The dream of having a child was so powerful that it filled every corner of Ella and Eric’s hearts, driving them to do whatever it took to make it come true.
After many failed attempts to conceive and countless dollars spent on treatments and IVF, they were finally forced to face the heartbreaking reality—they wouldn’t be able to have a child of their own.
So, they decided to adopt. But that was easier said than done.
Since Eric was often tied up with managing his business, it was Ella who took charge of the adoption process. She contacted agencies, completed endless paperwork, and reviewed lists of children in need of a loving home.
One day, as she flipped through documents, a photo of a little boy—around three years old—caught her eye.
At first, Ella and Eric had hoped to adopt a baby, but they soon realized that the chances were slim. So, they opened their hearts and their home to the idea of raising a toddler.
The child in the photo had the most beautiful eyes Ella had ever seen—bright, sky-blue. And in that moment, something stirred in her. She felt as if she had known him her entire life.
After discussing it with Eric, they decided to bring the boy home. His name was Sam.
He was an adorable, bright, joyful little boy. And what amazed Ella most was how quickly he adjusted. Within just a few weeks, he was already calling her “Mom.”
Everything seemed perfect. Ella’s lifelong dream of becoming a mother had finally come true. She was happier than she had ever been. Life felt full again, and she was deeply grateful that things had worked out.
But then, one evening changed everything.
Sam was getting ready for his bath, and Eric offered to bathe him. Ella was touched—thinking how sweet it was that Eric was committed to bonding with their son.
But moments later, as Eric helped Sam undress and get into the tub, he suddenly shouted, “We have to return him!”
Ella froze. “What are you talking about?” she asked in disbelief.
“Eric, how can you say that? He’s our son!”
But Eric was adamant. He said the whole experience had been overwhelming, and that he couldn’t handle this new life anymore.
Ella was heartbroken. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It wasn’t like Eric to change his mind so suddenly, and deep down, she knew something else was going on.
That night, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind kept returning to one strange detail: Sam had a small birthmark on the bottom of his foot—exactly where Eric had one too.
The next morning, she took a closer look. Her heart pounded as she compared the two. The marks were nearly identical.
Later that day, she confronted Eric. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Finally, he broke down. Eric admitted he suspected Sam was his biological son. When he saw the birthmark, it had sent him into shock.
He confessed that years ago, during a rough period in their marriage, he had a one-night stand with a woman he met at a bar. It meant nothing to him, he claimed, but it happened while Ella was enduring painful rounds of IVF—something that shattered her to hear.
He said he hadn’t known about the pregnancy, but now he was sure: Sam was his son.
Ella was devastated. Eric’s betrayal—the infidelity and the fact he’d nearly abandoned a child rather than face the truth—was too much to bear.
Though Eric didn’t disappear from Sam’s life entirely, their relationship became distant, reduced to occasional visits and birthday gifts sent by mail.
Ella knew she had made the right decision—for herself and for Sam. Because in that moment, when Eric was willing to walk away from his own son just to hide an affair, he revealed exactly who he was.