Chapter 53 The Truth
Claire
The holiday finally came to an end for me. It was time to go back home—time to face everything I’d been running from.
All through the flight, the kids slept soundly, curled up in their seats. Luppy leaned in close, wanting to talk, and I gave her a small, tired smile as I stood up.
We moved a little farther away from them so we could whisper without waking anyone.
“You know, ma’am,” she said softly, “one way or another, you’re going to have to tell them the truth.”
I nodded, my eyes drifting back to where they slept—peaceful, innocent, completely unaware.
“I know, Luppy. The problem is… how?”
She looked at me with genuine pity in her eyes.
One secret always drags another out into the light. How would the kids look at me if they found out I’d been in a relationship with a much younger man? Not just any man—a dangerous one who’d blackmailed me into it… and now, God forgive me, I actually liked it.
I couldn’t even bear to imagine the disgust, the disappointment, the betrayal in their eyes.
“Ma’am,” Luppy continued gently, “it’s better to get it all off your chest. They’re not children anymore. They’ll understand.”
I nodded again, forcing a weak smile onto my face.
Maybe that was exactly what I needed—just this small push to finally let it all spill out. I would have to tell them. They deserved to know.
Because no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, the truth was going to become our reality soon anyway. I never wanted to be the woman with a failed marriage. But who was I kidding? The very first night Ian slept with someone else, our marriage had already ended.
I just hadn’t had the courage to admit it—until now.
When we finally arrived home, that familiar suffocating feeling returned instantly.
The house stood exactly as we left it, unchanged—yet it no longer felt like home. This place used to bring me peace, laughter, and warmth. Now, standing there, knowing my marriage was hanging by a thread that had already snapped, I struggled to breathe.
“It’s good to be back home,” Max said with a relieved sigh.
I turned to look at all of them—my children, my heart, my reason for holding on.
“You had your holiday fun, Mom,” Isa said, her tone light.
I smiled and nodded, my eyes briefly meeting Riette’s.
I inhaled deeply.
“I have something to tell you all,” I said. My voice came out clipped, controlled—but barely.
Immediately, their expressions shifted. Hardened. Alert.
“Oh, here it goes,” Riette muttered.
My hands trembled at my sides.
“I’m going to have to divorce your dad,” I said.
The words hung in the air, heavy and unforgiving.
Shock washed over their faces—pure, unfiltered disappointment.
“Is it that bad?” Isa asked quietly.
“Can we at least settle in first before you drop news like that?” Max cut in, rubbing his jaw.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment and inhaled.
“I don’t want to drag this anymore,” I said, my voice cracking despite my efforts. “I don’t think there’s any hope left for me and your father.”
Silence followed.
“How bad is it?” Max asked, chewing on his teeth like he was bracing himself.
I looked at each of them, really looked, knowing there was no turning back now.
“Your father cheated,” I said.
The living room fell completely silent.
“He cheated?” Riette finally broke the silence.
I nodded slowly, my lips twisting as I struggled to hold myself together. “Yes,” I said. “And… it’s bigger than that now.”
I tried my best not to break, not to soften the truth just because I didn’t want to hurt them. They deserved honesty—every painful part of it.
“When?” Max asked, his voice strained.
Beside him, Isabella’s hand flew to her lips, already trembling.
“I found out months ago,” I said quietly. “But he had been in a relationship with her for a little over a year.”
A soft whimper escaped Isa’s lips, and that sound alone nearly shattered me.
“Mom,” she cried, tears spilling freely now. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
I watched Max clench his jaw, fighting to stay calm, while Riette stared at the floor, clearly trying not to cry like his sister.
“I couldn’t,” I admitted, my voice breaking despite my efforts. “I thought I could handle it on my own. I thought I could fix it.”
A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, refusing to fall apart in front of them. I didn’t even realize when Luppy stepped closer, her hand settling gently on my shoulder in silent support.
“But instead,” I continued, my voice barely steady, “I only made everything worse.”
“No, Mom,” Max said sharply, shaking his head. Anger flashed across his face. “This isn’t your fault. I can’t believe he cheated.”
He looked like he was about to storm off, rage written all over him.
“Stay,” I said quickly. “Please. I need to tell you everything.”
Riette looked up at me then, his eyes burning. “Tell us what, Mom?” he asked bitterly. “That Dad is a cheat?”
I shook my head slowly forcing the words out.
“He isn’t the only one.”
The room went dead silent as I took deep breaths, my chest rising and falling.
I knew then—there was no turning back.
“What do you mean by he isn’t the only one?” Isabella asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I inhaled deeply, forcing a weak smile that didn’t belong on my face. “When I found out about your father,” I began, “I did the most foolish thing possible.”
They were all listening now—really listening.
“I went to your dad's mistress boyfriend place,” I continued. “I wanted to tell him that his girlfriend was seeing your dad.”
I swallowed hard.
“Turns out… he already knew.”
Their expressions shifted, confusion mixing with shock.
“One thing led to another,” I said quietly. “I won’t go into details.”
I exhaled deeply, my chest aching under the weight of the truth.
“I also got into an affair with him, your father's mistress boyfriend.”
No one spoke.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at their faces after that. I had always known this day would come—I just never imagined it would arrive this soon.
As painful as this was, it was still better they heard it from me than from Ian. Even so, shame glued my eyes to the floor. I couldn’t meet their gazes. I didn’t deserve to.
“Madam,” Luppy suddenly called, her voice firm, “you haven’t told them that he blackmailed you into it.” she says for them to hear.
My head snapped up, eyes widening as I turned to her.
She was right.
But even as the truth pressed against my chest, I couldn’t deny the part that hurt the most—before the blackmail, before the threats, I hadn’t resisted Liam enough. I had let him have his way with me. I had wanted it.
The guilt burned deeper than any accusation ever could.
“This is too much,” a voice cut in sharply.
I looked up then.
My children were staring at me, disbelief written all over their faces, their expressions wild and shaken.
“Can you repeat what you just said?” Max asked, his voice tight, almost incredulous. “Because I don’t think I’m grasping any of this.”