When my estranged father, who left 20 years ago, called from his deathbed, I was torn between anger and curiosity. His final wish revealed shocking truths.
I was getting ready for bed when an unfamiliar number called, followed by a text: “ALICE, THIS IS YOUR DAD. PLEASE CALL, I AM IN THE HOSPITAL.” My heart stopped. Dad? After twenty years? Curiosity won, and I called back.
“Dad?”
“Alice, it’s me. I… I don’t have much time.”
“Why are you calling now?”
“I need to explain… to ask something of you. But please, don’t tell your mother.” He revealed that my grandfather paid him to disappear because he thought Dad was a failure. “I took the money to secure your future.”
“Why didn’t you come back?”
“I couldn’t. But I watched from a distance, saw your graduation, your volleyball games.”
I felt my world tilt. “Why didn’t Mom tell me?”
“Maybe she thought she was protecting you.”
“What do you want now?”
“I need to see you, Alice. One last time before I go.”
I decided to go. At the hospital, he looked frail. “Alice,” he whispered.
“Why did you do it, Dad?”
“I thought it was the best way to secure a future for you. I wrote letters every year. They’re in a safety deposit box.”
After his death, I found the letters. They were filled with his regrets and love. I confronted Mom, who admitted she thought it was best for me too.
In the end, I used the money to start a scholarship fund in his name, honoring his memory and sacrifices.
I Checked into a Hotel and Found Out My Husband Was There Too, but with Someone Else
When Clara met a woman at the hotel who turned out to be with her husband, Tom, her adventure took an unexpected turn. Clara’s initial reaction to the betrayal was a mixture of astonishment, bewilderment, and wrath. She refrained from letting these feelings completely control her, though. Rather, she moved to exact some sort of retribution on Tom and his mistress.
Clara made the decision to speak with Tom face-to-face. She was blunt in her expression of disappointment and self-worth. She was quite clear that she expected better from him and that his behavior was intolerable. Tom did not reply or make an effort to defend himself, but Clara was unwavering in her resolve to dissolve the union.After learning this information, Clara felt strong and realized she deserved a spouse that respected and valued her.
Clara took comfort in her career and its potential even as she struggled with the betrayal. She knew that greater things were coming, so she set out to pursue her career with a sense of resolve.In the end, Clara’s handling of the matter demonstrated her fortitude and resiliency in the face of difficulty. She made the decision to put her own health and opportunities for the future first, and she went on with a fresh sense of purpose.
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