My Boyfriend's Secret Family

Two kids in my class got into an argument and started fighting.

I got pushed to the ground by one of them.

I had no choice but to call both children's parents in.

After the two mothers arrived, things got even more heated.

Clutching my aching stomach, I called my boyfriend and asked him to come pick me up.

The call was quickly disconnected.

Then he sent me a text: "In a company meeting. We'll talk tonight."

One of the boys' mothers also called her husband.

Ten minutes later, her husband rushed over.

He pulled that mother into his arms and gently comforted her:

"Baby, don't be upset. I'll handle this."

The next second, he looked up.

Our eyes met, and I nearly collapsed.

This man was none other than Ethan Riversthe man I'd been dating for eight years.

Ethan stared at me for a few seconds, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes.

I'd been too weak from the pain before, but in that moment I was so shocked I forgot about the agony.

Ethan lowered his head and asked the woman in his arms, "What happened?"

The woman quickly explained the situation. After hearing her out with a frown, Ethan efficiently called in a lawyer and even contacted the police. A whole crowd of people arrived.

My gaze fixed on Ethan at the center of the group. I watched him comfort the mother and son in his arms, watched him handle the trouble with swift decisiveness.

His eyes occasionally landed on me, only to quickly look away.

Before long, the other parent was defeated and left with their child, utterly humiliated.

The boy's mother's tears turned to laughter. She stood on tiptoe, cupped Ethan's face, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you! You always drop everything to save me!"

Ethan naturally wrapped his arm around her waist. "I promised when I married you that I'd take care of you for life."

The little boy also hugged Ethan's leg, calling him the best dad.

My lips turned pale, my fingers trembling slightly.

A thousand questions stuck in my throat, but seeing this happy family of three before me, I swallowed them all downlike swallowing shards of glass, tearing me up inside and making me bleed.

Just then, the boy's mother came over with her child's hand in hers and said to me, "Sorry for causing you trouble, Teacher. My son pushed you earlier too, right? To apologize, my husband and I would like to take you out for a meal."

I instinctively looked at Ethan. He frowned as our eyes met and gently shook his head.

I looked at him, my voice hoarse. "Sure."

Ethan's brow furrowed instantly, but I turned my head away.

The boy's mother came over and took my hand, then smiled. "I'm young, so my husband treats me like his second child. Whenever either of us has problems, we only turn to him."

I nodded bitterly, thinking about how during our eight years together, knowing how busy he was building his business from nothing, I never dared trouble him with anything big or small.

When I taught at the school and was trapped in the office by unreasonable parents hurling abuse, I could only bow and apologize to the parents and children over and over. When gastritis struck late at night while I was writing lesson plans, I went to get an IV alone. When I moved, I carried all my luggage up to the sixth floor by myself, just wanting to set up our first home together after we started living together.

These memories never made me feel bitter because I thought he was working hard for our future.

But now, at this moment, it all seemed like a joke.

The boy's mother made a restaurant reservation and pulled me to the garage. I'd never seen Ethan drive the car in front of us.

Before getting in, she realized she'd forgotten the child's backpack and turned back to get it.

I stood beside the car, my stomach still hurting badly. I held onto the car door to steady myself.

I looked up and saw Ethan's anxious face. He urgently asked me, "What's wrong?"

I pushed him away, but then his son called out "Dad."

He immediately let go and, after glancing at me, turned and got in the car.

After getting in the car, the boy's mother introduced herself: "I'm Bethany White, and my husband is Ethan Rivers."

She seemed very interested in me and asked, "Joanna, do you have a boyfriend?"

I stared at Ethan in the driver's seat. His eyes met mine through the mirror.

I answered, "Yes. We've been together for eight years. He chased me for two years."

"Wow, a ten-year relationship!" Bethany exclaimed. "Ethan and I met four years ago, got married four years ago, and our son is four years old too!"

"Ethan and I fell in love at first sight. I got too drunk at a bar and ran into Ethan... That was my first time. The next day, he was still asleep when I snuck back to my dormI was still in college then. Later I found out I was pregnant. I was so panicked I didn't know what to do, so I went to find him. Ethan was so responsiblehe immediately said he'd take me to get our marriage license and take care of me forever."

Ethan freed one hand and ruffled her hair. "Alright, you talk too much. You have to tell everyone about these things."

She playfully grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "What's wrong? Are you embarrassed?"

Hearing her words felt like knives precisely stabbing into my heart.

Back in college, Ethan and I had just gotten together.

The first time, he refused to use protection, insisting he wanted to "really feel my presence."

I was coaxed and half-persuaded by him.

Half a month later, I found out I was pregnant.

Back then, Ethan stared at the pregnancy test showing two lines and smoked for half the night. Finally, he knelt before me, his voice hoarse: "Let's terminate it. We can't afford to raise it right now."

An abortion was too expensive, so we could only choose medication.

The medication abortion left me in agony. What's more, the doctor informed us that I would have difficulty getting pregnant again.

After learning the consequences, Ethan slapped himself over and over, saying he was inhuman. He slapped his handsome face until it swelled badly, then stared at me with those deep eyes and swore: "I, Ethan Rivers, will only ever be good to Joanna in this life. I'll be good to Joanna Clarke forever. If I can't do that, may I die without anyone to mourn me!"

Recalling all this, I looked at the four-year-old boy beside me.

How come the person who betrayed true love didn't get his comeuppance?

Bethany booked a Japanese restaurant.

This was my favorite restaurant. I'd brought Ethan here many times, and we'd promised to keep eating here until we grew old.

As Bethany walked inside, she told me, "This is the first restaurant Ethan brought me to. After eating here once, I fell in love with it. We come here often."

She sat down, and Ethan and their son Zachary naturally sat beside her.

Ethan's gaze still occasionally fell on me. He seemed afraid I might say something.

I lowered my head and took a sip of tea, but my hand was shaking. Bethany added me on SnapChat and chatted warmly with me.

She seemed to intentionally or unintentionally show off their affection in front of measking Ethan to serve her food one moment, then leaning on his shoulder the next.

Ethan cooperatively and attentively peeled shrimp and placed them on her plate.

I remembered him saying he was allergic to seafood and didn't like it, so I, who grew up by the sea, stopped eating seafood too.

I suddenly realized Ethan and I hadn't eaten together like this in a very long time.

He was busy every day, so busy we rarely even saw each other.

In the past year or two, he said he was staying at the company, so we'd be living together much later.

Just then, Bethany looked up and asked me, "Joanna, why haven't you and your boyfriend gotten married after dating for eight years?"

I raised my head and met Ethan's gaze.

"He said he wants to wait until his career is stable before starting a family."

Those were Ethan's exact words.

He built his business from scratchthe entire company was something he fought for himself. I understood how hard he worked and believed in our relationship, so I never brought up marriage.

Who would have thought he'd already been married for four years behind my back?

Bethany's face glowed with happiness. "Ethan and I got married so fast. The day after I told him I was pregnant, he ordered a ring and proposed to me."

I suddenly felt like all my understanding before had been a joke.

"That's enough." Ethan suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat stiff. "Stop talking."

Bethany froze, then pouted pitifully. "You're being mean to me..."

Ethan sighed and ruffled her hair. "I'm not being mean to you. Just eat."

Watching this scene, I suddenly felt my stomach churning.

"I'm going to the restroom."

I stood up, my legs somewhat weak.

Bethany was still acting cute and didn't notice my expression. Ethan's gaze followed me, but I pretended not to see.

The restroom lights were brightblindingly bright.

I leaned against the sink and looked down to discover bloodstains on my pants.

My mind buzzed.

My stomach still ached dullyit hadn't stopped since the tutoring center. I'd thought I'd just hit the corner of a desk, but now it seemed much more serious.

I pulled out my phone and called my best friend. "Nina... are you still busy? Could you come pick me up? I think... I'm sick..."

Nina immediately panicked. "Send me your location! I'm coming right now!"

I gave her the location, hung up, and leaned against the sink.

Everything I'd experienced today left me physically and mentally exhausted, deeply distressed.

Just then, the restroom door was pushed open.

It was Ethan.

His expression showed a flash of guilt and panic.

"Joanna," he spoke first.

I looked at him without saying anything.

He took a step closer. Seeing I didn't resist, he tried to reach for me.

My reaction was quickthe next second, I slapped him hard across the face.

He turned his head aside, pressed his lips together, and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, but it's not what you think."

My voice was very soft. "Then what is it?"

He tried to move closer again. I dodged slightly, but he looked hurt.

"Four years ago, someone got me drunk. When I woke up the next day, I didn't remember anythingjust that some young woman came into the wrong room. Then Bethany found me."

"She was only twenty that yeartoo young. She cried so much and told me she didn't know what to do. She was so youngI couldn't let her ruin her whole life because of me."

I couldn't help itI slapped him again. "Ethan Rivers, do you remember how old I was when you made me have an abortion?"

He looked blank for a moment. My tears fell. "I was only nineteen."

His eyes immediately reddened, and his voice dropped very low. "I'm sorry, Joanna."

"Back then the doctor said you'd have difficulty getting pregnant again, so I treasure this child."

"Ethan Rivers." I cut him off. "Let go of me."

He didn't let go.

"I'll spend more time with you after I finish up some work. Don't make a scene now, okay?"