Chapter 5: The Secret Behind The Marriage
The next morning, I woke up before everyone else.
I sat in the kitchen alone.
The same kitchen where my wife had collapsed.
The same place where my mother had watched her struggle.
Sunlight came through the windows.
Everything looked normal.
That was the part that bothered me.
How many things in my life had looked normal while something terrible was happening underneath?
I opened the letter again.
I still hadn't read it.
Not because I didn't want to.
Because I was afraid.
A letter written before our wedding felt private.
Like opening a door my wife had closed for a reason.
But after everything that happened, I needed to understand.
I unfolded the paper.
The first line made my heart stop.
*Dear Marcus,*
*If you are reading this, it means I was brave enough to tell you everything.*
I kept reading.
*I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. But I need you to understand something. Loving you has never been the hard part.*
My throat tightened.
The letter continued.
*The hard part is accepting that loving you means becoming connected to someone who does not want me to be happy.*
I stopped.
My mother.
There was no question.
Renata had written about her.
*Your mother has been kind to my face. She has smiled. She has hugged me. But I have seen the way she watches me when she thinks I don't notice.*
I looked up.
A memory surfaced.
A dinner two years earlier.
My mother smiling while Renata talked.
But when Renata turned away, that smile disappeared.
I kept reading.
*She told me something I will never forget. She said, "Women like you don't usually stay when life becomes difficult.""*
My hands tightened around the paper.
*I asked her what she meant. She said she knew women like me. Women who marry men with successful careers because they want security.*
I closed my eyes.
The pain wasn't anger anymore.
It was shame.
Because Renata had carried this alone.
*I wanted to tell you. I almost did. But every time I looked at how much you loved your mother, I couldn't bring myself to make you choose.*
The next sentence broke something inside me.
*I hope someday you understand that I wasn't trying to take your family away from you. I was trying to become part of it.*
I put the letter down.
I couldn't read anymore.
Because suddenly I understood.
My mother had spent years telling me Renata was distant.
Cold.
Difficult.
But maybe Renata wasn't those things.
Maybe she was exhausted from trying to earn a place she should have been given.
"Marcus?""
I looked up.
Renata stood in the doorway.
She was wearing one of my old sweatshirts.
The sight almost broke me.
Because she looked exactly like the woman I had promised to protect.
And I had failed.
"I read it.""
She nodded.
"Are you angry?""
The question hurt.
"No.""
She looked surprised.
"I'm angry at myself.""
She sat across from me.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then she said:
"I didn't want this.""
"I know.""
"I didn't want you fighting with your mother.""
"I know.""
"I just wanted you to believe me.""
That sentence stayed with me.
Because belief was the one thing I had failed to give her.
Later that afternoon, Diane came over.
She brought more documents.
This time, she looked nervous.
"Marcus, before I show you this, I need you to promise me something.""
"What?""
"Don't confront your mother until you understand everything.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because your mother is very good at making people react.""
I looked at the papers.
"What is this?""
Diane sat down.
"Years ago, she did the same thing to someone else.""
"Who?""
Diane hesitated.
"Your father.""
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
"My dad?""
Diane nodded.
"Your mother told everyone your father abandoned the family.""
I felt confused.
"That's what happened.""
"Is it?""
I didn't answer.
Because suddenly I wasn't sure.
"My father left when I was twelve.""
"Yes.""
"Because they fought.""
"Yes.""
"So?""
Diane looked at me.
"Because your mother wanted everyone to believe he was the problem.""
I felt a chill.
"What are you saying?""
"I'm saying your mother has always controlled the story.""
She opened another folder.
Inside was an old court document.
My father's name was on it.
"What is this?""
"The divorce papers.""
I looked at the date.
My eyes widened.
Because the date didn't match what I remembered.
"This says they separated two years before he left.""
Diane nodded.
"Your mother told everyone he abandoned her.""
I stared at the paper.
"But why?""
Diane looked at me.
"Because the truth was worse.""
I waited.
She took a breath.
"Your father left because he discovered your mother was lying about money.""
My stomach dropped.
"What money?""
Diane pushed another document toward me.
A bank statement.
A name appeared.
My mother's.
And another account holder.
Someone I didn't recognize.
"What am I looking at?""
Diane's voice was quiet.
"The same thing your mother has been hiding for years.""
I looked closer.
Then I saw the name.
A name I had never heard before.
But Renata recognized it immediately.
Because when she walked into the room and saw the paper, she froze.
"Where did you get that?""
Diane looked at her.
"You know this person?""
Renata slowly nodded.
And whispered:
"Yes.""
My heart started racing.
"Who is it?""
Renata looked at me.
Then at the document.
Her face turned pale.
"Marcus...""
May you like
She swallowed.
"That's the name of the person your mother told me never to mention.""
