The Anniversary Surprise

Part 2 – The Second Surprise

The room was completely silent.

Liam stared at the television as the recording ended.

His mother, Margaret, slowly turned toward him.

“Please tell me that’s not your voice.”

Liam swallowed.

“Mom, I can explain.”

My father leaned forward, his expression hardening.

“Explain what? That you were planning to abandon your wife and three-week-old daughter for another woman?”

Liam looked at me.

“Claire, turn that thing off. We need to talk privately.”

I shook my head.

“Privately? You had no problem discussing our marriage with your girlfriend. Why should we keep anything private now?”

His younger sister, Emily, covered her mouth.

“You’re cheating on Claire? She’s barely recovered from giving birth!”

Liam stood abruptly.

“Everybody needs to calm down. This recording is being taken out of context.”

I smiled faintly.

“Then let’s listen to the rest of the story.”

I picked up another envelope from the table.

Inside were photographs, hotel receipts, restaurant bills, and screenshots of messages between Liam and a woman named Vanessa.

Margaret took one photograph.

Her hands began trembling.

“Vanessa? The woman from your office?”

Liam said nothing.

I continued.

“They’ve been seeing each other for nearly eight months. He started the relationship before I even knew I was pregnant.”

My mother gasped.

“Eight months?”

I nodded.

“And there’s something else. Liam has been telling Vanessa that our house is practically his, that I have no income, and that once we divorce, she’ll move in here.”

Liam slammed his hand against the table.

“Enough, Claire!”

Hailey began crying in her bassinet.

I immediately walked over and lifted my daughter.

“Don’t raise your voice around her.”

For a moment, Liam looked uncomfortable.

Then he turned toward our relatives.

“This is ridiculous. Claire has been emotional since the baby was born. She’s imagining things.”

My father stood.

“Don’t you dare blame her for your betrayal.”

Liam’s face reddened.

He looked at me again.

“What exactly do you want?”

I reached into my handbag and placed a final document beside his plate.

“That’s your third surprise.”

His eyes dropped to the paper.

It was a copy of the divorce petition, already prepared and reviewed by my attorney.

His expression changed.

“You’re divorcing me?”

“Yes.”

“Over one mistake?”

I almost laughed.

“One mistake? You lied to me for months. You betrayed me while I was carrying your child. And you planned to leave us as soon as it became convenient.”

He lowered his voice.

“Claire, we can work this out.”

I shook my head.

“You had eight months to work things out. You chose another woman.”

Then I looked around the table.

“Thank you all for coming. I didn’t want anyone hearing a different version of what happened later.”

Emily walked over and hugged me.

“I’m so sorry.”

I held Hailey closer.

For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.

But Liam wasn’t finished.

He leaned toward me and whispered something that made my blood run cold.

“You’ll regret this. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

I looked straight into his eyes.

“Actually, Liam, I think I’m finally beginning to understand.”

And I knew the evening wasn’t over yet.