Sam had a small, distinct birthmark on the sole of his foot. Ella remembered noticing it once, thinking it was unique and sweet.
But now, in the middle of the night, her memory took her somewhere else—to Eric. He had a nearly identical birthmark in the exact same spot.
In the morning, she confronted Eric.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
His eyes filled with shame. He sat down, head in his hands.
Then, finally, the truth spilled out.
A Secret Affair… and a Child
Years ago, during a dark time in their marriage—when Ella was going through her most painful round of IVF—Eric had a one-night affair with a woman he met at a bar.
“It meant nothing,” he insisted. “It was a mistake. I was scared. Lost. I didn’t even know she was pregnant. I had no idea.”
But somehow, fate had brought Sam into their lives. The same child who now called Ella “Mom” was, by blood, Eric’s biological son.
Eric was terrified. Not of being a father—but of being found out. He was willing to return Sam to the agency rather than face the truth, rather than admit he had betrayed Ella during the most vulnerable time in her life.
A Mother’s Strength
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