Trece años de amor prestado: El secreto que rompió el corazón de Elizabeth

Thirteen years ago, Elizabeth opened the doors of her home to her late husband’s secret twins after a terrible car accident exposed their double life. She gave them everything, but when she turned sixteen, they excluded her from their life. A week later, she discovered the shocking reason behind her rejection.

The morning Michael died started like any other day. Sunlight pervaded through Elizabeth’s window, bathing her worn-out countertops in a soft, golden glow. It was the last moment of normality I would know in a long time.
.
.
.

When the phone rang, she almost didn’t answer. Who calls at 730 in the morning? But something, maybe her intuition, pushed her to answer.

— “Is that Elizabeth?” »
A male voice, formal and hesitant.

— “Yes, it’s me. »
Sipping coffee, watching the steam rise.

– “Ma’am, I’m Agent Daniels of the police station. I regret to inform you that your husband was involved in an accident this morning. He did not survive. »

The cup slipped out of his hand, smashing against the linoleum floor. Coffee splashed her bare feet, but she barely felt it.

— “What? This can’t be… not my Michael ! »

— “Madam… »
The officer’s voice softened.
“There’s something else you should know. There was another woman in the car… And the two girls survived. The records confirm that they are Michael’s daughters. »

He collapsed into the kitchen cabinets, coffee soaking his robe.
The room spun, as if their ten years of marriage had broken into pieces, just like their cup.

– “Daughters? »

— “Twins, ma’am. They are three years old »

Three years. Three years of lies—work trips, late night meetings. Three years he had that double life, hidden in plain sight. While she faced fertility treatments and two abortions, he had a secret family.

— “Madam?” is it still there ? »

— «Sí…»
She whispered insecurely.
— “What will we do with them now?” »

— “His mother had no living relatives. They are in a foster home for now… »

Hung up, unable to hear anymore

The funeral was a blur of black dresses and compassionate glances. She stood still, receiving condolences from people who didn’t know whether to see her as a heartbroken widow or a betrayed wife.

Then he saw them: two little girls, dressed in matching black dresses, holding hands until their knuckles turned white. Her heart melted.

One was sucking her thumb. The other one ripped the hem of her dress. They looked lost. Despite Michael’s betrayal, his maternal instinct gained ground.

— “Poor children… »
He whispered to his mother beside him.
— “His foster family couldn’t come. There is no one for them except the social worker. »

He observed how one stumbled and the other held her up, as if they were one soul. Something inside her broke.

— “I’ll take care of them,”
dijo.

Her mother, stunned, turned around.

— “Elizabeth, are you crazy?” After what she did… »

— “Look at them, Mom. They are innocent. They are all alone in the world. »

— “But… »

— “I couldn’t have children. Maybe… this was my chance. »

The adoption process was one hell of paperwork and disbelief.
Why adopt the daughters of the unfaithful husband? Wasn’t he emotionally unstable? Was it a revenge?

Still, he fought and finally Emma and Sophie became his daughters.

The early years were a dance between scars and healing. The twins were adorable but mistrustful, always on guard, like expecting to be thrown out at any moment. I often caught them whispering at night, imagining “when will he throw us out… ”

Each wound broke his soul.

— “Mac and cheese again?” »
asked Sophie, seven-year-old, wrinkled her nose.

— “It’s what we can afford this week, honey,” Elizabeth replied with a light tone.
“But look, a lot of cheese for you, as you like it.” »

Emma, the more sensitive, noticed a fluctuation in her voice. He pushed over his sister

— “Mac and cheese is my favorite!”. »
announced, although it wasn’t true.

At ten years old, he knew I had to tell them the whole truth.
She had rehearsed her speech in front of the mirror a hundred times, but sitting on her bed, in front of her innocent faces, her heart was beating fast.

— “Ladies,” he began, with trembling hands,
“I have to tell them about their father and how they became my daughters.” »

They sat with their legs crossed on the worn quilt, attentive like two silent dolls.

She revealed everything—the double life of Michael, his real mother, that terrible morning call. He confessed how his heart broke to see them at the funeral and why he knew they should be a part of his life.

The silence has been extended. Sophie’s face broke down, her freckles seemed to intensify. Emma’s lips were shaking.

— “So… Was dad a liar? »
Sophie’s voice is broke.
— «¿Te engañaba?»

— “And our real mom… »
Emma wrapped in her arms.
— “Did he die because of him?” »

— “It was an accident, darling. A terrible accident. »

— “But you… »
Sophie frowned.
— “Did you just take us out of a pity?” »

– “No! I choose them because—»

— “Why did you think you inspired us? »
interrupted emma crying
– “Why couldn’t you have children?” »

— “I chose them because I love them from the first moment,”
he stretched out his arms, but they retreated.
— “They’re not a pity. They are a gift. »

— “Liar!” »
screamed Sophie jumping out of bed.
— “Everyone is lying!” Way to go Emma! »

They ran into her room, shut the door of a doorway and locked it. Elizabeth heard her choking sobs and her furious whispers.

The following years was a minefield. Some days were beautiful—shopping excuses, cozy movie nights. But when anger returned, his words were deadly wounds.

— “At least our real mom really loved us!” »
— “Maybe I’d still be alive if it weren’t for you!” »

Every hit was real. But they were just teenagers, I thought, hoping someday they’d understand.

Until that tragic day arrived, just after his 16th birthday.
He came back from work but the key didn’t turn. There was a paper stuck on the door…