My Husband Brought His Mistress Home to Meet Our Twins—But He Had No Idea Who She Really Was

"Tyler's mother?""

I repeated the words because they made absolutely no sense.

Daniel was silent for a moment.

Then he said, "Emily, I know this sounds impossible. But I need you to trust me. His mother didn't send those photographs herself.""

I looked through the glass wall.

Tyler was still standing in the hallway, speaking angrily into his phone.

"What are you talking about, Daniel?""

"Her old phone was used to send them.""

I frowned.

"Her phone?""

"Yes. The phone she used before she died. Someone had access to it.""

I lowered my voice.

"Who?""

"I think you should let me explain this in person.""

"Daniel, I'm standing in a cruise terminal with my husband, his mistress, and two women who have just shown me enough evidence to destroy my marriage. I don't have time for another mystery.""

"I understand. I'll be there in twenty minutes.""

He hung up.

I turned toward Michael.

"Daniel says someone used Tyler's mother's old phone to send those photographs.""

Michael looked concerned.

"Does he know who?""

"Not yet.""

Rachel shifted in her chair.

"Why would someone use a dead woman's phone?""

Nobody answered.

Then Sophie spoke.

"Mrs. Mitchell, there's something about Tyler's mother you might not know.""

I looked at her.

"What?""

Sophie hesitated.

"She used to work for the cruise company.""

I stared.

"Margaret?""

Sophie nodded.

"She was our regional financial controller before she retired.""

I felt my stomach tighten.

Margaret Mitchell had always been a complicated woman.

She had been polite to me in public, but privately, she never made much effort to hide her disappointment in her son's choice of wife.

When Tyler and I announced our engagement, she'd smiled and said, "Well, I suppose every man needs someone sensible to keep his life organized.""

I had mistaken it for a compliment.

After our wedding, she regularly criticized my clothes, my cooking, and the way I managed our household.

When I became pregnant, she suggested I should stop working immediately.

"Tyler has a career to build," she'd said.

"He shouldn't have to worry about domestic matters.""

I'd never liked her attitude.

But I had never imagined she was connected to anything like this.

"Margaret retired three years ago," I said.

Michael nodded.

"She did. But she maintained professional relationships with several senior employees.""

Rachel leaned forward.

"Are you suggesting she knew about the financial problems?""

Michael didn't answer.

Instead, he opened his tablet.

"There's something I've been trying to understand about the reimbursement accounts. Tyler's unauthorized transfers were not particularly sophisticated. They should have been detected months ago.""

"Then why weren't they?"" I asked.

Michael looked directly at me.

"Because someone with access to the old accounting system repeatedly approved them.""

Sophie slowly raised her eyes.

"Margaret.""

Michael nodded.

"That's what we're investigating.""

My stomach dropped.

The door suddenly opened.

Tyler entered.

"What's going on?""

Nobody answered.

He looked at the tablet.

Then at Sophie.

"Why is she here?""

Sophie lowered her eyes.

Tyler pointed at her.

"You're supposed to be working.""

Michael stood.

"You're no longer her supervisor.""

Tyler laughed.

"You can't seriously be doing this.""

"I can, and I am.""

Tyler turned toward me.

"Emily, we're leaving.""

I remained seated.

"No.""

He looked genuinely surprised.

"What?""

"I said no.""

"You're my wife.""

"Not for much longer.""

He glanced at the twins.

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be.""

I felt my hands tighten.

"You made it hard when you abandoned us.""

He leaned forward.

"Listen to me. Daniel is manipulating you.""

I froze.

"How do you know I spoke to Daniel?""

Tyler didn't answer.

I stared at him.

"How do you know?""

He looked toward the door.

That was answer enough.

I stood.

"Have you been monitoring my calls?""

"No.""

"Then how did you know?""

He rubbed his face.

"Emily, you don't understand what you're getting involved in.""

Michael stepped forward.

"Tyler, I strongly recommend you stop speaking.""

Tyler ignored him.

"Your brother's friend has been interfering in our marriage for years.""

"Daniel has helped me more in five months than you have in our entire marriage.""

His face darkened.

"Careful.""

That one word revealed more than he intended.

I picked up my handbag.

"Are you threatening me?""

"No.""

"Then what should I be careful about?""

He stepped closer.

"Some things are better left alone.""

Michael immediately moved between us.

"That's enough.""

Tyler looked around the room.

For the first time, he seemed to understand that nobody was on his side.

He turned toward the door.

"Fine. I'll leave.""

But before he reached it, Rachel spoke.

"Tyler?""

He stopped.

"Yes?""

She lifted her phone.

"Vanessa has something to tell you.""

Vanessa appeared in the doorway.

Her designer outfit was wrinkled now. Her sunglasses were pushed onto her head, and her lipstick had almost disappeared.

She looked exhausted.

"I wasn't going to say anything," she began.

Tyler rolled his eyes.

"Then don't.""

Vanessa ignored him.

"Margaret paid me.""

The room went silent.

Tyler slowly turned.

"What?""

Vanessa looked at me.

"Your mother-in-law offered me money to get close to him.""

My mouth fell open.

"Why?""

Vanessa swallowed.

"She said she wanted proof that Tyler was cheating. She said she needed photographs and messages she could use against him.""

Tyler stared at her.

"You're lying.""

Vanessa shook her head.

"She contacted me through an old business associate. She paid me to document everything.""

"Then why did you sleep with me?""

Vanessa looked at him coldly.

"Because the money was good. And because you kept telling me you were leaving your wife.""

Tyler's face turned red.

"You knew I had children?""

"Eventually.""

"And you still—"

"Don't pretend you care about morality now, Tyler.""

Rachel let out a bitter laugh.

Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.

"Margaret gave me this before she died.""

Michael immediately stepped forward.

"May I see it?""

Vanessa handed it over.

He opened the envelope carefully.

Inside was a handwritten note.

The writing was unmistakably old-fashioned.

Michael read the first few lines.

Then he stopped.

His expression changed.

"What?"" I asked.

He looked at me.

"Emily, I think you need to read this.""

He handed me the paper.

My eyes moved across the handwriting.

*If Tyler has returned home and the investigation has finally begun, then I have failed to stop him from destroying everything.*

I swallowed.

The next sentence made my knees weak.

*Emily, there is something you don't know about the day you gave birth to your daughters. Tyler wasn't absent because of work. He was at the hospital.*

I read it again.

Then I looked up.

"What?""

Michael took the letter from my shaking hands.

He read the remaining lines silently.

Then he looked at Tyler.

"Mr. Mitchell, I think it's time we discussed what happened at St. Mary's Hospital on the night your daughters were born.""