Chapter 3: The Secret Conversation
I didn’t stay upstairs.
Not because I wanted to cause a scene.
Not because I wanted revenge.
I stayed because I needed answers.
For an hour, I sat alone listening to laughter from below.
Every laugh felt like proof that my absence didn’t matter.
Then I heard Marcus’s voice.
Not inside the house.
Outside.
I quietly opened the bedroom door.
The hallway was empty.
I followed the sound downstairs and stopped near the back door.
Marcus was on the patio.
Talking to Tara.
“I can’t keep doing this,” he said.
My heart started beating faster.
Tara crossed her arms.
“You should have told her years ago.””
Years.
That word froze me.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“I know.””
I stepped closer.
“You knew what?””
Both of them turned.
Their faces changed immediately.
Marcus looked terrified.
Tara looked annoyed.
“Maya…”
“No.””
I stepped onto the patio.
“Years?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Marcus.
“What were you supposed to tell me?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Tara sighed.
“This is exactly why we wanted you upstairs.””
I looked at her.
“So you could talk about me without me hearing?””
“No.””
“Then talk now.””
The silence stretched.
Finally, Marcus said:
“There’s something about before we met.””
I swallowed.
“Before we met?””
“Yes.””
“What about before we met?””
He looked at Tara.
She nodded slightly.
And somehow that made everything worse.
“Maya,” Marcus said, “I had a daughter.””
The world went quiet.
I stared at him.
“A daughter?””
“Yes.””
I waited for more.
But he didn’t say anything.
My mind raced.
“You had a child?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I was going to.””
“When?””
He looked down.
I laughed bitterly.
“After six years?””
“Maya…”
“No. Answer me.””
He didn’t.
Tara stepped forward.
“He was scared.””
I turned toward her.
“Scared?””
“Yes.””
“Scared of what?””
She didn’t respond.
And that was when I realized there was more.
A lot more.
“Where is she?”” I asked.
Marcus looked away.
“She passed away.””
The anger disappeared instantly.
Not because I forgave him.
Because grief entered the room.
“What?””
“She died when she was seven.””
My voice softened.
“How?””
Marcus sat down.
“It was an accident.””
I stared at him.
All those years.
All those conversations about family.
All those moments when I asked if he ever wanted children.
And he carried this entire part of himself alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
He looked at me.
“Because I thought if I told you, you would see me differently.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t get to decide what I can handle.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
I wiped my eyes.
“You lied by omission.””
He nodded.
“I did.””
Behind him, through the window, I saw the guests.
Everyone still celebrating.
Everyone smiling.
Like this was normal.
Like my entire marriage had a locked room inside it.
Then Tara said something quietly.
Something that made my blood run cold.
“Tell her the rest.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Tara.””
“Tell her.””
I looked between them.
“The rest?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Maya…”
A terrible feeling settled in my stomach.
“What else don’t I know?””
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out his phone.
Opened a photo.
And handed it to me.
The picture showed a little girl.
She was smiling.
She had Marcus’s eyes.
And standing beside her…
was Tara.
But that wasn’t what shocked me.
It was the date.
The photo had been taken three months after Marcus and I got married.
And beneath it was a message.
May you like
A message from Tara.
*She can never know what really happened.*
