Candice, a devoted stay-at-home mother, had been noticing a shift in her relationship with her son, Sam. He had started avoiding her affectionate gestures and seemed distant. Alarmed, her husband Robert decided to confront Sam about his behavior.
“Sam, why have you been avoiding your mom lately?” Robert inquired with concern.
Sam hesitated before revealing, “Mom has changed. She has a secret and doesn’t want to share it with me.”
Confused, Robert pressed for more information. Sam explained that Candice would often cry in her room, hiding a green box under the mattress. When Sam walked in on her one day, she hastily hid a photo and screamed at him to leave.
Robert was taken aback by Sam’s revelation. Concerned for his wife, he asked, “How often have you heard your mom crying?”
“She’s been crying almost every day this week. She thinks I don’t notice, but I see her swollen eyes and hear her tears. It’s unsettling, Daddy. You need to do something,” Sam pleaded.
Reassuring his son, Robert promised to address the issue, all the while worrying about what Candice was hiding from them.
Determined to find answers, Robert decided to search their bedroom for the mysterious green box. To his surprise, he discovered jewelry and a photograph inside. The picture depicted a joyful man who bore a resemblance to Candice. Overwhelmed with emotions, Robert assumed his wife had a secret lover.
That night, Robert confronted Candice about the photo and his suspicions. “Candice, do you have a secret lover?”
Taken aback, Candice protested, “What? Rob, what are you talking about?”
“I found this photo,” Robert revealed, showing her the picture. “Who is he?”
Candice broke down in tears, admitting, “Oh no… I never wanted anyone to know about this.”
Assuming the worst, Robert accused her of infidelity. “So, you confess that you were cheating on me?”
Candice shook her head, denying the accusation. She pleaded, “No! No, I didn’t cheat. Please, let me explain.”
Reluctantly, Robert listened as Candice shared a heartbreaking family secret. “Before my grandma passed away, she gave me this photo. She told me to decide what to do with it.”
Candice continued, her voice trembling, “My mother had an affair with her lover, resulting in the birth of twins: me and my brother. They made a secret agreement to separate the twins and raise them in different families. My mother deceived my dad into thinking I was his child, and he had no reason to doubt her.”
Her voice choked with emotion, Candice revealed, “Before he died of cancer, the man my mother had the affair with reunited with my grandma. He showed her a photo of the grandson she never knew existed.”
“I’ve been with my mom and dad for over 35 years, and it would devastate my dad if he found out about my mom’s betrayal,” Candice confessed, tears streaming down her face. “But at the same time, I yearn to meet my twin brother.”
Robert, now understanding the complexity of the situation, spoke gently, “So, the man in the photo is your twin brother?”
Candice nodded, and Robert embraced her, offering support. “I sincerely apologize for doubting your fidelity. But why did you cry in your room so often?”
Through her tears, Candice explained, “I cry because I never had the chance to know my biological father. I wrestle with the desire to be a part of my brother’s life without hurting my mom and dad.”
Soothing her, Robert assured her, “It’s not your fault. Your mom made mistakes. You have every right to know your twin brother, my love.”
Candice remained conflicted, unsure of how to proceed. Weeks passed, and she continued to contemplate whether to reach out to her brother and share the truth with her family.
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