Henry is fed up with being the go-between for his wife and her parents, who don’t get along. After a long wait of fifteen years, he finally musters the courage to confront the other person and demand an explanation for the breakdown of their relationship. However, once he uncovers the truth, everything takes a dramatic turn.

I know that family relationships are complicated. I know that issues rise to the surface, fester, and create something ugly. When my wife, Candace, made the difficult decision to distance herself from her family, I stood by her side without hesitation.

Surprisingly, it has been a whole fifteen years without her uttering a single word to them. She refuses to disclose the reason.

«Mom told me I can’t go to Grandma’s house,» our son, Lucas, informed me. «Grandpa is helping me with an assignment.»

I had become accustomed to this familiar pattern — Candace consistently refusing, while Lucas eagerly sought the company of his adoring grandparents.

I assured him that I would take care of it.

After dropping Lucas off at his grandparents’ house, I came back home to the delightful surprise of Candace whipping up a batch of delicious waffles.

«I didn’t want you to take him,» she stated.

«Lucas is adored by your parents. I fail to understand any valid reason for him to not spend time with them. There may be an issue with them, but that doesn’t necessarily imply that he should suffer from it all.»

Candace stared at me, her eyes a captivating shade of blue, and blinked with a gentle slowness.

She said, «They don’t mean anything to me.»

What went wrong was beyond my comprehension. During Candace’s pregnancy with Lucas, her parents were frequent visitors to our home. Her mother prepared a wide array of delicious dishes, catering to her every culinary desire, while her father willingly fulfilled her every request.

They were so close, practically living with us in the week before Lucas was due. However, Candace’s life took a dramatic turn after she welcomed her baby into the world.

«Candace,» I said, watching her enthusiastic pleasure in the delicious waffles. «Can you please share the details of what happened?»

She kept on chewing, avoiding any direct gaze.

«Please, share with me, or I might have to consider filing for divorce. I can’t live a life based on lies.»

She placed her fork on the counter and confidently walked out of the kitchen.

«You want the truth, Henry?» she asked, strolling along. «Let me share the truth with you.»

She entered our study and retrieved a thick file hidden among the old encyclopedias — the very collection her father had purchased upon her request.

She casually handed me the file and exited the room.

I found myself standing there, hunched over my desk, immersed in a sea of documents, medical records, and a handwritten note.

As I read it, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disorientation, as if the world had been thrown off balance.

In a nutshell:

Candace’s parents were determined to have a grandson. It was important for them that we had a boy so that they could give him their businesses and money, which they wouldn’t do for Candace.

Candace’s parents, being influential people, unsurprisingly achieved their desired outcome. Surprisingly, Candace welcomed a baby girl into the world. However, her parents took matters into their own hands upon discovering the gender, resulting in a switch that introduced us to Lucas — our beloved son in every way, except biologically.

As I entered the kitchen, I noticed Candace standing at the sink, her gaze distant and unfocused.

«They managed to get the nurse fired,» she said. «That note she wrote telling me the truth is all that’s left of her. And just like that, she vanished into thin air.»

I poured myself a drink. I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information I had stumbled upon.

«Well, Henry, it’s more than just a simple disagreement. It’s really difficult. It’s survival,» she said.

As we settled into the cozy living room, Candace opened up to me, expressing her desire to share everything. However, she also expressed her fear that I might not fully embrace Lucas as a part of our family.

«We have a biological daughter out there,» she said with a heavy heart.

«Is that the reason your mother convinced you to keep the baby’s gender a surprise?» I asked. My sister had this grand idea of organizing a fancy gender reveal for us, but unfortunately, Candace’s mother declined.

It’s been a few months since we started DNA testing, and we’ve received confirmation that Lucas is not our biological son. We even went as far as considering legal action against the hospital in order to obtain the identification of our daughter.

We had a meeting with the other family and our daughter, Candace, Lucas, and I. Meet Darcy, a charming young lady who shares Candace’s captivating eye color and my own sandy brown hair.

What about Candace’s parents? They’ve transformed into haunting reminders of a bygone era we yearn to leave behind. Legal battles are being fought fiercely — I made it clear to Candace that I am determined to pursue them for every penny they have.

However, both families are now dedicated to the process of healing and rebuilding. We’ve been completely honest with the kids, as Candace firmly believed that only by delving deeper and embracing the truth could we find the answers we needed.

The kids are thriving with the latest updates. We’ve had the opportunity to spend some time with the family. It appears that Lucas appreciates our decision to be transparent with him about the reality of the situation, rather than keeping it hidden. He and Darcy have a great relationship.

I find myself immersed in Candace’s perspective, contemplating how she has endured this pain for such a prolonged period. However, she strongly emphasizes that her ability to endure thus far is solely attributed to Lucas.

If you were in our shoes, what would you have done?