Seven Years' Lie

It was our seventh Thanksgiving together, and my husband still wouldn't take me to meet his family.
Whenever I brought it up, he’d just laugh it off.
Things are different now, you know? It's good to have healthy boundaries.
Honey, you married me, not my family.
Marriage is just about the two of us. As long as we love each other, that's all that matters.
"Besides," he'd add, "isn't it better this way? You don't have to deal with my parents, I don't have to deal with yours. No awkward family get-togethers. It's perfect."
He said it with such conviction that I never doubted him.
Not until the next day, when my mom insisted I go to a birthday party for the son of a cousin I hadn't seen in seven years. There, I saw my husband, Liam, playing joyfully with a five-year-old boy who looked exactly like him.
My breath caught in my throat. With a trembling hand, I pulled my Aunt Carol aside.
"Is that my cousin's husband? And that little boy... is that their son?"
Aunt Carol beamed. "Yes! They've been together for six years now."
"They were living abroad, but I heard they came back to finally make it official."
"You should go say hi to your cousin and her husband!"

1
Across the crowded room, my eyes met Liam’s. He froze.
A moment later, my cousin, Jessica, looped her arm through his and walked toward me. She smiled at my dazed expression.
"You must be Evelyn, right? It's been so long."
She tightened her grip on his arm. "This is my husband."
A flicker of unease crossed Liam's face, but he said nothing.
A loud ringing filled my ears, and my mind went blank. The party buzzed around me, a chaotic noise I couldn't process. Jessica's smile was gentle, but I could see the mockery glinting in her eyes, as if mocking me for ever thinking I stood a chance.
Seeing my silence, she tilted her head. "You look pale. Are you feeling alright? Maybe you should go lie down for a bit."
She snuggled closer to Liam. "You don't mind, do you, honey?" she asked, her voice dripping with affection.
Liam reached out and gently tapped the tip of her nose. "You asked so nicely," he murmured. "How could I say no?"
Watching them, so intimate and familiar, I wanted to scream at him, to demand an explanation. But the words were trapped in my throat.
The man who called me yesterday to say he was going on a business trip was standing right here, at my cousin's son's birthday party. And he wasn't just a guest. He was her husband.
And the father of her six-year-old son.
Then what was I?
Seven years. For seven whole years, I'd been played for a fool.
No wonder Liam had to "travel for work" every month, gone for weeks at a time. No wonder he always had an excuse to avoid my family.
He already had another one.
All his talk about boundaries and it being "just the two of us"—it was all a lie. A convenient excuse.
I forced the storm of emotion down, lifting my head to stare at Liam, silently pleading for him to say something, anything.
He gave me a cold, dismissive glance. "Miss, if you're not feeling well, you should go rest. We won't have time to take you to the hospital if something happens."
My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. A sharp pain bloomed in my chest, and my eyes began to burn.
Jessica looked from me to Liam, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's wrong? Do you two... know each other?"
"No," Liam said instantly.
His quick denial was so sharp it was almost comical. A bitter, sarcastic smile touched my lips.
Just then, the little boy ran over and threw his arms around Liam’s leg.
"Daddy, can you play with me?" he chirped, looking up with adoring eyes. "Mommy can't play anymore. She has a baby sister in her tummy."
Liam’s body went rigid. His eyes darted to me for a fraction of a second before looking away. He bent down, ruffling the boy’s hair. "Of course, Leo. Daddy will play with you."
Leo jumped with glee, then turned to Jessica. "Mommy, will you watch us?"
Jessica's smile was radiant. "Of course, sweetie."
I stood there, completely numb.
Leo tugged Liam away, leaving me alone with Jessica. The mask of kindness fell from her face, replaced by a smug, triumphant smirk. She reveled in my shell-shocked expression, one hand resting protectively on her stomach.
"Did you know," she began, her voice a low, vicious purr, "that ever since I moved abroad, Liam flew out every single month to see me? He rented the apartment right next to mine, just so he could take care of me."
"And that was before we were even... official."
"You two have been married all this time, and you still don't have kids, do you? He told me the only children he'd ever claim would be mine. Any child from another woman's womb... he wouldn't acknowledge."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Honey, it's best for everyone if you just... know your place. Don't you think, Evelyn?"
My entire body was frozen. Every time Liam and I had been together, he’d insisted on using protection. I wanted a baby, but he always said the time wasn't right, that we should wait.
And now, he had a child. Just not with me.
Across the lawn, Leo turned and waved. "Mommy, come on!"
Jessica called back sweetly, then turned and practically threw herself into Liam’s arms. He caught her, steadying her as he whispered something in her ear. She blushed and hugged him tighter.
Watching the perfect little family against the warm, thirty-degree day, I felt a chill so deep it was like I'd been plunged into an icy abyss.

2
My gaze was locked on the picture-perfect family across the lawn.
Perhaps sensing my stare, Liam glanced up. His eyes met mine for a fleeting moment before he quickly looked away.
A bitter, self-mocking laugh escaped my lips.
It was a kind of self-torture, but I couldn't look away. I just stood there, burning the image of them into my memory.
My phone vibrated. A text from Liam.
I'll explain everything when I get home.
It's Leo's birthday. Please don't make a scene. Just go home. Be good, okay?
A wave of nausea washed over me. I gripped my phone, my knuckles white, but didn't reply.
Liam glanced in my direction again, then slipped his phone back into his pocket. As if nothing had happened, he went back to laughing and playing with his son.
The party was filled with relatives. I couldn't blow this up in front of everyone. The gossip would destroy my parents.
After they finished playing, Jessica came and sat across from me. Liam followed, pouring her a glass of water from a thermos.
"Warm water again?" Jessica pouted, leaning against him playfully. "It's so hot today, I want something iced. Just a little sip, please?"
It felt like a performance put on just for me.
Liam glanced at me, then looked down at her, his voice softening to a tender murmur. "No way. You've got our baby in there. No cold drinks for you."
Jessica didn't seem upset by the refusal. "Fine," she sighed, feigning disappointment.
I remained silent, lowering my eyes to hide the hatred brewing within.
In seven years with Liam, I had never seen this side of him. So gentle, so attentive, his eyes filled with a love so profound it was tangible.
He had never, ever looked at me that way.
We met at work. He was my boss, and I was his intern. I truly fell for him during a client dinner. One of the client's executives kept pushing drinks on me, and as the night wore on, he became more aggressive. His hand was about to land on my thigh when Liam stepped in.
He raised his own glass, smiling apologetically at the man. "Mr. Wallace, I'll be your drinking partner tonight. Please, give my assistant a break."
Liam ended up drinking half a bottle of liquor that night. He threw up the moment we stepped out of the hotel.
I still remember what he told me. "You have to be smarter in the corporate world," he'd said. He taught me how to navigate the office politics, how to handle the old sharks, how to be everything to everyone. My success today was, in large part, thanks to him.
I eventually left that job for a new company. The next time I saw Liam, he was on the client side. We started seeing more and more of each other. He was the one who pursued me.
We were married within two months.
I thought he loved me. Reality was a brutal slap in the face.
"Evelyn," Jessica's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She propped her chin on her hand, a sly smile playing on her lips. "I heard from your mom that you got married too. Why didn't you bring your husband? My Liam would love to have a drink with him, chat a little."
A passing aunt overheard. "Evelyn, you're married?" she asked, surprised. "When did that happen? How come none of us knew?"
My eyes shot to Liam, then back to Jessica. A cold, sardonic smile stretched across my face.
"I am," I said. "But he died."
The aunt looked mortified, stammering an apology for her tactlessness. "Oh, well... you can always get married again."
"I know," I said with a thin smile.
Liam's face had turned to stone. I pretended not to notice.
Jessica stared at me, her hand still linked with Liam's. "You always did have a dark sense of humor," she said smoothly. "Right, Liam?"
Without even glancing at me, Liam stroked her hair. "I don't care about other people," he said softly. "None of this has anything to do with me."
My heart clenched. I turned my gaze back to Jessica, my voice just loud enough for those nearby to hear.
"You're right, I do love to joke. For instance, I bet nobody here knows that you're a homewrecker, right cousin?"
The air went still. Relatives' eyes darted between us.
I just smiled at her.
Jessica's eyes widened, her face flushing as her eyes welled up. "Evelyn, I just asked you a simple question! Why would you say something so horrible? My husband is right here, how could you say that?"
I fought to keep my voice steady. "Jessica, why are you reacting like that? It was just a joke. Unless... did I hit a little too close to home?"
Liam's gaze was ice. "Miss, if you continue to slander my partner, I will not hesitate to contact my lawyer."
I met his eyes. The man I had loved looked at me without a trace of affection. There was only a chilling coldness.
Jessica’s mother was the first to react, pointing a finger at me. "Evelyn, you've gone too far! Jessica is your cousin, how dare you speak to her like that? I'm calling your mother to ask her how she raised you!"
I turned to her with a placid smile. "Auntie, it was just a joke." Then, back to Jessica. "My cousin isn't offended, are you?"
"Miss," Liam cut in, his voice dangerously low, "you are not welcome here. Please leave."
The whispers started, relatives murmuring about my outrageous behavior. The pain in my chest was so intense I could barely breathe.
Liam helped Jessica to her feet and turned to leave without a second glance.
His son, seeing his mother upset, grabbed a water gun and sprayed me directly in the face.
"Bad woman! Stop being mean to my mommy! Stop being mean to my mommy!" he shrieked. "Go away! Daddy said you're not welcome here, you bad woman! Go away!"
My carefully applied makeup ran in streaks down my face. My hair was ruined, my clothes soaked through. I was a pathetic, dripping mess.
Jessica's mother grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.
"Get out and go home!" she hissed. "You're not welcome here. Go have your mother teach you some damn manners."

3
On the way home, my phone rang. It was Liam.
I answered to the sound of his impatient voice. "Evelyn, what the hell are you trying to do? I told you I would explain when I got home. What was the meaning of all that?"
"You knew Jessica was pregnant! Did you have to provoke her like that?"
I listened in silence.
Liam took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly. "She doesn't know about us. Just wait for me to get home and I'll explain everything, alright?"
"Just... stay home and cool off until I get back, can you do that? The doctor said she can't handle any stress; it's bad for the baby. This pregnancy hasn't been easy for her, so please, don't upset her anymore."
A laugh burst out of me, sharp and humorless. Tears streamed from the corners of my eyes.
A difficult pregnancy. What a perfect, noble excuse to protect his mistress. I never thought I'd hear such a ridiculous, self-serving line from my own husband.
I wiped my eyes. "Liam," I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "are you actually defending your mistress to me right now?"
"And your son..." I paused, another laugh bubbling up. "Does he know he's a bastard?"
Liam exploded. "Evelyn, is that a threat?"
I didn't answer, just watched the scenery blur past my window.
How laughable. I speak the truth, and he calls it a threat.
He must have realized how harsh he sounded, because he softened his voice again. "Evelyn, just wait for me. I'll explain when I get back."
In the background, I heard Jessica's voice. "Liam, honey? Who are you talking to?"
He hung up immediately.
A second later, a text arrived.
Go home and calm down. I'll be back tomorrow to explain. Evelyn, be good. Don't make this difficult for me.
I laughed. A bitter, empty sound. Even his explanation had to wait until tomorrow.
To avoid making things "difficult" for him, I made a call of my own. To my lawyer.
I told him to draw up the divorce papers.
Liam didn't come home until late the next evening. He found me sitting on the sofa and paused, his hand hesitating as he set down his briefcase.
"You're still up?" he asked, his tone as gentle and caring as always.
If it weren't for the nightmare of yesterday, I might have believed I'd imagined it all.
He moved to touch me, but I flinched away.
My eyes fell to the wedding band on his right ring finger. A smirk tugged at my lips.
When we were first married, he wore his ring all the time. But eventually, he took it off, claiming it got in the way at work.
A lie. The truth was he didn't want anyone to know he was married.
But now, he was wearing a ring that matched Jessica's. The irony was suffocating. He refused to acknowledge me, his legal wife, but proudly wore a ring for his mistress.
Liam withdrew his hand, his expression hardening with impatience as he looked down at me.
"It's not what you think... with me and Jessica."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "She's had a hard life, Evelyn. She doesn't have a loving family like you do. Her mother was abusive, constantly threatening to marry her off to the first man who'd take her."
"I was just helping her."
I stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. What a noble, self-righteous excuse for cheating. Helping her.
I met his gaze, my voice thick with scorn. "Fine. You want to help her? Then sign this." I threw the divorce papers onto the coffee table in front of him. I'd already signed my name. "We're getting a divorce."
"Once you sign, you can help her all you want."
Liam stared at me, then let out a long sigh and shook his head. "I'm not divorcing you. And besides..."
A confident smirk spread across his face. "Your parents would never agree to it."
Before I could process what he meant, my phone rang.
It was my mother. The second I answered, her shrill voice pierced my ear.
"Evelyn, are you trying to divorce my son-in-law?!"

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