THE LIES THAT BUILT MY FAMILY

5

Chapter five 

Philip barely had time to think about his life anymore. He couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened, especially how he had sacrificed his entire life just to please Elena Hawkins.

  For years, he had convinced himself that everything he did was for his family. He had worked hard, stayed loyal, protected Elena, and tried to be the best husband he could possibly be. He had even swallowed his pride when he caught Elena with Alex.

  He had seen them together. He had known what they were doing and yet, he stayed.

  He stayed because he loved her. He stayed because he believed she would change.

  And most importantly, he stayed because he believed the three boys were his sons.

  Now, everything he had believed in had been shattered.

  Philip picked up his phone and immediately sent a message to his boss at Hawkins Company, informing him that he wanted an impromptu leave.

  He didn't bother giving too many details. He knew he was no good to anyone when he was deeply distressed and distracted.

  His boss replied almost immediately, asking if everything was okay, but Philip didn't respond.

  What could he possibly say?

  That his wife had betrayed him?

  That the three boys he had raised as his own were not his?

  That he had spent years building a family that might never have been his in the first place?

  Philip dropped the phone beside him and stared at the paternity letters in his hands.

  He read them again and again hoping it was something he had imagined.

  “Excluded.”

  That word seemed to mock him every time he looked at it.

  Philip suddenly pinched himself hard on the face.

  “Ouch!” He rubbed his cheek and stared into space. “So I'm not dreaming.”

  He laughed bitterly before dropping onto the couch and covering his face with both hands.

  This was already his second week at the hotel where he had been holed up. He had barely stepped outside except when he needed food. He didn't want to see anyone. He didn't want to answer questions. Most of all, he didn't want to hear Elena's voice.

  He had spent two weeks trying to understand how his life had fallen apart so quickly.

  But there was one question he couldn't escape.

  Why?

  Why had Elena done this to him?

  Why had she allowed him to believe those boys were his sons for so many years?

  Philip lowered his hands and stared at the ceiling. He didn't even know what hurt him the most anymore.

  Was it the betrayal?

 Or the children?

  Or the fact that he had wasted so many years loving a woman who might never have loved him the same way?

  That evening, Philip was sitting on the couch, watching a movie on his laptop. He wasn't really paying attention to it. The movie was simply something to keep his mind occupied.

  He had almost fallen asleep when he heard the door open.

  Philip immediately sat upright. His eyes widened when he saw who walked into the room.

  “Elena?”

  Elena Hawkins closed the door behind her and stared at him.

  Philip's expression immediately hardened. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to get you,” Elena replied calmly.

  “Get me?”

  “Yes. I want you back home.”

  Philip let out a dry laugh. “You came all the way here to tell me that?”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head. “Elena, you should leave.”

  “Philip, please.”

  “No.”

  Elena walked closer to him. “You've been away for two weeks. Isn't that enough?”

  Philip stared at her. “Enough for what?”

  “For you to calm down.”

  “I am calm.”

  “You don't look calm.”

  “I don't care how I look.”

  Elena sighed and sat down opposite him. “The boys miss you.”

  Philip's face immediately changed. “Don't.”

  “They are your sons.”

  Philip stared at her for a few seconds then he laughed. “Stop being dramatic.”

  Elena frowned. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “They are your sons, Philip.”

  “You already told me that.”

  “Because it's true.”

  Philip stood up and walked toward the small table beside the couch.

  “You want me to believe that after three separate paternity tests?”

  Elena folded her arms. “And what if they were wrong?.”

  Philip turned around, "Wrong?"

  “I am saying that there could have been a mistake.”

  Philip stared at her in disbelief. “A mistake?”

  “Yes.”

  “All three?”

  Elena didn't answer immediately.

  Philip shook his head. “You know what? I don't even want to argue with you anymore.”

  He reached for a small brown envelope that had been sitting on the table.

  Elena watched him suspiciously. “What is that?”

  Philip walked back toward her. “You came here because you want me to return home.”

  “Yes.”

  “You came here because you want everything to go back to the way it was.”

  “Yes.”

  Philip nodded slowly. “Then you should take this.” he said and handed her the envelope.

  Elena looked at it before opening it but the moment she pulled out the papers inside, her eyes immediately moved to the first page.

  She froze.

  “What is this?”

  Philip looked directly at her. “You know what it is.”

  Elena's fingers tightened around the papers. “Philip…It's a divorce paper.” She said slowly looking up at him. “You are joking.”

  “No.”

  “You can't be serious.”

  “I am.”

  Elena stood up. “You want to divorce me?”

  “Yes.”

  Her lips parted slightly as she stared at him. “After everything I've done for you?”

  Philip's expression hardened. “Don't start that again.”

 Elena immediately glanced through the leaflet she was holding but then her expression changed. 

 She looked at Philips and back at the paper in her hand. 

 "Are you seriously going to make me pay this?" she barked.