Emily found out she was pregnant. Her husband, George, stayed by her side throughout the entire pregnancy, fulfilling every wish and whim. Finally, the big day arrived, and George drove Emily to the maternity ward. When a healthy baby girl was born, he sighed with relief. Overjoyed, the new father headed home to rest. The next day, he returned to visit his wife and daughter.
“Shes not here,” the nurse suddenly informed him.
“Thats impossible!” George refused to believe it. “Maybe she stepped out somewhere? Please look for her!”
“No, shes gone. Heres a note,” the nurse replied, handing him a folded piece of paper. George unfolded it and turned pale at what he read.
George, the sales manager, had been unmarried when he first met young, beautiful Emily. She had just started working in his department, and he was instantly smitten.
“Good morning, colleague,” he said with such warmth that Emilys gaze lingered on him.
“Good morning,” she replied softly, smiling back.
“I see youre settling in. Oksana here will show you the ropesshes our senior staff member.” He nodded toward her. “Familiarise yourself with the job description. Best of luckI hope well work well together.”
The mostly female team watched their boss with curiosity. Once he left, Oksana whispered to Vera,
“Since when does George take such an interest in new hires?” Both women giggled.
Emily observed quietly at first. A new workplace, after all. She wasnt shy, just cautious.
At twenty-two, she had already ruined a few marriagesstarting as early as seventeen. Even in college, shed entangled herself with a much older professor before he ended it when rumours reached his wife.
Time passed, and one day George asked her out for coffee after work.
“Why not? Youre my bossgood relations are essential,” she replied with a sweet, innocent smile.
At first, he thought she was joking. But she agreed, and he was thrilled. At thirty, George had never marriedrelationships never went that far. This one moved quickly. He fell hard, they dated, and soon shocked their colleagues by announcing their wedding.
George granted Emilys every demandeven her ultimatum.
“No children for now. I want to focus on myself. When Im ready to be a mother, Ill tell you. Until then, no nappies or baby clothes.”
George assumed shed change her mindthat a family wasnt complete without children. But time passed, and Emily refused. Every time he broached the subject, she shut him down.
“Darling, I warned you from the start. You agreed. Stop nagging meIm not ready.”
Then, one day, he saw her upset, stepping out of the bathroom with a pregnancy test in hand.
“Emily youre pregnant?”
She nodded.
Overjoyed, he swept her into his arms. But she burst into tears.
“I dont want this. I dont want to get fat. You have to do something.”
He held her close, kissing her tear-streaked cheeks.
“Dont be angry, dont crythis is happiness. I love you, Emily. Were going to have a baby!”
But Emily was determined. She made an appointment to terminate the pregnancy. George rushed to the hospital just in timeshe hadnt entered the doctors office yet. They argued fiercely before he pulled her outside.
“Please, Emily! Dont do this. Let our child be born. Ill support you in everythingI promise!”
She agreedon one condition: no nappy changes, no night feedings. He stayed by her side throughout the pregnancy, tending to every need. Finally, the day cameGeorge drove her to the hospital. Only when their healthy daughter arrived did he exhale in relief.
Elated, the new father went home to rest. The next day, he returned to find Emily gone.
“Your wife isnt here. She leftabandoned the baby.”
“That cant be!” George insisted. “Maybe she went outlook for her!”
“No, shes gone. Heres her note.” The nurse handed him a folded paper. George opened it and paled.
Three words: “Dont look for me.”
Emily vanishedno calls, no visits. A month and a half later, she phoned.
“Pack my things. My friend Arthur will collect them. File for divorce yourselfI wont show up.”
She never mentioned their daughter. The child meant nothing to herjust like George. So, he became both mother and father to little Alice. Luckily, his own mother lived nearby, helping wherever she could.
Then one day, Sophias phone rang. It was Daniels teacher, Mrs. Williamsher son was in second grade.
“Come to the school immediately. Your son has caused trouble!”
Sophia grabbed her bag, left work, and hurried to the school.
“What could Daniel have done? Hes such a calm, well-behaved boy,” she thought as she rushed over.
Daniel had defied all oddsborn despite doctors warnings. Before their wedding, her husband, Edward, had confessed he was infertile, even producing a medical certificate. This was his third marriage.
“Well, doctors can be wrong,” Sophia had reasoned, marrying him out of love. Shed even considered adoption but hadnt mentioned it yet.
Edwards first marriage lasted six monthshed accused his wife of infidelity (correctly). His second wife left after his diagnosisshe wanted children. So, hed been honest with Sophia.
Yet Sophia became pregnant. Overjoyed, she rushed to Edward with the proofeight weeks along.
“Edward, were going to have a baby! See? Doctors can be wrongwell have our little one! Im so happy!”
His reaction stunned her.
“Happy? Why? Because youve cheated on me?”
Eventually, Edward calmed down.
“Fine. A family needs a childeven if its not mine.” He refused to believe Daniel was his.
Sophia stopped arguing. When Daniel was born, she was relievedespecially since he looked just like Edward. Yet his resentment grew.
“Youre a cheat. Go to the real fatherlet him raise you!” Edward would shout.
Sophia did a paternity testproving Edward was the father. But he accused her of bribing the results. Finally, she left, taking Daniel to her mothers. Edward tracked her down. She moved across townhe found her again. She filed for divorce and fled to another city, rebuilding her life.
Now, Daniel was a well-behaved second-graderuntil this phone call.
At school, Sophia found Daniel sitting outside the headmasters office with another father and his daughterAlice, the classs top student.
Daniel had a scratch on his cheek. Alice glared at him.
“Hello,” Sophia greeted them as Mrs. Williams approached.
“At last. Daniel pushed Alice”
“Mum, she started it! She called me names and stuck her tongue out. She even hit me first!”
“Dad, I didnt” Alice protested.
“Alice, enough,” her father cut in.
“Daniel, apologise to Alice.”
“Alice, youre at fault too.”
The children stood stubbornly until Mrs. Williams sighed.
“Parents, perhaps you can resolve this?”
“We will,” Sophia and the other father said in unison, then laughed.
“Im George, Alices father.”
“Sophia, Daniels mother.”
“Alice, Im sorry,” Daniel mumbled.
“Im sorry too,” Alice said, nudging his hand.
“Well done,” the parents chorused, laughing again. The children smiled.
“This calls for celebration,” George said. “How about pizza?”
“Mum, lets go!” Daniel urged.
Alice nodded. “We really are friends now. Right, Daniel?”
“We believe you,” Sophia assured, exchanging a glance with George.
The children chattered happily over pizzaalready friends.
“Anyone bullies you, tell me,” Daniel declared. Alice grinned.
The parents didnt dwell on it. Instead, they found themselves drawn to each other. More meetings followedcinema trips, park walks, visits to each others homes.
The children noticedperhaps even before their parents did.
Time passed.
Sophia and George often reminisced about that first meeting, joking how well their childrens quarrel had turned out.
Sometimes, misfortune leads to happiness.
Now, Sophia was expecting a baby boy. Daniel and Alice had already picked a nameBenjamin.
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