The Bitter Revelation

 Chapter One: *

The Bitter Revelation

“Mum, what are you doing? Are we still going or not?” my son, Simeon, asks impatiently from the hallway. His wide eyes gleam with excitement, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in my heart.

I glance at myself in the mirror, forcing a smile that feels heavier than it should. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re going to surprise Daddy. He’s going to love it.” My voice sounds distant, as if I’m speaking to someone else.

Deep down, a gnawing feeling has been festering ever since last night. My husband didn’t come home. He hadn’t even called. I’d pushed away the unease, chalking it up to his busy work life. Not that this was his first time, but today is a special day and he should celebrate it with his family regardless of his hectic work.

I pull on my jacket, smoothing down my dress, trying to cover the anxiety that gnaws within me. After all, we’re going to his office to surprise him on his 34th birthday. Surely, that’ll make everything right.

“We’re leaving now, Simeon!” I call, taking his hand as we step out of the house.

The mansion feels strangely cold today—empty, despite its luxurious comforts. I ignore the eerie quiet as we walk down the driveway and hail a cab.

As we sit in the backseat, Simeon chatters about the cake we ordered, the one with ‘Happy Birthday, Daddy’ scrawled on top in bold, cheerful letters. His excitement is contagious, but my heart pounds in a different rhythm. What if… No, I won’t let my mind wander there. Not today.

We pull up to the company, and I pay the cab driver, taking a deep breath. I squeeze Simeon’s hand, mustering all the courage I have.

“Good morning,” I say to the gatekeeper with a nervous smile. “I’m Mrs. Leo, here to see Mr. Leo. His wife.” My words feel almost rehearsed, as though I’m trying to convince myself of my own identity.

The gatekeeper’s eyes narrow, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “Mrs. Leo? You mean the CEO’s wife?”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yes. I’m here to surprise him for his birthday.”

Before he could respond, a tall and impeccable woman showed up at the gate.

 The gatekeeper turns to her with a welcoming smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Leo. We’ve been expecting you.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“What? No… I’m Mrs. Leo. Who is she?” I stammer, the ground beneath me tilting as if I’m about to fall.

“Mummy, why is he calling her Mrs. Leo?” Simeon’s voice wavers, confusion etched across his innocent face.

The gatekeeper glances at us, his brow furrowing as if he’s trying to solve an impossible puzzle. “That’s Mrs. Leo, the CEO’s wife. She’s the one he introduced to all of us. I’m sorry, but are you sure you’re in the right place?”

My world starts to crumble. I can feel it—bit by bit, everything I thought I knew is unraveling. My mind races, trying to grasp some explanation, any explanation, but none come. The woman, the one who was welcomed as my husband’s wife, walks past us with a smug smile. Her presence makes me feel small, insignificant.

“No… there must be a mistake,” I whisper, more to myself than to the gatekeeper. “I’m his wife. I’m the one who’s supposed to be here, not her”

I want to scream, to demand answers, but the words lodge in my throat, blocked by a pain so deep I can’t breathe. The gatekeeper, sensing my distress, softens his voice. “Let me go inform him.”

I nod numbly, clutching Simeon’s hand like a lifeline. My son, my precious boy, doesn’t deserve this confusion. His wide eyes are now filled with tears, reflecting the hurt I’m trying so hard to contain.

The minutes drag on like hours. My heart beats faster with every passing second, but it’s not the anticipation of a birthday surprise anymore. It’s dread—pure, unrelenting dread.

Finally, the gatekeeper returns. His face is grim, and in that moment, I know. I know before he even speaks.

“I’m so sorry, ma'am,” he says, not meeting my eyes. “Mr. Leo says he doesn’t know you. He instructed me not to let you in.”

The world stops.

No.

“No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Don't tell me he told you that, it's not possible . We have a life together. We have a son. I refuse to believe it” My hands tremble as I pull out my phone, dialing his number. It rings once… twice… then straight to voicemail. I try again. Blocked.

“Le… Leo?” I murmur, barely able to speak his name, as if the mere sound of it could shatter me completely.

“Mummy, why isn’t Daddy picking up?” Simeon asks, his voice small and fragile.

I blink back tears, forcing a smile I don’t feel. “Dad’s busy, sweetheart. He’ll be home tonight. Everything will be fine.” The lie slips so easily from my lips, but the truth is clawing at me from the inside, begging to be acknowledged.

Simeon’s next question is a dagger straight to my heart. “Is Daddy not interested in us anymore?”

I pull him close, stroking his hair as silent tears roll down my cheeks. How can I answer that when I don’t even know the answer myself? I wave down a cab, pulling Simeon into the backseat. My mind is a whirlwind of unanswered questions, of heartbreak and betrayal, but I can’t let him see that. Not yet.

The ride home is quiet. Too quiet. And the emptiness of our mansion feels suffocating when we return. I try to keep busy, to keep Simeon distracted, but the truth is I’m barely holding on.

Night falls, and I wait. I wait for a phone call from him, a phone call that will explain everything, a phone call that will explain the woman who his gatekeeper referred to as Mrs. Leo. A phone call that will explain why my son and I are not allowed to enter after everything I have done.

I open the message, and my heart stops.

“Move on. I don’t need you. It’s over. My lawyer will send the papers.”**

The finality of those words is like a death sentence.