Chapter 4The husband brought his illegitimate child home.

The next day, I took Mark's son to the local orphanage. I told them his parents had died in a tragic accident.

Just as I was leaving, a kind-looking middle-aged couple arrived, looking to adopt. They were immediately drawn to Mark's son.

"His parents just passed away," the director told them. "It seems like fate that you're here today."

I watched them for a moment, then walked over and gave them my contact information.

When I got home, I sat down with my mother-in-law to plan our future. When I married Mark, he had wanted me to be a stay-at-home wife, so I had quit my stable government job. Now, with him gone, our only source of income was gone, too. I had my savings, but they wouldn't last forever.

"Mom," I said, "I want to start my own business."

She immediately took off the heavy gold bracelet she always wore. "You'll need capital. Take this. You can sell it if you need to."

I gently put the bracelet back on her wrist. "I can't, Mom. Dad gave that to you. It's too precious."

"Mark may be a scumbag," I told her, "but you've been nothing but good to me. I won't abandon you."

She burst into tears and hugged me. I had my own selfish reasons, of course. A single mother, trying to work and raise a child alone, would have a much harder time without support. With my mother-in-law's help, I could focus on building a future for my child.

My small business started to grow. My belly grew, too. The day I opened my first franchise location, my son was born. I held him in my arms and laughed at Mark's stupidity. He had a good life, and he threw it all away.

By the time my son was four, he started to notice the absence of a father. I decided not to lie to him. I told him the truth. It was harsh, but better than a lifetime of lies.

Three years later, my son was enrolled in the best private school in the city. My company went public. I was named one of the top female entrepreneurs of the year. We moved into a large house and hired help. My mother-in-law spent her days at yoga classes and beauty salons, picking up her grandson from school in the afternoons.

We had completely forgotten about Mark.

But some people just can't stay dead.

After years of silence, the old mom's group was suddenly active again. The mistress, still posting from an overseas location, wrote:

"Ladies, after all these years in Europe, my health is failing. I had to have a hysterectomy last year. My man and I miss our son so much. Is there any way for us to be a family again?"