Chapter 1 - The Knock
For nearly a year, I barely spoke to them. Emmett and I built a quiet, loving life together. Part of me still hoped my parents would soften eventually.
Then one afternoon, a hard knock shattered the peace inside our home. I opened the door and found my father standing there. Jaw clenched. Eyes cold. He barely acknowledged me before staring past me at Emmett.
Immediately I knew this wasn't an attempt to reconcile. Dad had come because he believed he'd finally found proof that marrying Emmett had been a mistake.
"I need to talk to your husband," he said.
Emmett walked into the hallway, calm as usual. Dad went straight to the accusation. "I saw you," he said. "Outside County Hospital. You were holding hands with a little boy."
The room felt smaller.
"I've done my reading, Emmett," my father continued. "I know about your past. The touring, the friends you kept, the years nobody could account for."
I expected Emmett to look confused. Instead he went completely still. That frightened me more than anything Dad had said.
"Dad, stop," I said. "Whatever you think you saw—"
"I know what I saw," he snapped. "Is he yours? A son from before her? Some woman you never mentioned?"
My stomach tightened. "That's insane," I whispered.
"Is it?" He turned on me. "Ask him. Ask him who the boy is. Ask him why he never told you."
I looked at Emmett, waiting for him to laugh it off. He didn't deny knowing the boy. And for the first time, Dad's accusation didn't sound completely impossible.
"Emmett," I said softly. "Tell him he's wrong."
Emmett held my gaze for a second, then looked away. That wasn't how an innocent man reacts. But what I saw on his face wasn't guilt. It was something heavier.
"You're not going to deny it?" my father pressed, stepping closer. "That's your answer?"
"My answer is that this is none of your business," Emmett said evenly.
"Then your daughter and I will handle it."
"Emmett." My voice cracked. "Just say something."
He only shook his head, mouth tight.
Dad gave a bitter laugh. "You see? This is exactly what I warned you about. A man with a wild past always has secrets. He can't even look you in the eye."
"That's not fair," I managed. But my confidence was already splintering.
Dad adjusted his coat and turned for the door. Before leaving, he looked back once. "When you're ready to face the truth, you know where to find us."
Then he walked out.
May you like
Dad hadn't gotten the confession he expected. But Emmett's silence left behind something nearly as damaging.
Doubt.
