**An Unwilling Mistress**
I cant believe itmy own daughter, a homewrecker. Did I really raise someone so shameless, so careless?
“Mum, please… I didnt know…” Emily sniffled, her gaze dropping to the floor as her cheeks flushed.
“Oh, Ive heard it all before! They never know, do they? Playing the innocent lamb while scheming to steal another womans husband. I dont want to see you again. Get out.”
Emily didnt move from the sofa at first. A part of her hoped her mum would stop, take it back, say it was just a cruel jokebut no. She meant every word. To her, Emily wasnt her daughter needing comfort. She was just another scheming temptress.
…I think the ghosts of the past still haunted her.
Twenty years ago, in this very room, little Emily had listened as her grandmother ranted over the phone to a friend.
“Yes, Betty, yes! He was at that Charlottes again last night! Straight from work, no less. Just you waitIll give him a piece of my mind…”
Mum sat nearby, eyes hollow, twisting the strap of her handbag. She was ready to storm out with Gran, hunting for Grandad.
To Emily, this was just normal life. Grandad ran around with other women, while Gran played retired detective. Back then, it seemed to Emily that all women were a bit like spies, and all men were just naturally rotten.
Mums story was almost the sameexcept she refused to endure it. Emily barely remembered those days. Just Mum crying for months before finally throwing Dad out. Not that it changed muchhed never been much of a father anyway.
After that, Mum hardened. Any woman who became “the other woman” was worse than dirt in her eyes.
“Men are animals. Theyll go wherever theyre led. Its the women who chase after married men who are to blame,” shed drilled into Emily.
For years, Emily believed it. Until she was twenty-five, she was convinced all mistresses were predators, out to hurt other women. That changed when something similar happened to her best friend, Lucy.
“Em, can you believe it? He had another girlfriend the whole time! Even before me. He just… used me while they were having problems,” Lucy sobbed into her shoulder.
“But how? Didnt you notice?”
Emily was stunned. Lucy wasnt the typeshe always swore shed only date single men. Yet here she was, not the seductress, but the victim. Maybe hurting even more than the women who were simply cheated on.
“How was I supposed to know? I wasnt going to dig through his phone! And even if I had, he couldve said she was an ex. Were all adultsmost of us have pasts…”
“So what now?”
Lucy pulled back, gaze distant. She already had a plan.
“Todaynothing. Just let me cry on your shoulder, yeah? But tomorrow… tomorrow Im telling her.”
*She wants to hurt her*, Emily thought. But reality was kinder.
“…She deserves to know what kind of man he is. She might curse me out, but I have to say it. If shes decent, well both drop him. He doesnt deserve either of us.”
Something clicked in Emilys mind. Mistresses werent always the enemy. Sometimes, they were just unwilling victims. They hurt too.
Slowly, she realised things werent so black-and-white.
But Mum never changed. And now, Emily had unwillingly become the very thing her mother despised.
For the longest time, Emily avoided relationships altogether. Too many bad examplesGran the detective, Mum raising her alone, Lucy heartbroken by a liar. She thought men couldnt be trusted.
Then she met William. For ages, they were just friendstalking about books, films, their favourite fictional worlds. They checked in on each other, exchanged birthday gifts. No flirting, no hints.
Then he came over with flowers and wine, ordered takeaway, and confessed he liked her.
After that, he visited often. They went to cinemas, cafésnever his place, and not as often as shed like, but she told herself they were busy adults. She preferred slow steps anyway. She was too afraid of being fooled.
Turns out, she was right to be.
“Em… I have to tell you something. Im married. But its only for the kids,” William admitted one day.
If she hadnt been sitting, shed have collapsed. They were in a café. For half a minute, she just sat there, processing, before slamming down money for her tea and cake and standing. Her eyes burned. She just wanted to run.
He grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. You lied. If Id known… I never want to see you again!” She tried to wrench free, but he held on.
“Em, come onits not like Im cheating. Were like flatmates.”
“Excuses! If you loved me, youd have left her first! Let go, or Ill scream!”
She cried on the pavement outside. She refused to let him see her break.
Her heart shattered. The first time she risked love, and this happened. She *knew* better. But shed wanted warmth, closeness…
She stood at the bus stop forever but couldnt face going home alone. She needed someone.
So she called Mum. *Shell understand. Shes been through it.*
“Mum… Can I come over? Im… Im hurting.”
“Of course, love.”
She told Mum everything. Her face darkened at the word *married.*
“Do you even hear yourself? Youre stealing another womans husband!”
“Mum, Im notI wont see him again! How was I supposed to know?”
“Dont lie! You said he never invited you over. It was obvious!”
Emily begged, even showed their messages. No use.
That night was the worst of her life. Betrayed twiceby the man she loved and her own mother.
…Six months passed. Emily healed, mostlythough nights still ached. Not for William, but for Mum. She tried to reconcile, even brought roses for her birthday, but Mum shut the door in her face.
“Stupid. She was always stupid,” Aunt Karen muttered, hearing about the rift.
Then William returneddivorced. Said he was free now, wanted only her. Emily took him back. Actions meant more than words.
They built a life. Had a son. He worked; she stayed home, then returned to her job. Normal. The wound from Mum never fully closed, but it scarred over.
Until six years later, when it tore open again.
“Em… I know how things are, but you should know,” Aunt Karen sighed. “Your mums in hospital. A stroke, I think. You deserve to know. Shes still your mum…”
Emily stopped listening. Her chest turned to stone.
“You should call. Youll regret it if you dont.”
She hesitated for ages. Stared at her phone, rehearsed words. Warm or cold? Would Mum even let her speak?
Turns out, it didnt matter.
“Forget this number! You dont exist to me! Are you trying to kill me?!” Mum shrieked before hanging up.
Emily nearly dropped her phone. She was shaking when William found her. She buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed like that little girl again, left alone while Gran hunted Grandad. He held her, stroked her hair.
“Em…” he said gently. “Youre kind to care. But shes trapped in her pain. She might never let it go.”
“But shes my mum… I cant just”
“Can you even reach her? Do you want to? I love you. Thats enough. Youll never change her mind.”
It didnt fix everything, but it helped. The next day, she almost went to the hospitalbut instead, she walked through the park. She was done suffering, clinging to hope.
Some people never learn to love again. And lifes too short to wait for them.
