“I cant believe it! My best friend is Alexs father! Ive raised that boy for over four years, never dreaming he wasnt mine!”
Emily and Victor had loved each other since school. After graduation, Victor went off to flight school in another city, while Emily didnt get in. They called each other every day.
When Victor started flying routes, Emily grew jealous of the beautiful flight attendants. She traveled to his city to make up, and they spent a perfect night whispering sweet nothings. But the next morning, she saw a message from one of his stewardess friendsasking when his next flight was, saying she felt safer when he was the pilot.
Of course, jealousy took over. Emily stormed out in tears.
Victor was offered a job abroadgreat prospects, excellent pay. He agonized over telling Emily hed have to leave in a year. But three weeks later, Emily announced she was pregnant.
Victor proposed. They had a lavish wedding, half the town in attendance. The overseas job was forgottenhis wife wouldnt hear of it.
After the wedding, Victor moved them to London. When their son was born, they took out a hefty mortgage on a flat with his mothers help. He worked endlessly to pay it off and support his family.
“If only Id taken that year abroad! I wouldnt be stuck slaving away! Id have climbed the career ladder by now!”
“Oh, sure, Vic! Im here with the baby while youre off entertaining new women on flights?” Emily snapped.
“Youre exhausting with your jealousy! If Im with you, Im with youno one else!”
The fights were endless. After every flight, shed pounce, checking his phone for evidence. Three years in, Victor quit flying to become an instructor at the aviation academy. On weekends, he drove a cab.
For her peace of mind, he gave up his dream. He did everything to be the best father and husband.
One day, Victor missed a mortgage payment. Rummaging for the bank agreement in Emilys absence, he found more than he bargained fora paternity test.
“What is this?” he muttered.
Results: ChildAlex Victor Thompson. Alleged FatherAndrew Michael Bennett. Probability of Paternity99%.
“I cant believe it! My best friend is Alexs father! All these years, raising a son who isnt mine!”
He didnt know how to react, how to even ask her.
“Hi, love!” Emily kissed him, but he barely acknowledged her.
“Alex, dinner. Then the playground,” he said flatly.
“Darling, whats wrong?” she laughed nervously.
“Dinner. Then Im taking Alex out.”
She didnt understand.
“Vic, did something happen at work? Another trip? Why wont you talk to me?”
“Dont feel like it.” He stood and walked away.
Emily followed, pestering him.
“Are you joking? You cant just shut me out! Im your wife! Explain yourself!”
“Yes, my wife! How could you keep this from me? I gave up everything for you! For this family! I havent seen my mates in years!”
She stared, wide-eyed.
“Does he know? But how?”
Two months passed. Victor couldnt stand being near her. But how could his best friend have kept this secret?
The truth was, Andrew had always fancied Emily. He made no secret of it. Months before the wedding, he married someone else, knowing Emily would never be his. At every gathering, he danced with Emilynot his wife.
Victors mother once remarked, “Oh, Emily, you and Andrew wouldve made such a lovely pair!”
Emily laughed it off. “Dont be silly! Im married to your son! We have a child! We love each other!”
“You do, I see. But why is it always Andrew helping you? Why never your husband?”
“Youre righthes always working. Andrew never says no.”
“Emily, dear, I love my son. I wont let anyone deceive him. Somethings not right in your marriage.”
“Margaret, youre imagining things!”
But Margaret had noticedAlex had the same birthmark as Andrew. As he grew, the resemblance became undeniable. Shed secretly arranged the test, collecting Andrews glass and the boys DNA during a visit.
Late one night, she confronted Emily.
“I knew it! How could you betray my son? Does Andrew even know he has a child? Youve ruined Victors life! Tell him, or I will!”
Emily begged. “Please dont wreck our lives! It was one stupid nightVictor and I were fighting. I didnt think Andrew had nothingno career, no money. I did it for the baby. Please, dont hurt Alex!”
Margaret left in tears, heartbroken for her son.
Emily, panicked, hid the test results in the documents, never thinking Victor would see them.
On her way home from work, she resolved to confess. But Victor was gonehis things vanished. Only a new remote-control car sat on Alexs bed.
“Mum, wheres Dad?”
“Business trip, love,” she lied, then rushed to the balcony and wept.
She called him, voice trembling. “Vic, please, lets talk!”
“Dont bother. Im devastated. I love AlexIll support him. But I cant live with you. All these years of lies I gave up everything. You destroyed my trust. If not for Alex, Id never speak to you again.”
“Victor, please!” The line went dead.
When Alex missed his father, Victor took him for weekends. Emily cornered him.
“Remember that fight over the stewardess? I went out with friends, got drunk ended up at Andrews. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. His wedding was a week later. He said to forget it. When I saw the test, I thought Alex was yours. But your mother I tried to bury it. Its Andrews faulthe always envied you! Please forgive me!”
“Theres no forgiveness. I dont want to hear it.”
Victor returned to flying. Within months, he filed for divorce. He sent gifts from his travels, supported Alex financially. No one told Andrewhe moved abroad with his wife. Now, like her ex-husband, he was gone.
One reckless night had shattered trust, love, and friendship. Victor lost his best friend and his wife.
Emily lived wellthe flat, money, a car, a top school for Alex. She had everything. Except love.
She tried countless times to win him back. Victor, wary of repeating mistakes, struggled to trust again. Eventually, he reached the heights hed always dreamed of.
Life takes strange turns. Was Emily right to hide the truth? What would you have done?
