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” Find out what? Rebecca’s voice got louder. Find out that my husband has three children he never mentioned. Find out that our entire marriage is built on lies. The guests were completely silent. Everyone was listening. Some people had their phones out. They were recording everything. Elizabeth finally found her voice. She stepped forward.
Destiny Williams. I’d remember that name. You are the woman my son dated before Rebecca. Yes, Destiny said calmly. I am. These cannot be Marcus’ children, Elizabeth said. But her voice was weak. [music] She was looking at the triplet’s faces. She saw Marcus’s eyes, Marcus’ nose, Marcus’s smile. She knew the truth.
They are his, Destiny said. Cameron, Caleb, and Chloe. [music] They are 5 years old. Marcus is their father. The little girl, Chloe, looked up at Marcus. She touched his face with her small hand. Daddy, why are you sad? We came to see you. Are you not happy? Marcus started crying. He pulled all three children into his arms and held them tight.
“I am happy,” he said through his tears. “I am so happy. I am so sorry. I am so so sorry. Sorry for what? One of the boys asked. We are not mad at you. That made Marcus cry harder. Rebecca watched her husband cry while holding three children she did not know existed. She watched her marriage die right in front of 200 people.
She bent down and picked up a piece of the broken champagne glass. She looked at it in her hand. Then she looked at Marcus. I wasted 5 years on you, she said quietly. 5 years trying to have your children. 5 years wondering what was wrong with me. And you already had children. You had three perfect children and you left them. Rebecca, Marcus tried to stand.
Do not, Rebecca said. She dropped the glass piece. It clinkedked on the stone. Do not say my name. Do not apologize. There is nothing you can say. She walked past Marcus, past Destiny, past all the staring guests. She walked into the house. 2 minutes later, she came out carrying a small suitcase. She must have packed it earlier.
Maybe she had been waiting for a reason to leave. A valet brought her car, a silver Mercedes. Rebecca got in without looking back. The car rolled down the long driveway and disappeared through the gates. Marcus watched her go. He knew he would never see her again. The marriage was over. Marcus, Destiny said. Marcus looked up at her. Destiny stood above him.
The woman he had loved, the woman he had abandoned, the mother of his children. “I did not come here for revenge,” Destiny said. Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. “I did not come here to ruin your life. I came here because your children deserve to know their father. She knelt down next to Marcus.
She looked at the triplets. Cameron, Caleb, Chloe, Destiny said gently. Give your father some space for a minute. Go wait with Aunt Angela by the helicopter. But mama, Chloe started, just for a minute, baby. I promise your daddy is not going anywhere. The three children let go of Marcus reluctantly.
They walked across the lawn to where Angela stood waiting. They kept looking back at Marcus to make sure he was still there. When the children were far enough away, Destiny spoke quietly to Marcus. I called you 20 times 6 years ago, she said. I left voicemails. I told you I was pregnant. [music] You never answered. Not once. I blocked your number, Marcus whispered.
[music] My mother told me to. I am so sorry. I did not know about the triplets. I swear I did not know. Would it have changed anything if you did know? Marcus opened his mouth. Then he closed it. He did not know the answer. 6 years ago, he had been too weak to fight his mother. Would knowing about the babies have made him stronger, or would he have run away even faster? I do not know, Marcus admitted.
At least you are honest about that, Destiny said. She stood up. I raised them alone. I worked full-time and raised three children by myself. I did not do it for your approval. I did it because they are my children, and I love them. They are beautiful, Marcus said. They are perfect. Yes, they are. Destiny looked at Elizabeth standing frozen on the terrace.
Your mother made you choose between me and your comfortable life. You chose the comfortable life. That was your choice. But those children did not choose any of this. They did not ask to be born. They did not ask for an absent father. Marcus nodded. Tears ran down his face. Khloe cries every night. Destiny continued. She asks me why her daddy does not love her.
She asks me if she did something wrong. She thinks you stayed away because of something she did. No, Marcus said quickly. No, it was never about them. It was about me. I was weak. I was a coward. I know that, but they do not. They are 5 years old. They only know their father was not there. Destiny turned and started walking back toward the helicopter. Then she stopped.
She looked back at Marcus. You have one choice now, Marcus. You can be a coward again and let us fly away. Or you can be their father. But if you choose to be their father, you commit fully. You do not get to disappear when it gets hard. You do not get to run when your mother threatens you.
You decide right now what kind of man you want to be. Marcus looked at his mother. Elizabeth stood on the terrace like a statue. Her face was hard and angry. She was already planning what to say, already planning how to punish him. Then Marcus looked at the triplets. They stood by the helicopter with Angela.
All three of them watched him. Cameron stood very straight and serious. Caleb waved shily. Khloe smiled and blew him a kiss. For 6 years, Marcus had lived in fear. Fear of disappointing his mother. Fear of losing his money. Fear of standing up for himself. But looking at those three children, something changed inside him. He stood up.
His legs were shaky, but they worked. He walked toward his mother. Mother, he said. His voice was stronger than before. Marcus, do not do this, Elizabeth said. Her voice was cold. If you choose them, I will cut you off. No job, no trust fund, no place in this family. You will have nothing. Then I choose them, Marcus said. I choose my children. Elizabeth’s mouth fell open.
In 36 years, Marcus had never disobeyed her, never talked back, never chosen anything over her approval. “You are making a mistake,” Elizabeth said. “No,” Marcus said. “I made my mistake 6 years ago when I listened to you. This is me fixing it.” He turned his back on his mother.