Love's Bitter Truth

My husband, Jonathan Rivers, was a notorious playboy in Polesburg's elite circles. Beautiful women surrounded him constantly, yet he claimed to have fallen for me at first sight, saying it was a love that would last forever.

He dismissed all the other women around him for my sake. Everyone said I was his destined soulmate.

Seven years into our marriage, I had seven abortions for him, simply because he said he did not like children.

Then on Father's Day, I saw him on his secretary's social media feed. The same man who claimed to be away on business was there with a child beside him, calling him "Daddy" loudly.

It turned out that when he said he did not like children, he meant that he did not like children with me.

I dialed his number through tears. "Do you want another wife?"

A definitive answer came from the other end of the phone.

After hanging up, I wiped away my tears. Jonathan's secretary had sent me a text message. It was a family photo of the three of them in front of an amusement park. The child's face was identical to Jonathan's.

Linda Walsh's explanation followed immediately. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Rivers. I sent that by mistake. Please don't misunderstand.”

"Mr. Rivers only pitied Henry for not having a father, so he lied about the business trip to come play with us."

I saw through her clumsy misdirection immediately.

"It's fine. He's just an illegitimate kid, I suppose. Growing up without a father was probably what made him call just anyone 'Daddy.' You should really teach him better manners, Ms. Walsh."

Jonathan called me the next moment.

"Claire Young, what nonsense are you spouting? Henry isn't illegitimate. He's my kid!"

Hearing those words, my already frozen heart was pierced with a sharp sense of pain.

"Back then, I dismissed all of the women around me for you, including Linda.”

"She went overseas alone to give birth to Henry to avoid affecting our relationship. Think of all the hardships she and the child endured!"

Jonathan could see their seven years of suffering, but he could not see the pain I endured through seven abortions for him.

Linda's soft sobbing came through the phone. "Mr. Rivers, your wife doesn't like Henry and I, does she? It's my fault. I shouldn't have given birth to Henry. I made him bear the stigma of being illegitimate from birth.”

"I'm bringing Henry home tonight. From now on, Henry will be my legitimate child!"

Jonathan's voice brooked no argument. Without waiting for my reply, he hung up.

I sat on the couch in a daze. Tears fell like broken pearls, soaking my clothes. I stared at the seven ultrasound photos on my phone, as if they were silently mocking my helplessness.

That night, Jonathan kept his word. He brought Henry Rivers home, along with Linda, who accompanied them.

They wore matching family outfits from the park, as if they were a real family of three, and I