[Music] I recall the days before everything fell apart as if they belonged to a different life Susan and I had been together for 6 years and from the outside our marriage appeared nearly perfect we both had put in time and love to create a home and when we decided to start a family it felt like the final piece of the puzzle was falling into place our relationship wasn't without its challenges my job often kept me away from for weeks and there was an unspoken loneliness between us that we never fully addressed yet I believed we
were strong enough to endure anything when Susan told me she was pregnant I was thrilled the idea of becoming a father gave me a renewed sense of purpose and I threw myself into preparing for the baby we spent hours choosing names painting the nursery and planning for our future I even started working closer to home to be more present for her and the baby for months life seemed to be on a wonderful path but I would soon find out that beneath the surface things were already falling apart the scene was almost perfect like something from
a nostalgic painting of family happiness though it wasn't the kind that would Grace a magazine cover my mother-in-law stood on one side of the hospital bed and my own mother was on the other both watching Susan and our newborn daughter who was bosom feeding newborns aren't conventionally cute but to parents and grandparents they're perfect as I watched I couldn't deny that our daughter was indeed beautiful her skin had changed from blotchy red to soft pink and the waxy coating from birth had been cleaned away even her head initially cone-shaped had rounded out giving her a
soft Angelic look I had a feeling she would grow to look like her mother Susan my wife of 6 years whom I had always seen as the love of my life I quietly observed Susan nursing our baby while both our mothers offered unnecessary advice still Susan seemed naturally skilled likely thanks to the parenting classes we had attended which thoroughly covered bosom feeding and newborn care as I stepped aside a nurse and another woman entered the room this is Miss dinkin from Administration she has the birth certificate application for you to fill out the nurse whose
name I couldn't recall informed us in any other setting a woman nursing her baby without a shirt While others handled paperwork might seem strange but here it was normal take your time finish nursing your baby Miss Jenkins said to Susan when you're ready fill in the highlight sections most of the information we need is probably in your hospital records like your date and place of birth but we'll also need both your full names your maiden name your ages and a few other details we'll take care of the rest and send it to the Parish courthouse
you'll get a copy of the birth certificate in the mail in a couple of weeks with that Miss Jenkins Turned and Left honey why don't you fill in the details I'm a bit tied up right now Susan said with a smile I didn't return the smile no no I think I'll leave it to you for later once you're not busy with the baby I replied besides we should probably wait until the DNA test results come back to confirm if I'm really the father If This Were A Movie you'd imagine the sound of a record needle
screeching to a stop everything froze three of the Four Women stared at me mouths a gape in shock the fourth the baby was the only one not looking but she was the only one who made a sound when her feeding was suddenly interrupted her cry barely covered the collective Gap asps my mother-in-law was the first to speak are you out of your mind why would you even suggest something like that she shouted glancing at Susan whose face shifted from shock to confusion and then to anger how dare you accuse me of having someone else's baby
what kind of woman do you think I am Susan shot back then she hesitated attempting a weak smile oh I get it it's April Fool's Day you're pulling a prank on us well it's not funny at all you should know better her body language told a different story her shock was unmistakable I stood there watching her I'm completely serious I said coldly there's a real chance I'm not the father how could you possibly think i' cheat on you have I ever given you any reason to suspect me name one time I've given you cause to
think I'm seeing someone else she demanded ignoring her question I continued so you're going with your usual response deny deny deny and you're doing it with a straight face too I've got to say I'm impressed I turned to my mother-in-law maybe I should move the car seat from my car to yours so you can take her in the baby home this afternoon it would be helpful if you could stay with Susan for a while although both you and Mom have offered before we insisted we could handle it but she could really use the support since
I won't be around as I started to leave the room a firm command from behind stopped me in my tracks stop right there Jason Louis funno my mother's voice demanded my attention I aled turned and faced her bracing myself for what was coming both my mother and mother-in-law exchanged worried glances while Susan began sobbing uncontrollably no you can't leave me and little Connie she's our baby you're her daddy Susan cried before responding to my mother I addressed Susan I know I'm supposed to be the daddy but am I actually the father there's a difference you
know my mom snapped me back to attention with a poke to my chest she closed the small gap between us grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me close locking eyes with me like she did when I was a kid what the hell is wrong with you Jason why this sudden stupidity you can't back out of fatherhood now that's done you were thrilled when Sue told us she was pregnant you've been devouring baby care books buying and assembling the crib changing table and everything for the nursery you even painted it pink and yellow with
cute little animals every week you bring home a new toy some she won't use until she's walking mom paused giving giving me a piercing look so what's with the sudden change of heart I've had a bit of an epiphany I admitted I'm not as eager about this anymore I'm sure you've noticed hey Tony my mother-in-law chimed in we've all noticed you haven't held Connie or even really looked at her we thought the reality of being a dad was just sinking in what's going on if that baby's mine I'll do everything to take care of her
and be a great father I declared so intensely that both my mother and Tony stepped back I was fully committed but that changed last week when I found out I might not be the father I'm not bonding with a child I won't be raising what came the outcry from three voices nearly in unison I'll provide for her if she's mine but if not Clive Adams can take responsibility for his own child I said loudly At The Mention Of that name Susan suddenly Cried Out Clive and I never did anything we've never been physical engaged how
can you accuse me of that as I moved closer to the foot of her bed mom and Tony exchanged glances their eyes darting between Susan in me really you're still going to deny that you had an affair for almost 6 months and only ended it 7 months ago after finding out you were pregnant and telling him from what I've heard he told you to make sure I never found out Susan's face flushed no we absolutely did not anyone who says otherwise is lying who is Clive Adams and who told you about this so-called Affair Tony
demanded her voice Rising I want to know who's spreading lies about my daughter ignoring the first question I answered the second Clive Adams himself I said quietly before Tony could react and perhaps because of her exhaustion and distress Susan blurted it out Clive would never tell you that he promised Tony looked back and forth between her daughter and me catching on to Susan's slip I need to know exactly what you know she said firmly I paused before addressing Susan Clive spilled everything he confessed it all but to be fair he was under a lot of
pressure at the time and he let it all out in the middle of his screams I admitted that's nonsense Susan replied her voice shaky Clive was just fine when he called me yesterday to check on me and the baby her exhaustion after giving birth was apparent and she may not have realized the slip up but her words hit us all Tony slumped a bit and I glanced at my mother who was wide-eyed taking it all in so you're still in touch with your old flame I said did he give you more advice on how to
keep me in the dark about him possibly being the father Susan broke down into sobs her crying so intense that two nurses rushed into the room we were so careful there was no way you could have known no one knew Susan sobbed she's just a little overwhelmed I told the first nurse who shot me a protective glare on behalf of her patient I suppose my tone might have sounded odd to her we were just discussing potential fathers to put on the birth certificate application I added the nurse continued to look at me with suspicion well
it seems she expects me to fill in my name but I'd rather wait until we know for sure if I'm the father or if it's the guy she was seeing when she got pregnant I could tell by the nurse's expression that she was starting to understand she turned her attention to comforting Susan Miss font no let's calm down now remember your breathing techniques from labor Cheryl will get something to help you relax if needed but let's try natural methods first we don't want anything passing into your milk right so let's start with some deep breathing
inhale with me deeply as I watched the nurse soothing Susan I didn't notice my mom and mother-in-law approaching you need to explain what's going on my mom whispered sharply I was startled mom rarely spoke this way but she'd done it twice today clearly something big was happening judging by Sue's reaction my mother-in-law added I want to know the full story what when and how this is completely unexpected well it should be obvious I replied glaring at both women I was getting annoyed that I was the target of their frustration Not Susan she was involved with
a coworker when she got pregnant at least one other man besides me I can't say for sure if there were more Susan pulled herself together surprisingly fast considering she'd seemed on the verge of a breakdown just moments earlier we were so careful she asked her voice filled with desperation how I saw the same questioning look from my mom and Tony they were eager to know more yes you were very discreet I had no idea IDE neither did anyone else I admitted but Clive being the Charming Seducer he is couldn't resist bragging he needed to show
off his conquests this time his latest one he couldn't help himself you know Cheryl Watkins right I asked and Susan nodded Cheryl had been her cooworker for years Cheryl and her husband Steve were part of our Social Circle well Clive almost convinced Cheryl to meet him at a hotel her biggest fear was that he might talk and her husband would find out she wasn't sure she could trust him to stay quiet so to prove he could keep a secret he spilled the details of his past Affairs whatever you want to call them conquests hookups girlfriends
he dropped a few names and gave enough details to make her believe him he even asked if she could guess who else he'd been involved with excluding his public girlfriends married women or single women from work of course she couldn't so to further convince her he mentioned some women from the office she knew the one before you was Sandy she backed out after a few months when her husband got suspicious then it was you for 6 months but you ended things when you found out you were pregnant Clive told Cheryl you were hoping your husband
was the baby's father but he wasn't willing to keep the affair going he made sure Cheryl understood how crucial it was that your husband meaning me never found out because he thought I might leave you and not want to deal with child support during that time you were very open about your pregnancy you were happy and shared the news with everyone at work but despite your excitement I noticed you didn't show any concern about who the baby's father was it seemed like you assumed I wouldn't question it and even if I did I'd stay committed
to the child and ignore any doubts but that's not something I was willing to accept I paused briefly letting my words sink in Susan sat in silence her face betraying emotions she struggled to hide Tony and Mom listened intently absorbing every word they wanted answers just as much as I did it turns out Lana Richard was Clive's next Affair her husband grew suspicious when she suddenly started working late so she had to be cautious she ended up being late to pick up their youngest from daycare a few times with this disruption in his bed life
Clive shifted his attention to Cheryl and succeeded again as I said he's a smooth talker telling her exactly what she wanted to hear to win her over apparently he's also quite skilled in bed keeping his married partner satisfied and coming back for months Tony and Mom exchanged glances then turned to Susan and how exactly did Cheryl end up confessing mom asked trying to piece everything together it wasn't on purpose I explained apparently Cheryl's quite vocal during closeness I added making Tony winse she accidentally called out Clive's name In the Heat of the Moment her husband
Steve pushed her about it and she confessed I chuckled recalling the story Steve had shared over a beer Cheryl wasn't one for Primal noises like Susan she preferred to say exactly what she wanted during closeness according to Steve one night Cheryl shouted give it to me Clive I love it Steve Steve sounds nothing like Clive and of course Steve knew him he was well aware of Clive's reputation as a womanizer or as we guys say a ladies man he connected the dots and confronted Cheryl that's how he explained it to me Mom and Tony look
shocked by the details unable to hide their reactions when Larry Lana's husband found out he was Furious as you know Larry's a police officer and being in law enforcement adds another level of complexity he kept quiet for a week waiting for the baby to arrive before taking Tak any action we didn't want to put any extra stress on Susan in her final stages of pregnancy but now that the baby is here it's time to be upfront about what Clive has done and the Fallout that comes with it Tony's face turned pale her disbelief obvious so
you're telling me this Clive Adams was involved with several women including my daughter and there's a chance Connie is his she asked her voice shaking with anger and disappointment yes I responded bluntly and Clive has no idea or maybe he does and just doesn't care about the damage he's caused silence filled the room for a moment before my Mom finally spoke so what's the next step I sighed feeling the weight of my decisions I've already submitted a DNA test I spoke with the head nurse the day after the baby was born since Susan and I
are married I didn't need her consent to test the baby I opted for an expedited test and it'll take two to three days to get the results Tony hesitantly asked do you think you could find it in your heart to forgive Sue and move on even if you're not the baby's biological father I noticed she referred to the child as the baby instead of using her name a small but telling shift from her usual way of speaking Tony was perceptive and could read me well but it was clear she still held on to some hope
glancing at my mom I saw that she had already figured out my feelings and while she understood she wasn't happy about it to be honest I'm not sure I can move past this even if I am the father I admitted I've had just over a week to process it this wasn't a one-time mistake like a drunken fling it was a six-month Affair I can't trust her anymore she didn't just disrespect me and our marriage she risked getting pregnant by that guy while we were actively trying for a baby she told the whole family that we
decided to conceive her continued affair with Clive shows me she didn't care who the father of her child was have you considered coup's therapy my mom interjected possibly trying to cut off any arguments from Susan's family and remember the baby it's not her fault that little girl will need a father even if you're not her biological dad you could still be her daddy I sighed again like I said earlier mom I doubt therapy will help what I really want to understand is where I went wrong as a husband there had to be something I did
or didn't do that led Susan to betray me it's not like she was looking to replace me Clive's a known womanizer he'd never commit to her and I'm sure she knew that shaking my head I felt the frustration Rising I'm trying not to say the hard har things that are on my mind neither of them deserves my anger right now but I'm on edge and close to snapping aside from the physical attraction or maybe some thrill I can't see any other reason for this I thought our relationship was strong both women listened quietly as I
continued you can imagine how shattered I've been since I found out just like you said Mom I was so excited about becoming a father then out of nowhere everything collapsed my entire world fell apart honestly at this point I almost hope I'm not the father both women seemed surprised by my admission that way I wouldn't have to deal with being a part-time dad honestly I'm not sure I can handle interacting with Susan even if the baby is mine that's going to take a lot of therapy just then the nurse came out of the room and
said Mr font no your wife wants to speak with you she mentioned she knows you're still here otherwise her mother would have returned by now she seemed to convey some sympathy toward my feelings at least that's how it appeared but she stopped me before I could head back in if you do go in I hope you can stay calm I understand you're upset but please try not to upset her further we'd rather avoid using sedation she scheduled for discharge this afternoon and it wouldn't be ideal to give her extra medication that could pass to the
baby through her milk based on your childbirth classes I'm sure you know how important colostrum and early bosom milk are for the baby's immune system I nodded realizing she was appealing to my concern for the baby's well-being regardless of whose child it was maybe you should go talk to her mom gently suggested Tony and I can grab some coffee hand me your car keys and we'll move the car seat I'll wait for you to finish Oh and before you leave swing by the nursery and take a good look at Connie I think she looks a
lot like you when you were born wishful thinking Mom or are you just seeing what you want to see I asked she Shrugged clearly unhappy with the situation I knew that if I was the father she would be deeply involved in helping raise the baby regardless of what happened between Susan and me mom was already invested in her role as a grandmother just as i' been preparing for fatherhood it was obvious she hadn't fully accepted the possibility that the baby might not be her grandchild I entered the room and as soon as Susan saw me
she broke down crying again you must hate me she sobbed no I don't hate you that's the problem I replied trying to stay calm I hate what you did and I'm so angry I can barely think straight deep down I wanted to shake her and storm out if there wasn't the small chance the baby was mine I would have left already but I needed answers do you really want to talk now or would you prefer a few extra days to figure out how to explain this I asked my tone clearly sharp I don't need days
Susan began but I cut her off even though I wanted answers you've had nine months to think about what to say if I ever found out you were cheating with Clive Adams of all people my voice shook as I said his name Clive Adams I repeated pausing to take a few deep breaths no I didn't think he might be the father that was you I thought I was having our baby not his Susan defended herself your baby I might be the father but it seems doubtful I shot back to her credit she looked genuinely shocked
oh come on I was still offshore on a rig during the first week of July when you supposedly got pregnant most of it anyway I checked my work schedules to be sure I remember coming home near the end of the week and we made up for lost time we were physical engaged right away just like usual or how we used to be I thought that's when you got pregnant that's what I told the guys at work I had no idea Clive was in the picture as soon as Susan started to protest I interrupted again what
about the weeks before that right until I got off the helicopter did you have him over while I was away move him in did you sleep with him in our bed I kept going letting the questions flow not that it matters where it's that you did it no Susan shouted he never came to the house except for those few times we hosted barbecues and invited people from work we were careful we wouldn't risk a neighbor seeing him or his car parked at the house but not careful enough to avoid getting pregnant so you can't say
a rubber broke I said coldly Clive seems like the type to take risks or at least push boundaries as long as he benefits I got tested for STDs this past week I suggest you get screened too I added Susan muttered softly that was part of my early pregnancy exams I was a little surprised as I didn't think that was routine I told my doctor I wanted to make sure you hadn't caught something while you were away for work she admitted sheepishly I felt my face flush with anger so you're OBGYN thinks I might have been
the one cheating and instead of telling the truth you let her believe that I had more questions and I needed answers why did you cheat and why with him why would you risk getting pregnant by Clive why not just go back on birth control and pretend you wanted to wait longer to have a baby so you could sleep with him without the risk Susan looked down I don't know I was lonely you were gone a lot I was aroused and Clive was there we started talking and before I knew it we were already close I
knew he wasn't looking for anything serious she hesitated clearly struggling with the next part as for why I didn't go back on birth control I was already seeing Clive before we decided I'd stop taking it he refuses to use rubbers I take a shower afterward to lower the risk a little I know it wasn't the safest method but I thought it was the best option I muttered sarcastically keeping your legs closed would have been a better option Susan looked shocked and I hoped she wouldn't shut down before I got more answers so you cheated on
me for about 4 months before getting pregnant and then kept it going for another 2 months after I asked trying to push the conversation forward Susan nodded I suspected I might be pregnant but I didn't want to stop until I was sure I Justified it by thinking if I was already pregnant it didn't matter if I kept seeing him she winced at her own choice of words Clive ended things after I told him about the baby she admitted he didn't want to risk you finding out and having to be responsible if the baby was his
so you two talked about your options I said yes we both thought you'd never suspect that Connie wasn't yours she said quietly and there was a good chance she wasn't his especially since you came home that first week in July we were together all the time and I didn't see Clive at all when you were home she added so you had a relationship with Clive while I was away working to support us in the life we wanted I said piecing it together was it out of resentment because I wasn't around or I almost asked the
harsher question but held back Susan quickly shook her head trying to dismiss the implications no it wasn't like that she insisted it was purely physical I felt desire fire when you were away Clive and I only had physical closeness when you were out of town we met at his place three or four evenings a week we were careful I didn't stay overnight every time and tried to make it seem like I was mostly home we never showed any affection at work that would suggest we were more than friendly colleagues her words sounded rehearsed as if
she had been justifying it to herself for a long time and no he's not better in doubt and he's not better in bed she added sensing my unspoken questions we didn't do anything you and I I don't normally do it's just that he was there when you weren't it was fun and exciting that's the best way to put it and no I didn't do it to get back at you it was something I did for myself her honesty stung it felt as if the affair had become something she rationalized for her own satisfaction I clenched
my jaw if you were only mine when I was around you were never really mine I said trying to hold my gaze steady you were my wife but his mistress you were so careful not to get caught but then you got pregnant I added bitterly I guess you never thought about what would happen if I found out later that our oldest child wasn't mine maybe because of a blood type difference or if she didn't look like our other kids that's assuming you didn't cheat again and let another man father your next child or go back
to Clive for another one Susan shook her head frantically no I promised I'd never cheat on you again and I knew once you bonded with Connie you'd never leave her even if she wasn't biologically yours just look at how you've already been with her you're fully devoted to that baby even Clive agrees a few points for you I guess I said sarcastically you and Clive kept talking about the possibility he was the father you mentioned he called yesterday to check on you and it's obvious you two discussed how to manage me keeping me in the
dark and planning for my reaction Susan started to fidget clearly uncomfortable and the key word here is was as in I was invested in being that baby's daddy I said coldly both moms noticed I haven't held her once I haven't changed her diaper swaddled her or even taken more than a quick look at her from afar I'll make an effort to change that if the DNA test shows I'm the father after all I looked her straight in the eye let me ask you something did it ever really matter to you whether I was the father
or Clive Susan didn't deny it of course I wanted you to be the father she admitted but once I found out I was pregnant I just wanted the baby I knew she would be adorable and you wouldn't suspect anything you and Clive don't look that different same hair color similar build you'd be her daddy and it wouldn't matter I felt a wave of bitterness rise inside me you know I've been cutting back on my time offshore I gave up some of that big bonus money and started spending more time in the office managing things from
there I even took a pay cut you seemed happy I was home more or at least that's what I thought if my being away was such a problem you should have spoken up long ago all you had to do was ask everything I did was for you Susan began crying again but this time it didn't affect me well that's about to change if I'm not the father I'm going back to the rigs I'll stay out there until I find a woman who actually wants to be with me and only me not someone who can't keep
her vows or her legs closed when I'm not around I said angrily her tears continued but they barely read registered with me but I need you to help take care of the baby she sobbed we're a family what about us we've done so well these past 7 months I've been a devoted wife I haven't looked at another man since then we could try counseling right now I'm not sure they're still on us we'll figure things out if the DNA test shows I'm the father but for now I'm not staying here not until I get those
results I've already packed up the things that matter to me her face showed pure shock as she stared at me disbelieving where will you go she asked softly her voice trembling with fear I've rented an apartment I arranged it last week I wanted to wait until the baby was born before leaving I said coldly Tony will stay with you for now and maybe my mom will help too she's hoping it's her grandchild with that I turned and walked out of the room Susan continued crying though not as intensely as before on my way out I
nearly ran into Tony and my mother who had clearly been eavesdropping by the door yeah I heard you sue me Tony said bitterly but don't give up hope there's still a chance for reconciliation especially if Connie is your daughter she added ever The Optimist I turned to her my voice sharp really you claim you were listening but did you miss the key points like the fact that she never once apologized for cheating she feels no guilt she just Justified it by saying she was lonely and aroused as if that excuses anything she didn't even care
about whether I'm the father or not she just expects me to deal with it and accept everything that's just disgusting Tony looked stunned by my intensity her eyes filling with tears mom stepped in trying to calm things down we moved the car seat and secured it she said gently I'm going to pack a bag and stay for a few days even if you're not the father Sue has been like a daughter to me for the last 6 years I can't just abandon her not yet at least but don't get me wrong I don't condone what
she did I'm angry too if she hadn't just had a baby I think Tony and I would both tell her how foolish she's been I nodded appreciating her honesty when they asked I shared the location of my new apartment but didn't mentioned that I had already consulted a lawyer and taken steps to protect my share of the assets I had settled our credit card debts and secured our investment accounts I even instructed the lawyer to prepare divorce papers citing infidelity despite it not being recognized in our state although Susan would be homebound for a few
days I couldn't risk her accessing our finances online so I took precautions I was almost certain our marriage was beyond repair the small bit of doubt I had based on the happiness we'd once shared vanished completely trusting her again seemed impossible on my way to my new apartment I called Steve needing some company over a drink I had planned to take a few weeks off work after the baby was born to help my wife adjust sort of like a male version of maternity Le leave but right now being alone wasn't what I wanted since Steve
had a flexible schedule he met me at the bar he worked for his father-in-law's company and figured he wouldn't be there much longer especially after Cheryl's confession you talk to Susan I take it Steve asked I confirmed and shared the details of our conversation I've consulted the same lawyer you did luckily Cheryl's father insisted on a prenuptual agreement when we got married he wanted to protect his business while Cheryl has some stock she doesn't get dividends or have any real influence she'll keep the stock but I'll get nearly everything else we had talked about this
before and Steve knew Susan would be entitled to half of our shared assets which was a significant amount both of us had contributed financially to the marriage with Susan earning a good salary I was hoping to stir things up enough to avoid paying her alimony I thought Tony might help with that as for child support it only mattered if the baby was mine which I still doubted I'm going to pay for this I grumbled the courts will punish me even though I did nothing wrong Steve nodded Larry and I went to see Don ducat s's
husband and told him about her affair with Clive he said as expected he was Furious Larry being a cop warned him not to do anything Reckless I nodded Don was mad at us too couldn't believe we were just going to let Clive get away with making fools of us he called us weak for not confronting Clive right away Larry surprised me by saying who said anything about letting that idiot off easy I told Don not to do anything stupid nothing that'll get him caught Clive isn't worth going to jail over just because he acted impulsively
Don may be quick-tempered but heun not dumb Steve added he said so I just need to make sure I don't get caught when someone deals with Clive we joked about it and he calmed down enough to listen I chuckled Darkly yeah we know something has to be done about that idiot Clive needs to be dealt with but it has to be done carefully and castrating him isn't the right answer Steve gave me a baffled look you must be out of your mind he said he can't just walk away from this even if he can't have
more kids he still has financial responsibilities and he's accountable for destroying marriages Yours Mine and probably Don's Larry might stay with Lana for now because of their kids but his decision depends on how Lana reacts when he confronts her tonight HEK been putting it off because of you well Clive's lies will start falling apart once these women warn him I replied he won't stick around for long his problem is he's too easy to track people underestimate how hard it is to Disappear Completely you can't make the kind of money Clive wants while staying off the
grid he's in trouble trust me but if we already know about four women he's been with there are probably more it's like finding needles in a hay stack if you shake the hay and four needles fall out the whole stack must be full of them we need to track down other husbands who might be angry with him too I added Steve laughed at the metaphor as for punishing him I'd prefer he keeps at least one testicle intact and undamaged Steve looked puzzled why just one I explained if he loses both he could still take hormone
Replacements and keep having ZX but if you leave him with one we could damage it perhaps causing him some lasting discomfort would prevent him from repeating his behavior without resorting to anything extreme plus it'll mess with him psychologically Steve burst out laughing knowing he'd eventually share my idea with Larry and Don he had already spoken to them and knew they'd get the humor 2 days later I stopped by the house where Susan and I used to live Tony answered the door you didn't waste any time did you what do you want she asked bitterly Susan
got the divorce papers this morning I said feeling a mix of guilt and relief she's been crying non-stop since then the only time she seems okay is when she's caring for Connie I can't really blame you but I thought you'd hold off she's really upset I doubt she'd even consider another relationship after all this do you think there is any chance for reconciliation if you both go to counseling Tony asked still holding on to hope I shook my head I was already convinced there was no future for us as a couple and this just confirms
it I said handing her the paternity test report the baby isn't mine Tony looked at the envelope tears streaming down her face she was heartbroken the weight of her shattered hopes and dreams hit her hard after a final hug she turned to break the news to her daughter I had already told my own mother she was deeply upset at losing the chance to be a grandmother too angry about Susan's infidelity she had chosen to stay home and not be with Tony and Susan while waiting for the DNA results she too was a sufferer of Susan's
and Clive's betrayal the whole town was buzzing about Clive Adams and his affairs with married women in the days that followed Steve Larry Dawn and I confronted our wives and we didn't hold back on naming him in fact we made a point of exposing his actions though none of us liked the label of betrayed we stood firm and shared how our wives had fallen for his charm Clive strategy seemed to involve bragging about his past conquests to Cheryl and the other women were swayed by his smooth talk despite their seemingly happy marriages they were drawn
in by Clive's Allure and enjoyed what he had to offer as his Affairs became public knowledge fathers of babies born to women linked to him started demanding paternity tests I later heard about two more children he fathered suspicious husbands began questioning their wives about their activities and some couples even sought counseling the full extent of actions remained hidden until he confessed directly to the police you'd think someone living the life Clive chose would keep his assets liquid ready to flee at a moment's notice but instead of converting his high income Into Cash stocks or easily
transferable assets Clive decided to buy a house and invest in multiple real estate properties even his home furnishings were extravagant with valuable artwork on the walls alongside the typical hunting and fishing gear common in our area his boat was outfitted for both water skiing and fishing while law enforcement may not have initially pursued him even if Clive had managed to liquidate his assets and flee private investigators could still have tracked him down it's hard to completely disappear when your social security number is needed for any High income non-cash job no matter how far you run
Clive may not have fully grasped the danger he was in geographically he severely underestimated the anger of the husbands instead of leaving the area right away way he stayed and paid the price just a few days after word of his Affairs spread Clive was found on the sidewalk near his house during his morning jog he was in shock and barely conscious a passing jogger found him and immediately called an ambulance she couldn't cut the straps binding his arms behind his back when she tried to roll him over he screamed so she wisely stopped fearing she
might make things worse when paramedics arrived they discovered his groin had been crushed the tool used was a three-b sledg hmer I picked up this detail from Larry the cop while we were at the bar he shared the story with Steve Dawn and me both cheerfully and seriously mentioning how two detectives had jokingly told him that if he ever had a three-b hammer with mysterious tissue on it he should toss it into the swamp I had nothing to do with what happened to that guy's manhood but I'm just passing along what my fellow officers told
me Larry said with a Sly wink and a barely concealed smirk Clive had no idea who attacked him he V ly remembered hearing his doorbell ring whether it was late the previous night or early that morning he couldn't recall it was dark and he had been asleep I think they used a taser Clive told investigators they shocked me down there a few times I remember that there might have been two of them but I'm not sure I was pretty out of it one of them said something about not going after another man's wife after that
it was just unbearable pain understandably desperate to see his attackers brought to Justice Clive gave investigator the names of every woman he had been involved with over the past few years married or otherwise the list was surprisingly long with so many leads to follow the investigation became complicated despite numerous suspects no solid evidence pointed to anyone and because the timing of the attack was unclear aliis were difficult to confirm privately Larry confided to Steve and me that the investigating detectives believed Clive Adams had gotten what he deserved after a few months the investigation sted and
reached a dead end as expected Susan received half of our shared property the house was sold and a new family moved in bringing their young daughter into the nursery I had painstakingly painted with little animal designs I hoped she appreciated the care I'd put into it Susan moved back to her mother's house since she struggled to care for the baby alone at least with Tony she wouldn't be lonely I had no interest in her romantic life anymore Susan called me once to apologize likely after Tony pressured her however she didn't clarify what she was apologizing
for whether it was for the infidelity getting pregnant by another man or for me finding out and divorcing her I didn't ask by then I had moved on when she suggested meeting to talk I declined She also asked if I knew about Clive's situation and whether I had any involvement I simply said he got what he deserved and ended the call after that we never spoke again and everything was handled through our lawyers I often wondered how much Susan would spend trying to legally Force Clive to pay child support knowing he wouldn't do so willingly
she'd eventually get it but hiring a lawyer would drain her savings Clive was facing several similar lawsuits and I heard steps were being taken to stop him from selling his real estate between his medical bills legal fees and upcoming child support obligations he wouldn't have much left and that's assuming he could keep his job 18 months later at 3: in the morning I stood leaning against the lower rail of the econ 626 rig in the Gulf of Mexico the cool Autumn Breeze was refreshing and my lightweight windbreaker kept me warm it was one of my
last routine visits to the rigs I had met a woman and decided she was worth pursuing we had a great connection while I wasn't sure where it would lead I was now open to the Future it was time to accept the job offer at headquarters that I had turned down twice before as I unzipped my jacket I felt the weight of the lump hanging over my belt its persistence confused me though I had tried to get rid of it many times I couldn't bring myself to let go the risk of keeping it made no sense
yet it gave me a strange Comfort it was like I had reclaimed a part of myself without further thought I pulled out the heavy Hammer from its hiding place and threw it into the sea update after that moment in the hospital when I walked out on Susan and Connie the world seemed to slow down everything felt detached like I was watching my life play out from a distance unable to control anything just a bystander to the wreckage I had helped create the days turned into a blur each one feeling like a burden heavier than the
last work was my salvation if you could call it that but even the rig which had once felt like a second home became a place where I couldn't escape my own thoughts I rented a small apartment not far from the house where we used to live a cold impersonal place like a motel room stayed in for a few nights and then moved on I didn't furnish it much what was the point I spent most of my time out of the place anyway if I wasn't at work I was at the bar nursing beers and nursing
my broken Pride it's funny how Things Fall Apart all at once like a dam bursting after the smallest crack Susan and I had been good hadn't we or was that just my version of the story maybe I'd been blind all along ignoring the signs because I didn't want to admit the truth that our marriage had cracked long before Clive slithered his way in for weeks after leaving I debated whether to meet Connie again my mother kept asking have you gone to see the baby yet as if seeing her would somehow make me forget everything but
how could I look at her without wondering if she really was mine I'd told myself I'd stay away until the DNA results came back but even after they confirmed what I'd feared that I wasn't the father I couldn't stay away there was this part of me Twisted as it sounds that was still drawn to her to the baby had prepared for to the life I had imagined in a way I felt like I was abandoning not just Susan but a part of myself I did eventually go back not for Susan but for Connie it wasn't
some big emotional reunion or anything no grand gestures I walked in Tony handed me the baby without a word and I sat down on that same couch where I had once imagined our family's future holding her though it wasn't the catharsis I had hoped for I stared down at her tiny face and all I could see was Clive's betrayal Susan's lies Connie was innocent in all of it sure but that didn't make it easier it didn't make me forget Tony's voice pulled me out of my thoughts reminding me that I couldn't escape reality forever you're
not the father she said quietly but firmly as if she were trying to convince herself just as much as me you don't owe anything I left without looking back after that day I made a conscious decision to move on and by move on I mean I tried to bury myself in work in anything that kept my mind busy I accepted the job at headquarters I'd been offered months ago trading in my time offshore for a desk job in the city the rhythm of office life was different and yet no matter how far I went I
couldn't outrun The Echoes of what had happened but something strange started to happen as time went on I met someone new her name was Lily and she was unlike anyone I'd ever known there was a quiet strength to her a calmness I didn't realize I needed until it was there we met through mutual friends and what started as casual dinners turned into something deeper she didn't push me to talk about what had happened with Susan thank God but she was there when I needed to talk even if all I could offer were pieces of a
broken story with Lily things were different she made me believe in a future again one where the past didn't have to Define me I found myself opening up slowly cautiously and she in turn trusted me with her own past her own scars it wasn't perfect but it was and after everything I realized that maybe that was enough it's been 3 years since the day I walked out of that hospital room Susan and I never spoke again except through lawyers Connie is someone else's responsibility now and I've come to accept that I still think about her
sometimes but less and less as time goes by as for Clive he got what was coming to him I'll admit there are still nights when I think about the hammer what it meant why I kept it for so long maybe it was my way of holding on to control of reminding myself that but even though everything fell apart I wasn't completely powerless but when I finally Let It Go threw it into the sea it felt like a release a final goodbye to the man I used to be now with Lily by my side I'm learning
to be someone new someone better the scars are still there but they don't Define me anymore I'm not the man who lost everything I'm the man who chose to rebuild and for the first time in a long time I think that's enough [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
