After what felt like ages, a nurse came with the results. The nurse handed her an envelope and left. “This is the truth, and I have to accept it, like it or not,” Liora thought as she opened the envelope.
Her head spun when she saw the words, “Paternity rate – 99%.”
Liora looked at the sleeping baby in her arms and swallowed her tears. Martin had cheated on her and kept it a secret. Liora decided she wouldn’t live with the proof of his betrayal forever.
She would find the baby’s mother and give the child back. Gathering her strength, Liora drove home and started going through Martin’s things. But she found nothing about his lover.
She checked his office next, looking through drawers, files, and cabinets. Still nothing. Liora sighed.
The baby was asleep in the living room. Taking the baby monitor, she went to Martin’s car. She searched under the seats, in the glovebox, and every corner.
But she found nothing important. Liora sank into the driver’s seat when she noticed the GPS. Then it hit her.
Martin was awful with directions and always used the navigator. If he’d visited his lover’s house, her address would be there. Liora checked the recent destinations on the GPS.
The list was short, mostly familiar places: local restaurants, the hardware store, and Martin’s office. But one address caught her eye—it showed up more than the others, and she didn’t know it. “This has to be it,” she thought.
She took the baby and drove to the address. When she got there, Liora stood in front of a small house. She picked up the baby, walked to the front door, and knocked.
“Hello? Anyone home?” she called. After knocking ten times with no answer, Liora figured the house was empty.
She looked around and decided to ask the neighbors. She started with the house next door and rang the doorbell. The door creaked open, and Liora’s eyes widened when Denise stepped out.
“You?” Liora asked. “How…how did you find me?” Denise stammered. “I was looking for my husband’s…” Liora paused.
“His other woman. I wanted to give her baby back.”
A strange sadness crossed Denise’s face. “The woman next door… she passed away a few days ago.
She had a heart attack when she heard about your husband’s accident. Emily is gone.”
“Wait…did you say Emily?” Liora asked, shocked. “Yes,” Denise nodded.
“Did you know her?”
“Was…Was her last name Warren?”
When Denise nodded, Liora lowered her head in shame. “Can-Can I come in?” she asked. “There’s something I want to tell you.
I need to talk.”
Denise opened the door wider, and Liora stepped inside. They sat in the living room. “Emily was my classmate,” Liora began, sharing her past.
“She was my friend, too. But I hurt her and…Martin…”
20 years ago…
Liora and Martin were in their school’s hallway. She was by her locker when Martin walked up.
“Hey, Liora,” he said quietly, and she turned to him. “I…I need to tell you something,” Martin said, sounding nervous. “Hey,” she smiled.
“What’s up?”
“I…I’m in love with someone else, Liora,” he admitted. “You’ve been great, but I’m sorry.”
Liora was stunned. “Tell me you’re joking, Martin,” she cried.
“You can’t mean this!”
But Martin was serious. He was head over heels for Emily, and Emily loved him back. Liora was so upset that day that she went home crying.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Her mother could tell something had happened at school. Sobbing, Liora told her how Martin had broken up with her. “I want to break them up!” she yelled.
“I won’t let them be together!”
“Liora, you can’t find happiness by ruining someone else’s,” her mother said. “Revenge won’t help. Let him go.”
But Liora was burning with the need to get even.
Over the next few days, Liora tried everything to pull Martin and Emily apart—she spread silly rumors, planned run-ins where she’d act confident, and even sent secret notes to stir up jealousy. But nothing worked. Emily seemed happy, lost in her world with Martin, and Liora was left on the outside, her plans falling apart.
Still, Liora wouldn’t give up. One night, she thought of the perfect way to come between Emily and Martin. “Hello, Liora, how are you?” Liora visited Martin, and his mother opened the door.
“I’m okay, Mrs. White. Is Martin home?”
“Yes, dear.
Let me get him.”
Martin was confused to see her at his door. “Liora? What’s going on?”
“I know this will shock you, Martin, but…I’m-I’m pregnant!” she said.
Martin was stunned and scared. “What…Are you sure?”
When she nodded, Martin let her inside. She told him she hadn’t told her parents because she was afraid.
Liora said her father would never agree and would make her end the pregnancy. So she begged Martin to keep it quiet and saw how easily he believed her lie. Martin was a responsible guy.
Liora knew that. He took her hands and said, “I’m the father, so I’ll take care of our baby. Don’t worry; this stays between us.”
Present-day…
“I used him.
I lied to him. I wasn’t pregnant,” Liora confessed to Denise. “I was hurt, and I couldn’t stand losing him to Emily.
So I told a lie that changed everything. He was ready to step up, leave Emily, and be a father.”
“Lies ruin everything, dear,” Denise said, shaking her head. “What happened after that?
Did he ever find out?”
“He didn’t,” Liora admitted. “I kept up the act, pretending to be sick in the mornings, the whole thing. But after a few months, I couldn’t keep going.
So I told him the test was wrong, that the doctor made a mistake. By then, Emily had…moved away. She was heartbroken and left town with her parents.
Martin and I stayed together. He never went back to her, never looked for her. We just moved on.
Or I thought we did…” Liora said, looking at the sleeping baby in her arms. Now she knew Martin had found Emily again. “And I think it’s time to fix what I couldn’t back then,” Liora said, standing up.
She was leaving Denise’s house with the baby when the older woman stopped her. “What will you do with the baby?” Denise asked. Liora turned and smiled at Denise.
“I’ll raise her as my own daughter. Maybe that’ll help me earn forgiveness from Martin and Emily.”
And Liora kept her word. She raised baby Anna with love.
When Anna turned 16, Liora told her everything about her past. She thought Anna might hate her. And she was ready for it.
But Anna smiled and said, “Nothing changes how I feel about you, Mom. You raised me. You were there for every scraped knee, every fever, every heartbreak.
You’re my mom in every way that matters.”
Liora cried quietly and hugged her daughter. Anna’s words not only lifted her heart but also made her believe that Emily and Martin had forgiven her.
