The Truth She Never Expected
I just stared at her for a while, my mind reeling. Ava clutched my hand, her little face scrunched in confusion. My SIL, Rachel, smirked, clearly enjoying herself.”You hear that, Ava?” she sneered. “Your daddy isn’t really your daddy. Your real mom lied and cheated, and—”
“Enough.” My voice was calm, but firm.Rachel rolled her eyes. “What? You mad because you got caught raising someone else’s kid? What a joke.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to keep my anger in check. “You went behind my back, stole DNA from my brother, and did a test without my consent. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”Rachel scoffed. “Yeah. I exposed the truth.”
I let out a slow breath. “You think you exposed something? Rachel, let me educate you.” I pulled Ava closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Ava isn’t biologically mine. That much is true. But that’s because…” I looked straight into Rachel’s smug face. “She was adopted.”Rachel’s smirk faltered. “W-what?”
I crouched beside Ava, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sweetheart, remember when I told you that you were extra special? That Mommy chose you?” Ava nodded slowly. “Well, that’s what this means. I chose you, just like Mommy and Daddy planned before she passed away.”Ava’s lip trembled, but I could see the understanding settle in.
I turned back to Rachel, whose face was now pale.”You thought you were exposing an affair,” I continued, my voice cold. “But all you did was prove what I already knew: I may not have created Ava, but I am her father. In every way that matters.”
Rachel opened her mouth, but I cut her off.”And let’s talk about what you did. You invaded my privacy. You violated Ava’s trust. You humiliated a child in front of her own father. And for what? To stir up drama?”
Rachel took a step back. “I—I didn’t—””You did. And now, you’re going to leave my house. And you’re going to stay away from my daughter until you learn what family actually means.”
Rachel sputtered, but my brother—who had come in midway through the argument—grabbed her arm. “We’re leaving,” he muttered.As they walked out the door, I knelt beside Ava again. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She thought for a moment. Then she smiled—small, but real. “You chose me?”As they walked out the door, I knelt beside Ava again. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”