Clara’s marriage to Nathan was overshadowed by his mother Vivian’s relentless criticism, but a shocking discovery turned their rivalry into an unbreakable bond to expose a painful truth.
The drive to Vivian’s house was quiet, Clara already dreading the visit. Vivian had never warmed to her, making their wedding unforgettable for all the wrong reasons by wearing a veil and critiquing Clara’s every move. “She can’t let go of her precious son,” Clara thought, bracing for another round of insults.
At the door, Vivian greeted Nathan with a warm hug. “My darling, I’ve missed you!” she gushed, before turning to Clara with a sneer. “Clara, that dress doesn’t do you any favors.”
Clara forced a smile. “Nice to see you, Vivian.” Dinner was a barrage of complaints: Clara’s cooking, her job, her style—all deemed inadequate. Then Vivian crossed a line. “When are you giving me a grandchild?” she asked, smirking. “Or is something wrong with Clara?”
The jab stung deeply. Clara and Nathan had been trying for a baby for months without success. “That’s none of your business!” Clara snapped. “Maybe it’s Nathan who’s the issue!”
Vivian scoffed. “My son? Perfectly fine. But you, Clara—who knows your past?”
Clara’s anger flared. “You’re impossible!” She turned to Nathan, who was glued to his phone. “Are you just letting her talk like this?”
Vivian smirked. “Nathan, tell your wife to respect me.”
Nathan shrugged. “Sort it out yourselves.”
Vivian leaned closer, suggesting herbal teas for “people like Clara.” Nausea hit Clara hard. “Keep your teas,” she muttered, rushing to the bathroom. Pale and shaken, she told Nathan, “I want to go home.”
Vivian feigned concern. “Sick already? Something you ate here?”
Clara bit back a retort. “Maybe it’s your cooking.” Exhausted, she left it at that.
On the way home, suspicion gnawed at Clara. “Stop at the pharmacy,” she told Nathan. She bought a pregnancy test, and at home, her heart raced as two lines appeared. “Nathan, we’re pregnant!” she exclaimed, beaming.
Nathan’s response was flat. “That’s… nice,” he said, barely looking up. Clara’s joy dimmed, his distance casting a shadow.
Weeks later, awaiting their first doctor’s appointment, Clara noticed Nathan’s growing detachment. When his phone buzzed with a message, curiosity overcame her. Unlocking it with his birth date, she found a photo of another woman and flirty texts calling Nathan a “wealthy CEO”—a lie far from his modest job.
Heart pounding, Clara saved screenshots. When Nathan emerged from the shower, she confronted him. “Who is she?” she demanded, showing the phone.
He snatched it back. “Stay out of my business,” he growled.
“Your business? I’m your pregnant wife!” Clara cried. “You’re cheating!”
Nathan sneered. “Maybe you’re the one cheating. How do I know that baby’s mine?”
Clara reeled. “We’ve been trying for months, and now you question me?” She showed him the texts. “You’ve lied to her too, saying you’re rich!”
Nathan shrugged coldly. “I’m done with this marriage. I’ll take the house and everything else, including Mom’s savings.”
“This house is from my dad!” Clara protested.
“It’s in both our names,” Nathan smirked. “And the baby? Prove it’s mine after it’s born.”
Devastated, Clara turned to Vivian, expecting dismissal. Instead, Vivian listened as Clara revealed Nathan’s affair and lies. Tears filled Vivian’s eyes. “He’s been taking my money, saying it was for your fertility treatments,” she admitted. “I checked—thousands gone.”
Clara shook her head. “He refused to see a doctor. He’s been lying to us both.”
Vivian’s face hardened. “No one hurts my grandchild. You have proof?”
Clara nodded, showing the screenshots. Vivian suggested a DNA test using Nathan’s toothbrush. “Why help me now?” Clara asked.
“I was blind, protecting my son,” Vivian said. “But he’s like his father—a liar. I won’t let you suffer like I did.”
Together, they confronted Nathan. Clara held up her phone. “Sign over the house, agree to divorce, and pay child support, or I expose you to your lover.”
Cornered, Nathan signed the papers, fuming. Unbeknownst to him, Vivian took it further, meeting his lover to reveal his deceit. When Nathan learned, he banged on Clara’s door, shouting, “You promised not to tell!”
Clara stayed calm. “I didn’t.”
Vivian called out, “I did. You forgot what I taught you about honesty.”
Nathan’s threats were cut short as police, alerted by a neighbor, escorted him away. Clara and Vivian sipped tea, their bond forged through shared betrayal and a commitment to protect the unborn child.