Husband of Lies, Son of None

[Dear Jack,

By the time you read this, I'll be gone.

Don't be sad, and please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye.

I've watched you get married, start a family, and build a career you're proud of.

Now, I can finally rest easy. It's time for me to fulfill my promise to your mother.]

Each word was a dagger, slicing through the last fragile thread holding my heart together.

I couldn't believe it.

I was the only fool left in the dark.

Jack knew.

He knew who his real mother was. He knew Sebastian's plans. And he helped Sebastian hide the truth from me — the woman who raised him, who poured her whole life into making sure he had everything he needed.

What did my decades of devotion mean to them?

Nothing.

Hands shaking, I forced myself to keep going.

And the next part? It broke me.

[As for your stepmother, I've made arrangements. She's old and frail now—a burden more than a help.

I've been slipping poison into her painkillers. It won't take long. When she dies, say it was natural causes and bury her quietly. Even if the police investigate, they'll trace it back to me.

Once she's gone, everything will be yours.

Jack, I will always be watching, making sure your life runs smoothly. Don't forget—bury my ashes, along with the letters in the drawer, next to your mother.]

The room tilted.

I couldn't breathe—each gasp clawing at my chest like I was suffocating in the silence.

Thirty years of memories slammed into me. Jagged. Brutal. Like shards of glass.

I saw Sebastian and Jack, sneaking off every March for their little "father-son day." Never once inviting me.

I heard Jack's tantrums as a kid—screaming, "You're not my real mom!" every time he didn't get his way.

I thought it was just neighborhood gossip. I even confronted people, told them to stop spreading lies.

But last year, after Jack's wedding, Gigi casually mentioned visiting a cemetery. Sebastian had shut her down fast, like it was some dirty secret.

Now? It all lined up.

Everyone knew.

Everyone but me.

Even Gigi.

I'd been a fool for thirty years.

But now?

Now, I was wide awake.

That final blow? It knocked me clean out of my fog.

For the first time in years, I felt calm. Cold. Sharp.

I glanced at the letter in my hand. Solid proof — everything I needed to burn their perfect little scheme to the ground.

Turns out, I was not as dumb as I thought.

I grabbed my phone and snapped photos of every single letter. Front, back, every page. When I was sure I had it all, I carefully placed the originals back, exactly how I found them. No trace. No mistakes.

Then I headed to my room. Dumped my painkillers into a small bag and slipped it into my pocket.

Next, I tore through the house like I was on a mission — bankbooks, cash, property deeds. Every important document went into a bag. Our marriage certificate. My ID.

No one was touching my assets.

Not now.

Not ever.

Once everything was packed, I made my way to Sebastian's room.

There he was. Sprawled on the bed, looking like some washed-up king. His breathing was faint, steady. Warm air brushed the back of my hand.

Still alive.

I snorted. "Tough old bastard."

Leaning in, I whispered, "Since you're so eager to die... let me help you."

Without a second thought, I grabbed the bottle of sleeping pills from his nightstand and shoved them down his throat. All of them.

When I was sure he'd swallowed every last one, I straightened up, closed the bedroom door behind me, and left without looking back.