Husband's Lies, Mistress's Son

ith his mistress, Karin, and a son who was his spitting image. For y

or began at my ow

e. The assault caused me to miscarry the baby Arthur swore he nev

ide, his eyes b

ping up his son and leaving me

isper. "I made sure you'd lose the baby." Then, she

en but alive. As the world mourned the "accidental drowning"

acc

pte

the soft laughter of my husband, Arthur, holding anothe

ncing in the air. I was supposed to be lost in my latest composition, but my eyes snagged on a scene

woman. Her head was tilted back, her smile wide. In his other arm, a small boy, perhaps four years old, was cradled. T

od ran

annels regularly. What was she doing with Arthur? And that child... that little boy. He was a miniature Arthu

r. "Elenora, darling," he'd purr, his voice a low rumble, "my career is just taking off. A child now would be unfair to them

anceled dinner. They weren't political. They were family dinners. They were bedtime

attering onto the table. No one noticed. They were all too bus

rousel, not at a balloon vendor. At me. He giggled, pulling away

lying. Hot, milky liquid splashed across my pristine white blouse, soaking into t

d, his innocent face

"Leo, darling, what have you done?" Her eyes, however, f

t? Arthur's... wife." The word 'wife' was a venomous whisper, an insult. "Such a clumsy boy. He just gets so excited arou

e to fight, to rage. But my body froze. Numbness spread through my limbs

my ruined work, my shattered composure, and a lifetime of lies behind. The fres

y. Arthur' s desk was meticulously organized, as always. But something gli

sky in vibrant hues. A perfect family vacation. He'd told me he was at a political conference in D.C. that week

my chest until I could barely breathe. My world didn'

d residency at the Vienna Conservatory. A dream I' d put on hold for Arthur.

a new kind of resolve. I found the old email, the one offeri

"Hey, gorgeous. Wrapping up a meeting. Looks like I'll be late

was at a charity gala, a glittering affair downtown for prominent political figures. He'd told me it was an optional, low-key

on stage, a practiced, charming smile plastered on his face as he introduced Karin. She was radiant, draped in emerald

break this time.

lingering on Arthur, "have built something truly special together. A partnership, professionally and personally, t

he pulled him close. And she kissed him. Right there, on stage, under the

from shock, but from the sh

recisely like a mini Arthur. He was playing with a toy train set, giggling maniacally. I watched him, a morbid curiosity guiding my feet

y, look!" he chirped, "The ugly lady!" He giggled, then deliberate

er lips. "Good job, sweetie," she cooed,

orially. "Remember, Leo, we don't want Elenora to ever be happy, do we? Not when we have Daddy all to ourselves." Leo no

ing about our future. How could I have been so blind? Every tender touch, every loving gaze, every

is name flashed on the screen, a cruel

e a little too cheerful, a little too loud. "Long night of s

yes. "Is that

sting. Can't wait to be

ble, cut through his forced cheer. "Daddy,

hed. "Uh, Elenora, gotta go. Emergency. Work thi

asn't just accepting the residency now. I was going to disappear. And I was never, ever

just go. I w