*The door creaked as James pushed it open, his mothers voice sharp behind him.*
**”Think carefully, boy, before its too late!”** Margarets grip tightened on her teacup. **”That lad is nothing like you. Your Emily probably had him with her ex and now wants you to foot the bill! I know women like her!”**
**”Mum, enough!”** James jaw clenched. **”Daniel is my son. Why do you always stir trouble?”** He snatched his coat. **”Im going home.”**
Margaret had raised James alone. Between them, there had always been unspoken loyaltyhe never disobeyed, never disrespected her, aced every exam. He became an engineer, just as shed dreamed. Now, it was time to settle his heart. Shed handpicked Charlotte, her dear friend Beatrices daughter, as his bride.
Under Margarets watchful eye, James and Charlotte dated, but the spark never caught. After months of stiff dinners, they parted ways. Then he met Emily. Love struck like lightningher wit matched his, her laughter felt like home. They married within three months, to Margarets horror. Six months later, Emily was pregnant. A boy, Daniel, was born.
It should have been perfect.
But Margaret loathed Emily. Every visit was a barbed performance.
**”Look at the state of you!”** She clicked her tongue as James adjusted his wrinkled shirt. **”Like a man whos given up.”**
**”Mum, its just laundry.”**
**”Sit. Eat. That wife of yours probably cant boil an egg.”**
**”Emily cooks fine.”**
**”Frozen rubbish, more like. Charlotte bakes proper Victoria sponges. A real talent, that girl.”**
James deflected, never letting Emily hear the poison. But Margarets glacial war wore onuntil the day her whispers bore fruit.
**”Why doesnt Emily visit?”** Margaret stirred her tea, slow and deliberate. **”Unless shes busy with *him*that layabout Christopher. The boys the spit of him. Not yours, James. Open your eyes!”**
That night, James stormed out after their ugliest row. He barely greeted Daniel before snapping at Emily.
**”Saw Christopher today, did you?”**
Emily froze. **”Ran into him at the park. He bought Daniel an ice lolly. Thats all.”**
**”Whys *he* walking my wife and son home?”** James voice cracked. **”Is Daniel even mine?”**
Emilys eyes flashed. **”Are you serious?”**
The first crack became a chasm. Arguments turned routine. One day, Emily packed Daniels things and left for her parents in Bristol.
The divorce was swift. James paid child support, convinced Daniel wasnt hisbut never proved it. Margaret crowed in triumph, reviving her campaign for Charlotte.
James caved. They married.
And life became a gilded cage.
**”Henrys wife just got a *second* mink!”** Charlottes lip curled. **”The Williams upgraded to a Mercedes. And here I am, slumming it in last seasons coat. Are you even a man?”**
Fifteen years passed. James worked double shifts; Charlotte lounged in spas, childless by choice. When Margaret suffered a stroke, Charlotte refused to care for her. **”Dump her in a home.”**
**”I could quit work”**
**”And howd we pay my Lexus loan?”**
Margaret died in that home. James returned, shatteredand walked in on Charlotte with their neighbor.
No scene. No words. Just a suitcase and his mothers empty flat.
At the funeral, grief curdled into regret. *Why had he listened?* His life was ruinsno family, no joy. Even the car was Charlottes.
Then he remembered. *Daniel must be nineteen now.*
The next morning, James boarded a train to Bristol. He found Emilys old address, rang the bellnothing. He waited. Then
A young man turned the corner.
*His own face, twenty years younger.*
**”Daniel”** James voice broke. **”Son”**
**”You?”** Daniels stare was glacial. **”Why are you here?”**
**”II was wrong. Look at you. *Just like me.* Wheres your mum?”**
**”Gone.”** Daniels tone couldve frozen hell. **”Car crash. Ten years now.”**
**”Who cares for you? Let me help”**
**”Gran and I want *nothing* from you.”**
The door slammed. James crumpled against it, sobbing.
**”Daniel! PleaseIm your *father*!”**
But the silence swallowed him whole.
