“You should’ve been honest with her from the very start,” Ryan muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “It would’ve saved us all the trouble.“
“What? Now you’re blaming me?” Lucas snapped, his tone sharp and accusatory. “Everything that’s happened -the mess we’re in–it’s all because of you. If you had just married Maddie instead of Elise in the first place, none of this would’ve been necessary!”
His voice trembled with bitterness. “So, if anyone’s at fault, it’s you.”
Ryan’s expression twisted in disbelief and anger. “Your mother raised you, all these years. And not once did you show an ounce of gratitude–now you’re pointing fingers at me?”
“She might not be as glamorous as Maddie, but she’s still your mother!”
For a fleeting moment, Lucas’s face flickered with something resembling guilt–but it was gone in an
instant, replaced by a sneer. His words came out cold and unfeeling.
“She’s not my real mom.”
The room seemed to freeze. Ryan stood there, rooted to the spot, as though the words had struck him like a physical blow. His mouth opened, as if to argue, but then he hesitated.
He had to ask himself had Lucas known all along?
And the truth was… yes.
1/3
Lucas wasn’t pretending anymore. “You don’t need to hide it. Dad,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “I’ve known for a long time.”
He folded his arms, his words now sharp and cutting. “I pieced it all together two nights ago. I was passing by your room and overheard everything you said to Maddie.”
He took a step forward, his gaze hard and accusing.
“I get it now. You two have always been in love. You had me, and yet you’re still stuck living with Elise like everything’s normal? Like this happy family act is still working?”
His words became more venomous with each passing second.
“She’s embarrassing, Dad. She’s clueless when it comes to talking to anyone. She dresses like a servant, and she always smells like she’s been cleaning the house.”
“If you’re feeling guilty for leaving her behind, fine. Let her stay at home, do whatever she does. But she doesn’t need to be your wife. And she sure as hell doesn’t deserve to be called Mrs. Caldwell.”
Ryan’s jaw clenched at the onslaught, but Lucas wasn’t finished.
“You’ve turned my real mom–the woman who’s always been there for me–into the ‘other woman.‘ I can’t even get Clara to call her ‘Mom‘ without practically begging!”
It was all too specific to be a lie. Lucas had known. All these years, he’d known the truth.
Ryan’s color drained from his face. He swayed slightly, his hand gripping the back of the chair as if he might collapse.
2/3
“Dad?” Lucas’s voice softened, a trace of concern in it now. “Are you alright?”
“What? Is it because of what I said?” Lucas pressed,
feigning innocence. “Come on, it’s not like you still care about Elise.”
When Ryan didn’t respond, Lucas shrugged, his next words dripping with indifference.
“She’s practically invisible in this family. What does it matter?”
That was the breaking point.
In a flash of fury, Ryan’s hand shot out and landed with a loud crack across Lucas’s cheek.
Ryan’s voice trembled–not from weakness, but from rage. “How dare you–how dare you speak of her like that?!”
“She is your mother!”
Lucas stood stunned, never having imagined his father would hit him.
3/3
