The Lie After Thanksgiving

The Moment of Truth

From the underwater tunnel to the bay exhibit, Silas walked the entire way holding Iris’s hand and the boy’s hand.

He'd bend down from time to time, speaking softly as he explained what kind of animal they were looking at and what its habits were. He'd take out his phone and volunteer to take photos for Iris and the boy.

When they passed a souvenir stand, he even sought out a staff member and bought a baseball cap printed with a beluga whale—because Iris and the boy both liked it and wanted him to wear it.

Looking at that ridiculous cap on Silas' head, I found it hard to breathe.

I couldn't comprehend. From lovers to husband and wife, Silas and I had spent a full seven years together. In those seven years, when his startup failed, I swallowed my pride and begged my father to invest, only to be mocked behind my back as a woman throwing herself at a man.

When his endless business dinners ruined his stomach, I woke up at 5 a.m. to cook him stomach-nourishing food. He said he liked children, and on the operating table, I had even thought about choosing the baby over myself.

For Silas. For this family. I had truly tried.

My son sensed my trembling. He looked up and threw himself into my arms. "Mommy, don't cry. You still have me."

That's right. I still had Felix. My child. I still had him.

As for Silas—after this day, I would drive him out of this family for good.

Wiping away my tears, I took my son to the main event of the day: the whale and dolphin theater.

Silas had bribed the staff to prepare a birthday surprise here for Iris' child. The show began, and the animals appeared one by one under the trainers' guidance. Near the end, the lights suddenly dimmed. A staff member pushed a birthday cake onto the stage. Silas carried the boy in his arms, with Iris following behind, and the three of them walked up to the cake together.

"Happy birthday, Harry!" Silas held the microphone, wearing the picture-perfect expression of a devoted father. "To my little prince—may you always be safe and happy. Daddy loves you."

Iris' eyes reddened with emotion as she laughed and cried at the same time. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and hug your daddy!"

The family of three looked blissful, like something straight out of a painting. The surrounding audience was moved as well, sighing softly around my son and me.

"Now that's a man fit to be a father. He treats his kid unbelievably well."

"I can't even imagine how happy it'd be to be his child. Good dads are always someone else's—we can only envy them."

"And not just the kid. He's great to his wife too. You can tell he's a real family man."

My heart froze inch by inch, listening to those words. My son even covered his ears and buried his face in my arms. Silas and Iris couldn't see us. They basked smugly in the admiration pouring in from all directions.

The atmosphere peaked.

Just as Silas took the boy's hand and was about to cut the cake, I raised my phone. "Eli, I'm ready."

The feed connected to the giant screen flickered rapidly, then froze on the center of the audience. Silas frowned, about to demand an explanation from the staff, when I stood up holding my son's hand.

My face appeared on the big screen, my voice amplified through the microphone and echoing across the entire venue. "Sir, I'd like to ask you something. If the woman on stage is your wife, and the boy is your son—who are we? Tell everyone. Who are we?"

The smiles on Silas' and Iris' faces instantly vanished.