Chapter 3: The Woman In The Picture
The woman’s name was Elena.
My mother told me that before Marcus met me, he had been engaged.
Not casually dating.
Not “seeing someone.””
Engaged.
I sat across from my mother in the hotel lobby, staring at the photograph between us.
“Why didn’t I know this?””
My mother looked exhausted.
“Because Marcus said it was over.””
“When?””
“Years ago.””
I laughed quietly.
“Years ago?””
She nodded.
“Before you two met.””
I pushed the photograph away.
“Then why is she important?””
My mother hesitated.
That hesitation made my chest tighten.
“Mom.””
She looked at me.
“Because she’s the baby’s mother.””
The world went silent.
I stared at her.
“What?””
My mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“Marcus told me the pregnancy was unexpected.””
I stood.
“No.””
“Nia—”
“No.””
I grabbed my purse.
“You’re telling me I found a pregnancy test, and now you’re telling me there is another woman?””
My mother reached for me.
I stepped away.
“I don’t know which part hurts more.””
Her hand dropped.
“The fact that you betrayed me,” I whispered, “or the fact that you both kept making me feel crazy.””
I walked outside.
Marcus was waiting near the entrance.
I stopped.
He looked like he hadn’t slept.
Good.
For the first time, I didn’t care if he was hurting.
“Nia.””
I held up the photograph.
His face changed.
“You know her?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You know her.””
“Nia, listen.””
“No.””
People walked around us.
Cars passed.
The entire world continued while mine collapsed.
“Who is Elena?””
Marcus looked away.
“She was my fiancée.””
I laughed once.
A painful sound.
“Your fiancée.””
“It ended.””
“When?””
“Before you.””
“Then why is my mother showing me a picture of you two?””
He rubbed his jaw.
“Because she’s pregnant.””
I stared at him.
“And?””
His silence was terrifying.
“And what, Marcus?””
He looked at me.
“She came back.””
The words made my stomach turn.
“She came back?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“A few months ago.””
I took a step closer.
“The same time you started sleeping with my mother?””
His face tightened.
“Nia, it wasn’t planned.””
“Nothing ever is with you.””
He looked hurt.
I almost hated that.
Almost.
“Did my mother know?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer cut deeper.
“How long did she know?””
Marcus didn’t respond.
I already knew.
My mother hadn’t just hidden the affair.
She had hidden the entire story.
That night, I went back to my apartment.
Our apartment.
The place where Marcus and I had planned our future.
His shoes were still by the door.
His coffee mug was still beside the machine.
His jacket was still hanging in the closet.
I walked into the bedroom.
On my side table was a framed picture from our anniversary.
We looked happy.
I hated that picture.
Because it proved something terrifying.
A person could smile while destroying you.
Then I noticed something.
The closet door wasn’t fully closed.
Inside was a small box.
I had never seen it before.
I pulled it out.
Inside were documents.
Bank statements.
A second phone.
And a letter.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The letter began:
“Marcus, I don’t understand why you’re still pretending she doesn’t know…”
I stopped breathing.
The letter wasn’t from Elena.
It was from my mother.
I read the next line.
And suddenly the betrayal became much bigger than an affair.
May you like
Because my mother hadn’t just been involved.
She had been helping him hide something from me.
