Ten Years Together: A Journey of Love and Choices

George Slater and I had been together for nearly ten years, from college days to marriage. Our relationship had always been strong, and today, I underwent surgery to honor our decision to remain childfree before marriage.

Over these ten years, we'd had frequent unplanned pregnancies, which led George to suggest I undergo sterilization.

"How are you feeling, honey?" George asked gently, bringing me a bowl of chicken soup.

"I'm feeling better, but I'm worried about my employer. I took time off, and she might be overwhelmed on her own," I replied.

"Look at you, always worrying about others even when you're on leave. When will you change this habit? Drink the soup first, and I'll make you something to eat," George said, leaving the soup before heading out.

Meeting him had been the luckiest thing in my life. He had always been so thoughtful and gentle, and had even taken time off from work to take care of me.

After George left, I lay down, but then I heard a message notification from the phone on the bedside table. I entered the password and opened it casually.

The message was from Karina Powell, my employer, and it was a photo of her one-year-old son, Timmy.

What was going on here?

Only then did I realize I was holding George's phone, not mine. We had identical phones, and the passwords were the same.

Karina is a single mother. I heard that her child's father abandoned her after she got pregnant, leaving her to raise Timmy on her own. At George's recommendation, I worked as a nanny at her house for over a year.

It made sense for George to have Karina's contact, but why would she send a photo of her child to him?

Could it have been a mistake?

Just then, another message came in from Karina, "I'm struggling to handle the child alone. Hurry up and come over."

I was stunned, still processing when I heard George's voice from outside.

"Honey, have you seen my phone?"

The phone felt like a hot potato, and I quickly put it down.

"It's here."

George walked in, and I could sense a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Let me check the time. After I prepare your meal, I need to go to the office."

"If you're busy, go ahead. I just finished the soup and I'm not hungry," I replied, pretending to be calm.

"Alright, I'll head out for a bit. We're out of salt, so I'll go to the supermarket. I'll be back before you get hungry," George said, glancing at his phone before quickening his pace.

We'd been together for ten years, and he was always been calm and composed. Just a glance at his phone made him so flustered. It showed how much he cared.

I had a bad feeling, but I refused to believe my suspicions.

After he left, I got up and searched through his things. Eventually, I found his briefcase left behind in the living room.

I immediately emptied its contents, and a green pacifier rolled out.

This pacifier was all too familiar to me. I remembered it had Timmy's name engraved on it. I had spent an entire day searching for this pacifier at Karina's house, only to find it in George's briefcase.

In that moment, it felt like the world was collapsing.

When did George and Karina start their affair? And whose child is Timmy? I needed to find out, and I had to do it quickly.

I decided to go to Karina's house to get to the bottom of this.

I arrived at her apartment and, as soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I heard a familiar voice around the corner.

"Honey, you're so busy taking care of her that you've forgotten about me and our son. I'm exhausted handling him alone. Have her come take care of the child."

I hid around the corner and saw George standing at the door with Karina holding his waist, complaining.

"I took her to get sterilized so you'd stop worrying. You said she shouldn't have my children, and besides, her genes aren't good enough to have my children," George replied.

My legs went weak, and I leaned against the wall for support. Just yesterday, I had a miscarriage and underwent sterilization, and now George was here, saying that I wasn't worthy of having his children.

"Alright then, give me back the six thousand dollars I paid her yesterday," Karina added.

"Darling, I transfer ten thousand dollars to you every month, and that includes the six thousand I took from her. She's practically taking care of our child for free. Just bear with it for a bit longer. Once the mortgage is paid off in three years, I'll divorce her and marry you," George said.

I gritted my teeth in anger, feeling like my blood was boiling. I had become the free nanny for a cheating husband's mistress and their illegitimate child!

I couldn't take this humiliation. I was determined to catch them in the act today.

"You're speaking so loudly. Hurry up and come inside," Karina said, glancing around nervously before pulling him inside and closing the door.

I quickly took out the key to Karina's apartment, opened the door, and stepped inside.

I won't deny that I was anxious at that moment, fearing I might break down in tears.

Ten years of unwavering trust had been repaid with deceit; I had wasted the best years of my life.

Karina looked shocked to see me suddenly arrive.

"What brings you here?"

I glanced around but didn't see George, so I sat down on the couch.

Karina's apartment wasn't large-just two bedrooms and a living room, about ninety square meters. It was easy to find someone here.

I looked towards the curtains by the balcony next to the couch. Just as the wind blew them aside, a man's foot was exposed.

I quickly withdrew my gaze and changed my plan. If I confronted them now, I wouldn't have enough evidence to make the cheating husband leave empty-handed.

I knew Karina's place well. It was summer, and the sun was scorching. The balcony outside was right next to the air conditioner's exhaust vent. With the temperature at 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit and the heat from the air conditioner, the outside temperature was at least 113 degrees.

Since he wanted to hide, I let him hide to his heart's content!

I stood up deliberately and walked over to the curtains, pulling them shut as I pretended to be concerned.

"I was worried you couldn't handle Timmy alone, so I came to check on you."

I stood by the curtain, not moving, imagining George outside, tense and sweating profusely.

"I can manage on my own. Timmy is napping. There's nothing urgent. You should go home and rest," Karina said, nervously eyeing the curtain, afraid of being exposed.

I wanted to make them uncomfortable today.

"I'll stay here and keep you company, and if Timmy wakes up, I can help with him." I said, sitting back down on the couch.

"There's no need, really. You just got out of the hospital. Go home and rest well. I'm hoping you'll recover soon so you can help me take care of Timmy," Karina insisted.

"Look at you, still being so polite after all this time. By the way, didn't you meet that man I introduced to you a few times? How did it go? Timmy needs a father!" I said, deliberately raising my voice.

That was right! This was meant for George outside to hear!