Finally, Eric pulls out a photo of who he believed was his son and has a shocking realization. In fact, something had been bothering Eric for a while now, and it ultimately started to make sense.
What could Eric have seen in the picture? Had his wife been hiding something from him all this time? This is what happened.
Rushing Through Traffic
Eric couldn’t see the road because the tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn’t believe it, but that was the only explanation for this bombshell he got from his doctor. How could she do that? How could he? What does he decide to do about it all?
Rushing Through Traffic
Confronting Jessica
He pulls into the driveway and rushes inside. He’s so angry at that point; he could have kicked in the door. As it swung open, Jessica was there and waiting for him. Clearly, she had no idea what he had just learned from his doctor!
Confronting Jessica
World Comes Crashing Down
She greeted him happily and asked about his day. However, she instantly knew something was amiss. What Eric said next sent Jessica’s world crashing down around her. To understand why this was happening, some backstory is needed.
World Comes Crashing Down
Meet Eric
Eric was 30 years old and living with Jessica. They met six years before and had been living together for three of them. However, Eric was away a lot for work, traveling many days in a row. Still, the couple maintained a healthy and happy relationship, but things happen when people are alone for a while.
Meet Eric
Committed to Each Other
Neither person believed in marriage, so it wasn’t an option the couple discussed. However, they were always outspoken about their love for each other and wanted to fully commit. Still, other needs crept in and caused doubt between them.
Committed To Each Other
Having Children
Eric and Jessica were both passionate about adding to their family. They wanted to have children and always dreamed of it. Eric knew that Jessica was the one, but there was a bit of friction from her end, which caused him to be a little concerned.
Having Children
Eric’s Job
While Jessica wanted to have kids, she was hesitant because Eric was away on business all the time. She didn’t want her child to grow up with an absent father. Therefore, she had doubted at times, wondering if he was the right man to be with if that was the case.
Eric’s Job
The Decision
Eric liked his job and the benefits it offered, but he didn’t want to lose Jessica. The only logical conclusion was to find another job to be home more. He talked to his boss, and they agreed to find a new solution after his next trip.
The Decision
Telling Jessica
Overall, Eric chose to wait to tell her the good news until he got home. He figured this was probably his last trip and couldn’t wait to give Jessica the great information. However, she had her own surprise to give him once he arrived at their house.
Telling Jessica
Coming Home
Eric arrived home from his business trip and got home. He positioned the flowers behind his back while he opened the door. However, Jessica rushed toward him, smiling as wide as she could. When he heard the news, he dropped the bouquet in shock!
Coming Home
She’s Pregnant
Jessica had been feeling nauseous as Eric was away, so she chose to take a home pregnancy test. It came back positive, and she immediately took five others, which all had the same result! Now, she was waving them in front of Eric’s face as he started to cry.
She’s Pregnant
Doing Well
After that great news, Eric told her he wasn’t going on other business trips, and they cried together. The pregnancy went smoothly, though it wasn’t easy for her. However, with Eric by her side, Jessica wasn’t worried about him being gone and her being alone.
Doing Well
The New Job
Eric used that time to settle into his new position. When he got back from his trip, the company had found a solution. While he was still with the same firm, he was doing a different function. However, that came with a few downsides.
The New Job
Disliking His Job
The first issue was Eric didn’t like his new job very much. He was more used to traveling and interacting with tons of people. Now, he was sitting behind a desk in a stuffy office building. Though he hated it, he knew there was a good reason for it.
Disliking His Job
Less Money
Another issue was that Eric earned a lot less money than in his previous position. In fact, he took a step back in the structure of the firm, so the couple had to adjust to the new income. This brought many changes that they hadn’t anticipated!
Less Money
Moving
They couldn’t afford to live in their house, so they moved to a cheaper and smaller apartment. Even though they left friends, Eric was at peace with the change. It was a small sacrifice to spend more time with his new baby and Jessica, though she had some issues.
Moving
Hating the Change
Jessica was used to living luxuriously. Though they weren’t rich, money was never an issue to worry about for the couple. However, with Eric’s new job and the smaller place, Jessica had to adjust to everything, and it was hard for her.
Hating The Change
Behavioral Changes
She was becoming distant toward Eric and moody frequently. Eric realized that she sometimes didn’t look him in the eye. Still, he attributed that reaction to her pregnancy and hormones. However, was something else happening?!
Behavioral Changes
Growing Stronger
Despite all that, Eric felt that he and Jessica were growing stronger through the pregnancy because he was spending a lot more time with her. However, he had no idea that his relationship was about to face a huge obstacle!
Growing Stronger
Baby Steven and Finances
Jessica had the baby, and they named him Steven. They were so ecstatic that he was healthy. Raising him was a joy, but they felt that their financial issues were growing because having a baby was so expensive. There was plenty of stress to go around!
Baby Steven And Finances
Work Harder
Overall, Jessica didn’t want to go to work, arguing that she had to be near her son. Therefore, Eric decided to work harder. He got home each night, but she was left alone for most of the day. Eric had no idea what she was doing while he was gone.
Work Harder
Not Feeling Good
All that work and stress to have his new life made Eric sick after a few months. He chose to go to his doctor for a routine checkup. Eric hoped that his doctor could give him a prescription, but what he actually got shocked him to the core!
Not Feeling Good
A Full Exam
After the doctor spoke with him, they decided to do a full examination to see if something was wrong with Eric. This was normal for his age, and the doctor thought it was the best time because Eric had various complaints with no logical cause.
A Full Exam
The Concern
Eric had to wait a week to get the results, so he got home earlier than normal. Jessica always greeted him but not today. He called out, and she responded from the bedroom. While not necessarily weird, Eric was almost up the stairs before she came out to say hello.
The Concern
Eric’s Suspicion
Jessica told Eric that she had been doing laundry and was finishing when he came home. Though he wasn’t 100 percent sure that’s what happened, he didn’t question it. She had never done anything to make him lose trust, yet.
Eric’s Suspicion
She’s Preoccupied
Eric told Jessica about his checkup, saying he wasn’t worried, and he didn’t think it was serious. However, he carried more nervous energy around the next week while he waited. Jessica wasn’t as upset, but she also seemed preoccupied with other things.
She’s Preoccupied
Noticing Her Change
Besides the oddity of Jessica not greeting him at the door the day of the doctor’s appointment, Eric also noticed other behavioral changes from his girlfriend. It seemed that she was becoming more distant, and then he remembered that it happened before!
Noticing Her Change
Before the Pregnancy
Jessica acted like that a few weeks before she knew she was pregnant. Then, it was because of him being gone, but now what could be the problem? Between worrying and work, the week flew by. Eric expected a call saying everything was fine, but that didn’t happen.
Before The Pregnancy
The Test Results
On the appointed day, Eric received a call from the doctor. When he saw the name on his smartphone, he was already calm because he felt nothing was seriously wrong. However, his doctor gave him an unexpected message!
The Test Results
In-person Meeting
His doctor said he didn’t want to share the results of the test over the phone, asking him to come to the office that afternoon. Eric agreed, but he became a little worried. It had to be bad if the doctor couldn’t tell him then and there. What was happening?
In Person Meeting
Not Sick
As Eric drove to the doctor’s office, he shook with fear. As he went inside, the doctor assured him that he wasn’t seriously sick or anything of the sort. However, they had found a few small things that diet and exercise could help with.
Not Sick
Something Else
Though Eric was relieved, he was confused. As he started to ask, he realized the doctor was holding back and struggled to tell him. Eric got impatient and demanded to know for sure. Finally, the doctor said that they discovered he was infertile and had been all his life.
Something Else
Disbelief
Eric was shocked at what the doctor told him. How could he be infertile? He had a son! Then, the doctor explained that was the reason for not wanting to say anything. This doctor knew the family before Steven was born, so this discovery had implications.
Disbelief
Certainty
The doctor went on to say that there was a chance Eric was fertile in the past, but it was too hard to be conclusive about such hypotheses. However, they knew with certainty that Eric was infertile around the time his son was conceived.
Stressed,Doctor,Cover,Face,Under,Pressure.,Sad,Nurse,,Tired,Physician
Not the Father
Eric’s world crumbled in that instance. He asked the doctor how it was possible and what he was trying to say. After a brief hesitation, the doctor told him that Steven could not possibly be his son; someone else was the father.
A,Poor,Handsome,Young,Man,Feeling,Stressed,While,Looking,At
The Realization
Tears rolled down Eric’s face, and he fell into the chair. He looked at a picture of Steven and realized something. Eric always felt that Steven looked like someone else but never made the connection because he had no reason to do that until now.
The Realization
Driving Home
After thanking the doctor, Eric rushed home. Many emotions were going through his head. He was sad that Eric wasn’t his son, uncertain of Jessica’s plan, angry for what she might have done, and so much more. In fact, he almost couldn’t focus on the road.
Driving Home
Talking to Jessica
Though it normally took 20 minutes to get home, he made it in 10. As she greeted him at the door, he demanded to know why, and she finally realized that Eric knew everything. She couldn’t hide it anymore. Things were about to get messy!
Talking To Jessica
Bobby
Eric told her that the doctor said he had been infertile his whole life. He also said that he knew Bobby was Steven’s real dad. He was Jessica’s good friend and was around a lot until Steven was born. She admitted to having an affair, thinking Eric couldn’t give up his traveling job.
Bobby
A Difficult Decision
After many long talks, Eric chose to stay. He loved Jessica so much, and he was Steven’s dad, even if it wasn’t biologically. While she made a mistake, he knew he could forgive her so that they could stay together as a family.
A Difficult Decision