When I’m ready, I’ll tell you. Until then, no nappies or baby clothes.”
Edward believed she’d change her mind—what was a family without children? But time passed, and she refused. Each time he broached the subject, she cut him off sharply:
“Ed, I warned you upfront. Don’t nag me about kids. I’m not ready.”
Then one day, he found her distressed, holding a positive pregnancy test.
“Emily, you’re pregnant?” She nodded.
Overjoyed, he swept her into his arms, but she burst into tears.
“I don’t want this! I won’t be some fat cow. Fix this!” But he held her close, kissing her tear-streaked cheeks.
“Don’t be angry, love. This is happiness. We’re having a baby!”
Yet Emily was resolute. She booked an appointment to terminate it. Edward rushed to the clinic just in time, pulling her outside in a heated argument.
“Please, Emily. Let our baby live. I’ll help with everything—I promise.”
Reluctantly, she agreed—on condition she wouldn’t change nappies or wake at night. Edward doted on her throughout the pregnancy, fulfilling every demand. When the time came, he drove her to the hospital. Only after their healthy daughter, Lily, was born did he finally relax.
Exhausted but happy, he went home to rest. The next day, returning to visit, the nurse stopped him.
“Your wife’s gone. She left the baby behind.”
“That’s impossible!” Edward refused to believe it. “Maybe she stepped out?”
“No. She left this note.”
Emily vanished—no trace at work, home, or calls. Only a month later did she ring.
“Pack my things. My boyfriend, Daniel, will collect them. File for divorce yourself—I won’t show up.”
No mention of Lily. She didn’t want the child—or Edward. So he became both father and mother to little Lily, with help from his nearby mum.
**Sophia**
Sophia’s phone rang—Mrs. Thompson, her son Daniel’s teacher.
“Come to the school at once. Your son has caused quite a scene,” she snapped before hanging up.
Sophia grabbed her bag, left work, and rushed over.
“What could Danny have done? He’s usually so calm,” she wondered.
Her son was a miracle—born despite doctors’ warnings. Before marriage, her husband, James, had admitted he was infertile, even producing medical proof. This was his third marriage.
“Well, doctors can be wrong,” Sophia had thought, marrying him for love. If they couldn’t have children, adoption was an option—but she kept that to herself.
James’s first wife had partied excessively, ending their six-month marriage. The second left after tests confirmed his infertility—she’d wanted children desperately. So James had been honest with Sophia.
Yet against all odds, Sophia conceived. Overjoyed, she raced home with the eight-week scan.
“James, look! We’re having a baby! Doctors can be wrong!”
His reaction stunned her—a slap across the face.
“Joy? You’re cheating, and you call this joy?” He raised his hand again as she shielded herself, sobbing.
Later, he calmed down. “Fine. A family needs a child, even if it’s not mine.” He refused to believe the baby was his.
Sophia stopped arguing. When Danny was born, looking just like James, he remained sceptical. At first, he’d tolerated the boy, even playing with him. But soon, the outbursts returned.
“You slept around! Who’s the real father? Why’d you put my name on the birth certificate? Make him pay!”
Sophia begged, pleaded, but the tirades continued. Danny grew up hearing the shouts, even crying at his father’s rage.
“Go to your real dad! Let him feed and clothe you!”
Sophia obtained a DNA test proving James was the father, but he scoffed:
“You bribed them! I’ll expose you!”
Finally, she took Danny and left. But James tracked her to her mother’s, then a rented flat across town. She filed for divorce, enduring endless humiliation before fleeing to another city.
Only then did she breathe freely. Danny grew into a well-behaved boy—until that school call.
Rushing in, she found Danny and a man outside the head’s office, alongside Lily, his classmate—a top student. Danny had a scratch on his cheek; Lily glared at him.
“Hello,” Sophia said as Mrs. Thompson arrived.
“At last. Daniel pushed Lily—she fell and hurt herself.”
**Reconciliation**
“Mum, she started it! She called me ‘fatherless’ and scratched me! You said not to hit girls, but—”
“Dad, I didn’t!” Lily protested, raising her hand threateningly before dropping it.
“Lily, stop,” her father said.
“Danny, apologise to Lily.”
“Lily, you too.”
The children stood stiffly, still simmering.
“Parents, perhaps you can settle this?” Mrs. Thompson suggested.
“We will,” Sophia and Edward said in unison, then laughed.
“I’m Edward, Lily’s father.”
“Sophia, Daniel’s mother.”
“Lily, sorry,” Danny muttered.
“You too,” Lily said, touching his hand.
“Well done,” the parents chorused, laughing again as the children smiled.
“This calls for pizza,” Edward declared.
“Mum, yes!”
Lily added seriously, “We really are friends now. Right, Danny?”
“We believe you,” Sophia said, exchanging a glance with Edward.
Over pizza, the children chattered happily, already friends. Danny even vowed, “If anyone bothers you, tell me.”
The parents, amused, didn’t dwell on it. They’d taken a liking to each other too.
**Epilogue**
Time passed. Edward and Sophia often laughed about their first meeting—how fortunate their children’s quarrel had been. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Sophia was now expecting a boy. Danny and Lily had already named their future brother—Stevie.
