Mum, please don’t shout like that—the neighbours will hear! Oliver tried to calm down Evelyn, but she was waving her arms around like she was swatting invisible flies.
I don’t care about the neighbours! Her voice trembled with anger. Do you even realise what you’ve done? Do you?
Mum, let’s just talk properly—
Talk properly? Evelyn clutched her chest. Your dad died thirty-five years ago, I raised you and your sister on my own, worked my fingers to the bone! And what do you do? You tear this family apart!
Lydia stood by the kitchen window, listening to the argument, trying not to show how every word from her mother-in-law cut straight to her heart. Oliver had brought his mum over to their house to break the news, but instead of a calm conversation, it had turned into a full-blown row.
Mum, I can’t keep living a lie, Oliver said, sitting at the table, fists clenched. Natasha’s pregnant. I’m going to have another child.
Another child! Evelyn threw her hands up. And what about Emily? Your own daughter?
Lydia turned away from the window. The mention of her daughter made her step in.
Where’s Emily now? she asked quietly.
Sleeping over at her friend’s, Oliver replied, avoiding her gaze. I’ll pick her up tomorrow.
Pick her up? Lydia repeated. Pick her up to go where?
To my place. To me and Natasha.
Evelyn sank into a chair like she’d been struck.
Good Lord, what’s happening… Oliver, snap out of it! You’ve got a wife, a home, a proper family! And this… this woman, who is she?
That woman is the mother of my child, Oliver said firmly. And I love her.
Lydia felt something inside her snap. She’d known about Oliver’s affair for six months, had hoped it was just a fling, that he’d come to his senses. But the mistress being pregnant changed everything.
Lydia, I’m sorry, Oliver finally looked at her. I never wanted it to end like this.
You never wanted to? She let out a bitter laugh. What did you want, then? To keep two families at once?
I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn’t know how—
How? How to say you fell for someone else? That you got bored of your wife after fifteen years of marriage?
Oliver stood up and walked over to Lydia.
I didn’t get bored of you. It’s just… with Natasha, it’s different. She’s young, fun—
And I’m old and dull, is that it? Lydia stepped back. Past forty and suddenly not good enough?
It’s not about age—
Then what is it? Explain it to me, Oliver. Tell me what I did wrong all these years.
Evelyn got up and stood between her son and daughter-in-law.
Enough! she snapped. Oliver, have you lost your mind? Your daughter’s twelve! You want to take her father away?
I’m not taking anything. Emily’s coming to live with me.
With *me*, Lydia corrected. Our daughter stays with me.
We’ll see about that, Oliver frowned. I can give her more.
Give her more? Lydia couldn’t believe her ears. You mean money? When we’re talking about our child?
Exactly. Natasha doesn’t work, the baby’s due soon. I’ll need help with Emily.
Right, Lydia nodded. So you need our daughter to play nanny for your newborn. Convenient.
Don’t twist my words!
Then how else should I take it? First, you leave your wife, then you try to take our child so your mistress doesn’t have to lift a finger—
Oliver turned on her sharply.
Don’t you dare talk about Natasha like that! She’s a wonderful woman!
Wonderful, Lydia agreed. So wonderful she took someone else’s husband.
No one *took* anyone! We met, we fell in love—
Where? Evelyn suddenly cut in. Where did you find this beauty?
Oliver hesitated.
At work. She… she came in for a secretary job.
A secretary, Evelyn repeated. For the department head. Right. And how old is she, may I ask?
Twenty-six.
Twenty-six, Evelyn shook her head. You’re forty-three, Oliver. She could be your daughter.
Age doesn’t matter when you’re in love!
Love? Lydia laughed. You think she loves you? Or is it your job and your salary?
Stop it! Oliver exploded. You’re just jealous I’m happy with someone else!
Silence filled the kitchen. Lydia looked at him like he was a stranger. Was this really the same Oliver she’d spent fifteen years with? The one who’d sworn eternal love, promised to be there forever?
Fine, she said quietly. If you’re happy, then go. But Emily stays with me.
She’s my daughter!
Your daughter lives with her mother. You can see her on weekends.
I’ll take you to court!
Go ahead, Lydia shrugged. Let’s see what the judge thinks of a father who abandoned his family for a young secretary.
Oliver clenched his jaw and said nothing. Evelyn went over to Lydia.
Luv, forgive him, he’s an idiot, she said, taking her hands. He’ll come to his senses. This is just a phase.
No, Mum, Lydia pulled her hands away. He won’t. And I don’t want him to.
What do you mean? You’re a family!
We *were* a family. Now he’s starting a new one.
Oliver grabbed his jacket from the rack.
I’ll come for my things tomorrow, he said.
Fine. I’ll leave them in bags by the door.
Lydia…
What?
I’m sorry it turned out like this.
So am I. Sorry for the wasted years.
He left, slamming the door. Evelyn stayed behind with Lydia.
I can’t believe my son would do this, the older woman muttered. I’m so ashamed.
Lydia put the kettle on. Her hands shook, but she held it together.
Mum, don’t worry. What’s done is done.
How can I not worry? I love you like my own daughter! And little Emily… what do I even say to her?
The truth. That Dad fell in love with someone else and lives with her now.
But she’s just a child…
A child who deserves honesty. No more lies in this family.
Evelyn sighed and sat back down.
What will you do now? It’s hard raising a child alone.
I’ll manage. Plenty of women do.
Maybe don’t rush the divorce? Maybe he’ll change his mind?
Lydia set a cup of tea in front of her.
Mum, he said he loves her. That she’s pregnant. What’s left to think about?
Men are fools, luv. They chase after some young thing and regret it for the rest of their lives.
Maybe. But that’s his problem, not mine.
You’re so strong… I’d be a wreck in your place.
I don’t have a choice. Emily’s watching. I can’t fall apart in front of her.
They drank their tea in silence. Evelyn kept shaking her head, while Lydia thought about how to explain to Emily tomorrow why Dad didn’t live with them anymore.
Luv… have you seen her? That Natasha?
Yes. Pretty, young. Long hair, slim figure…
Figures. Textbook story.
Yeah. Midlife crisis, young mistress. Straight out of a drama.
How long’s it been going on?
Six months, maybe longer. I noticed this spring—working late, hiding his phone.
And you never said anything?
What was there to say? I hoped it’d pass. Thought it was just a fling.
Oh, luv… You should’ve talked to him properly.
Would it have helped? When a man’s in love, words don’t matter.
Evelyn finished her tea and stood.
I should get home. Don’t overthink things, alright? I’ll help however I can.
Thanks, Mum. None of this is your fault.
It is. Must’ve raised him wrong. No father figure, just me. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t understand responsibility.
Lydia walked her to the door.
Mum, don’t blame yourself. Oliver’s a grown man. His choices are his own.
Alright. Night, luv. Try to get some rest.
Evelyn left. Lydia locked the door, leaned against it, and finally let herself cry.
Fifteen years of marriage. Fifteen years of plans, dreams, hopes. All gone in one night.
She went to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. Half of Oliver’s things were already missing—he must’ve been moving them bit by bit to his mistress. Lydia started packing the rest into boxes.
Suits, shirts, ties. Things she’d ironed, washed, bought.And as she folded the last of his shirts, the tears finally dried—because sometimes the end of one love is just the quiet beginning of learning to love yourself again.