"I have no interest in breeding poverty," my husband declared sharply before walking out on his pregnant wife. As it turned out, there was someone else. And poor Lena hadn't suspected a thing.
On that disastrous day, her entire world collapsed. Her quiet domestic bliss had suddenly curdled into betrayal. Her heart felt as though it had shattered into a thousand jagged pieces, the pain making it hard to even draw a breath.
Mark returned home late that evening, reacting to his wife's questions with nothing but irritation.
"Honey, I've been calling you all night and you didn't answer. What happened? Is everything okay? You know how much I worry. Dinner's gone cold again—I'll have to reheat it for the third time."
"Don't bother. I grabbed a bite at the office," Mark replied coldly. He walked into the living room and stopped, looking at the beautifully set table with a frown.
"What's all this? It's not a holiday, is it?" he grumbled, casting a questioning look at his wife.
"Sit down, I have wonderful news for you."
"I don't have time. I have to head out."
"Out? Are you serious? I don't understand what's going on with you. What's crawled up your sleeve lately?"
Tears welled in Lena's confused eyes, but the sight only seemed to make him angrier. He scowled and spoke with a brutal edge.
"You're either a complete idiot or you're just pretending not to get it. Isn't it obvious? I don't love you. There's someone else."
"What do you mean, 'someone else'? Are you kidding? Is this some sick joke to ruin my night?"
"Lena, I'm leaving. I'm actually leaving you for her."
"No, I don't want to believe this. You can't just abandon us!" she cried out in desperation.
"What do you mean, 'us'?" Mark asked, caught off guard.
"I found out today that I'm pregnant. I set the table, I couldn't wait for you to get home. I wanted to surprise you with the best news of our lives." Lena sank helplessly into an armchair, sobbing.
"Surprise me? What exactly am I supposed to be happy about? This cheap salad? Cold cuts and potatoes? No, sorry. Sitting at a beggar's table and celebrating? That's not for me. I have no interest in breeding poverty. I'm tired of living like this. Goodbye."
In a fit of rage, Mark yanked the tablecloth, sending the plates crashing to the floor. The furious man then pulled a large duffel bag from the closet and began stuffing his clothes into it. She sat there, curled into a ball, her body shaking with sobs. The cruel reality was too much to process. She kept waiting to wake up and find everything back to normal: her tender, loving husband and their peaceful home.
"Mark, please, just explain it to me. What did I do wrong? What makes her better? Why are you doing this to me?"
"We have nothing left to talk about. I'm done." Mark threw the bag over his shoulder and bolted out the door.
Lena rushed toward the hallway, wanting to run after him, but she stopped abruptly and collapsed onto the floor. Hysteria took over. Her sobs turned into a scream as her soul felt like it was being torn apart by grief.
***
It took a long time for Lena to pull herself together. At night, sleep eluded her; she just lay there staring at the ceiling. The days weren't any easier. The empty apartment felt oppressive, as if the very walls were closing in on her. Her appetite vanished completely. A week passed this way. She had no tears left to cry; she had wept them all. In the evenings, she would sit by the window and drift into bittersweet memories.
She remembered the day she met Mark as if it were in technicolor. She hadn't been looking to meet anyone. She was just tired and had sat down on a park bench to rest. Suddenly, a cheerful, charming guy sat down beside her. He looked at her intently, introduced himself, and told her he'd been dreaming of a wife exactly like her.
"Proposing already?" Lena had teased with a smile. "You haven't even asked my name."
"I'll just call you 'my love.' Everything that came before doesn't matter anymore."
But there hadn't been much "before" for Lena. She was born in a small town and lost her parents early on. She was raised by her grandfather. To the lonely old man, his granddaughter was his entire world. He prayed for only one thing: to live long enough to see her grown. God seemed to hear those prayers. Her grandfather, Arthur, never seemed to age; he felt healthy and kept working. The girl grew up bright and kind, making him proud with her grades and helping around the house without ever complaining.
A gossiping neighbor named Mrs. Higgins lived next door. One day, seeing a teenage Lena on a bench, the woman sat down and spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial tone.
"Hello, Lena. My, you've grown. What are you now, thirteen? You're looking more like your mother every day. She was such a beauty! And she ruined herself because of that no-good father of yours."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lena replied, startled.
"What, you don't know? Has Arthur not told you? Your mother was sent to prison for murder. She killed Nicholas, your father."
"That can't be true," Lena whispered, frozen in shock. "Tell me the rest."
"Nicholas came from a wealthy family. He was used to getting whatever he wanted. He took a liking to your mother, but she turned him down. So, one night, he decided to take what he wanted by force. Defending herself, Paula killed him."
"Who told you that?" Lena asked, her face turning white with horror.
"Everyone knows. And so what? She wasn't a criminal; she was protecting her honor!"
The terrified girl ran home and confronted her grandfather. The poor man gasped and reached for his heart medication.
"Yes, sweetheart, that's how it was. No sense hiding it now. Paula died during childbirth. I took you in immediately. Give me a minute to sit, and then I'm going to have a word with that old witch Mrs. Higgins for upsetting a child like this!"
Learning the tragic truth changed Lena. She became more pensive, quiet, and guarded. She avoided dating and stayed away from noisy crowds, keeping to herself. Time passed; she graduated high school and moved to the city for college. Soon after, another tragedy struck: her beloved grandfather died of a heart attack. She was truly alone in the world.
Men were drawn to Lena, but she kept her heart locked away, focusing entirely on her studies and career. That lasted until she met Mark. He also came from a modest background. He worked hard, set goals, and eventually started his own business. Having achieved some success, he decided it was time to marry. A serious, responsible man—what more could she need for happiness?
Lena adored her husband. She looked at him with hero-worship, held him close, and often told him, "I'm so lucky to have you!" Mark appreciated her devotion, spoiled her with gifts, and told her he loved her every day. Life seemed perfect. But the happiness was short-lived. Mark's business hit a rough patch. His passion project started losing money, and soon the losses were staggering. At first, Mark tried to fix things, but nothing worked. He started drinking, snapping at her over trifles, and picking fights.
Lena wasn't materialistic; she handled the lack of money with grace and tried to comfort him. But her kindness only irritated Mark. He grew bored of their quiet domestic life and started spending his evenings at a local bar. That's where he met Victoria—a wealthy, independent woman. And so began his new life, one that had no room for his wife or his unborn child.
***
After some time had passed, Lena decided to try talking to her husband one last time. She called and suggested they meet at a nearby park. Mark reluctantly agreed. She sat alone on a bench, waiting and still hoping for something. All around her were young mothers—some pushing strollers, others chasing after playful toddlers. Wasn't this what happiness looked like? Did Mark really not care?
About twenty minutes later, a brand-new SUV pulled up. Two people got out: a man in an expensive suit and a tall, slender woman. It was Mark. Why had he brought her? Did he want to hurt her even more? As the couple approached, Lena realized that Mark's companion was significantly older than him. The woman was elegant and impeccably groomed, but no matter how much money you spend, you can't hide age. Mark looked like a schoolboy next to her. A bitter irony: her husband had become a kept man. Lena gave a grim smirk and looked at him with reproach.
"How did you sink this low?"
"Is that all you wanted to ask?" Mark replied with a haughty tone.
"Actually, no. There are more important things. Like our child. What are we going to do?"
"That's not my concern. I've already said my piece."
Lena was on the verge of tears, but she managed to hold them back. She refused to show weakness in front of the triumphant other woman.
"I see," she said quietly. "I guess that's all then."
"By the way, about the apartment," her husband said softly. "In case you forgot, it's in my name. So start packing. Find a place and get out."
Lena didn't answer. She stood up and walked away in silence. After crying for hours, she decided she had no other choice. She called her friend Sarah, who was a nurse, and asked her to schedule an abortion.
"Are you out of your mind? An abortion? Get a grip, Lena. You've wanted this baby more than anything."
"Sarah, don't you get it? My husband left me! He doesn't want the baby. He doesn't want me. He's kicking us out of the apartment."
"So he's really serious with her. My husband saw Mark recently with the 'Dairy Queen.'"
"With who?" Lena asked, confused.
"That's what they call her—that wealthy widow. She inherited several dairy processing plants from her late husband. The business is huge. I guess she found herself a boy toy. So he really is with her? Lena, she's literally old enough to be his mother."
"But she has money! Look, enough about that. Can you get me in?"
"Lena, are you sure? Maybe just sleep on it."
"No, my mind is made up."
***
A few days later, Lena went to the clinic. She was thirty minutes early for her appointment and decided to wait in the courtyard. She sat there, trying not to think about what she was about to do. Suddenly, she heard a child's piercing cry.
"Please, Mommy, don't! Mommy, I'm scared! Mommy, I love you so much! Please, don't do it, please!"
Lena's heart leaped into her throat; she started to tremble. She looked around, but there was no one nearby. Was she hearing voices in her head? She instinctively covered her stomach with her hands, shivering with fear. She didn't have the strength to stand up and walk into the building.
Suddenly, a young woman emerged from behind some bushes. She was leading a small toddler by the hand, telling him that getting a shot wasn't scary at all.
"It'll only hurt for a second. You're my brave boy, right? And then we'll get you a present. You can pick out any toy you want. Deal?"
Lena exhaled with relief. She stood up and started walking—not toward the clinic, but toward home.
"Don't be afraid, my little love," she whispered the whole way back. "Mommy is with you. We're going to be just fine."
***
Several years passed. Lena's son, whom she named Arthur after her beloved grandfather, was growing into a wonderful boy. However, work was hard to find, and they were constantly struggling for money. One day, Lena decided to apply for a housekeeping position at a wealthy estate; the salary in the ad was quite generous. Since little Arthur was in preschool, she had the time.
Lena called the number and was invited for an interview. A security guard met her at the gates and led her to meet the owner. The wealthy man turned out to be an elderly man in a wheelchair, deeply absorbed in reading. He looked up from his newspaper and stared at Lena. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped, simply gazing at her. Something was clearly wrong. The concerned guard asked:
"Is everything alright, Mr. Sterling?"
"It's fine, David. You can go. We need to talk."
Once they were alone, the old man spoke with wonder.
"But you aren't Paula? No, you can't be Paula. But you look exactly like her!"
"My name is Lena. My mother's name was Paula. She... she went to prison, gave birth to me there, and passed away."
"So you are her daughter. I saw you and knew such a resemblance couldn't be a coincidence. Do you know why she was sent away?"
"Yes," Lena whispered sadly. "She killed a man who tried to hurt her—my father. Do you know anything about it?"
"My dear girl, there was no assault. My son, Nicholas, loved Paula very much. And she loved him. They were dating and planning to marry. Then tragedy struck. I was abroad for a long time. My business partner came up with a devious plan—he wanted to steal the company. He broke into my house to steal documents. Nicholas and Paula caught him. My son was killed instantly, and the girl fainted. The criminal placed the gun in her hand and fled. As soon as I heard the news, I tried to return. But for certain reasons—reasons that don't matter anymore—I wasn't allowed back into the country then."
The old man paused, taking a heavy breath before continuing his somber tale.
"When I finally managed to return, I looked into the case myself. I conducted my own investigation and made sure that partner paid for what he did. He's gone now. But I was left paralyzed in the process. I was unconscious for a long time, followed by a long rehabilitation. By the time I could finally return to the world, it was too late. Poor Paula was gone. I never even knew you existed. That is the true story."
Lena's head spun from the revelation. She sank into a chair and looked at the elderly man.
"So, what happens now, Mr. Sterling?"
"Lena, my granddaughter, I am so happy I found you. I have a successful business, a huge house, and plenty of money. But I lacked the most important thing: family. Now I have you. I want you to move in here."
"I have a little son, too. Arthur. He's your great-grandson."
"What a blessing in my old age! And here I thought I was going to die alone." The old man teared up, wheeled himself over to Lena, and took her hand.
***
Lena and little Arthur moved in with his great-grandfather, and they lived very happily together. A year went by. Working in Mr. Sterling's company, Lena proved herself to be very capable and was eventually promoted to an executive position.
One day, Lena was sitting in her office going over some paperwork. Her assistant informed her that a local businessman was asking for a meeting to request financial backing. Lena agreed to see him, but when the man walked in, she looked at him closely and her expression hardened.
"No, Mark. I can't help you with anything. Our firm has a hard-earned reputation. We don't work with partners who lack integrity. Good day."
Lena pressed a button on her intercom to call security and asked them to escort the guest out. He stared at her in stunned silence, unable to believe his eyes. The guard gently took his arm.
"Come along, sir. Did you hear the lady?"
"Why is she here? Who is she?"
"She's the owner's granddaughter. She runs the whole company."
Mark felt like the air had been kicked out of his lungs. Completely lost, he walked out onto the street and put his head in his hands. He realized then the magnitude of the mistake he had made. And now, there was no way to fix it.
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