Behind the Veil

A chicken drumstick fell out of my hands. My mind was buzzing, while the world around me melted away into indistinct blurs. "What?" The word escaped my mouth, shaking.

"Helen got pregnant that night five years ago," answered Nathaniel. He didn't hide the truth. In fact, he seemed relieved that he was finally confessing the truth. "It's been hard, keeping this a secret for five years."

That threw me off, and I looked to Melanie for reassurance. "Is this a prank, Melanie? Are you in on this? It's a joke, isn't it? A prank?"

Melanie took another sip out of her cup but said nothing back to me. My heart sank.

Nathaniel continued, "It's not a joke. When we found out, the doctor told us that an abortion would hurt Helen. A life was at stake here. I couldn't make her go through it."

The mention of the child softened Nathaniel's expression. I put my hand on my swollen belly. I was in my third trimester, eight months along. The delivery date was due soon.

"You should thank God I didn't ask you to terminate your baby, or we'd never have our own child."

The truth was hard to accept, but Nathaniel and his mother's calm indifference told me this wasn't a lie. That answered why he had to go on a six-month work trip.

He video-called me every day while he was out, using that as a cover so he could take care of his mistress and their love child. For five years, he would go on a work trip one week every month to spend time with his other family.

I stupidly believed he was being a good and hardworking husband. Now, the truth pulled a bitter smile across my lips and sprinkled tears in my eyes. "You've kept it under wraps for years, so why'd you let the cat out of the bag now?"

Before Nathaniel could say anything, Melanie slammed her silverware on the table. Her voice agitated, she shouted, "Because I want to see my grandson!" Then, she took a deep breath and put on the look of a concerned elder.

"I've been nothing but nice to you, Ginny. I know you've done nothing wrong, but my grandson's been out there, living in the shadows for five years. I couldn't let this go on any longer!"

My limp hand clenched into a fist, and my pupils narrowed. So, I was the last one to know about this affair.

Melanie took out a file from her safe. The contract listed assets that had a combined worth of 1.5 million.

"We'll compensate you for this. All you have to do is accept the boy into your life and leave everything else to us. Nathaniel has promised me he'll never talk to Helen agai—"

Nathaniel interrupted, "A divorce is always an option if you can't accept this." He presented the divorce papers, signed with his name.

My eyes tried to bore a hole through the papers, but it was useless.

I demanded a divorce five years ago, but Nathaniel begged and pleaded and threatened to take his own life if I went through with my decision.

Just when I'd finally let go of his affair, he brought up the same thing he didn't want to do five years ago.

No one spoke. The only sound echoing in the air was the ticking of time. Then the door yawned open.

A crisp voice said, "I brought Nelson, Melanie! Happy birthday!"

Helen Shaw came in with a five-year-old boy, but the smile on her face froze when she saw me. Then, it was replaced by a hesitant pause before she greeted, "Ms. Holloway."