AnnaMaria
For seven years, Emma and Daniel lived what everyone believed was a loving marriage. They shared dreams, loyalty, and a quiet longing for the one thing missing in their life: a child.
Daniel’s mother, Margaret, never let anyone forget it. Traditional and uncompromising, she was convinced that if a couple couldn’t conceive, it was always the woman’s fault. She never once suggested Daniel should be evaluated—she had already decided Emma was barren.
“If you can’t give my son a child, he should find another woman,” Margaret would say sharply.
Daniel always played the role of the gentle, supportive husband in front of Emma.
“Children are blessings,” he would reassure her. “It will happen when God allows it.”
Emma believed him—until reality shattered her trust.
The First Shock
The day Emma saw two pink lines appear on her pregnancy test, she broke down in tears. Seven years of waiting, and finally her miracle had come. She carried her secret for three months, wanting to follow tradition and surprise the family.
But when she shared the joyful news, she walked into a nightmare.
Daniel arrived home with another woman— also visibly pregnant.
Standing before his mother, he announced coldly:
“She’s carrying my child.”
Margaret’s shock turned into unrestrained joy. She rushed to the woman, questions spilling out in excitement.
“How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks,” the woman replied.
Emma whispered shakily, “Mom… I’m pregnant too.”
Margaret turned to her, expression freezing over.
“What? That’s ridiculous. Who even knows if you’re telling the truth?”
The DNA Test
The next morning, Margaret issued her decree:
“Both of you will take a prenatal DNA test. This family does not raise children of uncertain blood.”
Neither Emma nor the other woman protested. Emma simply felt numb.
Three days later, the envelopes arrived. Margaret tore them open herself.
She skimmed Emma’s results without reaction.
Then she opened the second envelope— and her face drained of colour.
“No… this can’t be…”
Even Daniel looked startled.
“Mom, what does it say?”
Margaret slapped the paper onto the table, hands trembling.
“That child—she’s carrying—has no blood relation to our family!”
Silence fell. The mistress broke into sobs. Daniel staggered back, whispering, “Impossible…”
But the truth was undeniable.
The Awakening
Margaret slowly looked at Emma—real remorse filling her eyes.
“So… all these years, I blamed the wrong person.”
Daniel dropped to his knees before Emma.
“I was wrong… please forgive me… for the baby…”
Emma stood there, hollow inside. She felt no rage—only disgust for the years she spent suffering quietly beside the wrong man.
The Final Decision
She signed the divorce papers that same day.
Margaret clung to her.
“Stay—for the sake of my grandchild… for this family…”
Daniel begged desperately.
“I’ll make it right, I swear…”
Emma shook her head.
“This family stopped being mine long ago.”
With a single suitcase—and the child quietly growing within her—she walked away.
Epilogue
Years later, Emma lives peacefully in another city, raising a healthy little boy. She has a stable job, a calm life, and a heart finally free.
As for Daniel—he divorced the mistress and lives in regret. Margaret, frail and lonely, has no one beside her.
But none of that matters to Emma anymore.
She learned one thing the hard way:
Sometimes, walking away is the only way to truly live.
