I Can’t Believe It! My Best Friend Is Actually Alex’s Father – I’ve Been Raising His Son for Over Four Years Without Knowing!

“I cant believe it! My best friend turns out to be Alexs father? Ive spent over four years raising a son who isnt even mine!”

Emma and James had been sweethearts since secondary school. After graduation, James got into a prestigious aviation university in another city. Emma didnt make the cut, but they called each other every day without fail.

When James started his flight training, Emma grew insanely jealous of the glamorous flight attendants. She rushed to his city to patch things up, and they had a perfect nightwhispering sweet nothings, promises of forever. But the next morning, she spotted a message from one of his flight crew: “Whens your next shift? Flying with you is so much easier.”

Of course, jealousy won. Emma stormed out in tears.

Then James was offered a lucrative overseas contractcareer gold. He agonised over how to tell Emma hed be gone for a year. But three weeks later, she dropped the bombshell: she was pregnant.

James proposed. They had a lavish weddinghalf the town showed up. The overseas job? Scrapped. His wife refused to go.

After the wedding, James moved them to London. When their son was born, they took out a massive mortgage with his mums help. James worked himself ragged to keep up with payments.

“If Id taken that overseas job, I wouldnt be chained to this desk! Id be climbing the career ladder by now!”

“Oh, sure, Jamie!” Emma snapped. “While Im stuck with the baby, youd be off gallivanting with air hostesses?”

“God, your jealousy is exhausting! If Im with you, Im with *you*. End of story!”

The fighting never stopped. After every flight, Emma would ambush him at the door, rifling through his phone for evidence. Three years in, James quit flying to become an instructor, driving a cab on weekends just to keep the peace.

He gave up his dreams to be the perfect husband and father.

Then he missed a mortgage payment. Rummaging for the paperwork while Emma was out, he found more than he bargained fora paternity test.

“What the hell is this?”

Results: Child Alex James Thompson. Alleged Father Andrew Michael Barnes. Probability of Paternity: 99%.

“I cant believe it. My best friend is Alexs dad? Four years of nappies and bedtime storiesfor a child who isnt even mine?”

James was numb. How could he face Emma?

“Hi, love!” Emma kissed him, but he didnt react. “Alex, dinner, then the playground,” he said flatly.

“Darling, whats wrong?” Emma laughed nervously. “Did I offend you while I was out?”

“Dinner. Then Alex and I are going out.”

She stared, baffled. “Jamie, did something happen at work? Another trip? Talk to me!”

“Not in the mood.” He walked away.

Emma followed, demanding answers. “You cant just shut me out! Im your *wife*! Explain yourself!”

“Wife? You kept this from me for *years*! I gave up everything for you! When was the last time I saw my mates? Or my mum?”

Emma paled. *Does he know? How?*

Two months passed. James couldnt bear to speak to her. But how could Andrewhis *best mate*have hidden this?

Andrew had always fancied Emma. Hed even married someone else months before their wedding, resigned to never having her. Yet at every party, he danced with Emma, not his wife.

Jamess mum once remarked, “Emma, you and Andrew wouldve made a lovely couple.”

Emma had laughed it off. “Dont be silly! Im married to your son! We have a baby!”

“But youre always with Andrew. Why never James?”

“Hes always working. Andrew helps me.”

“Emma, I love my son. I wont let anyone deceive him.”

“Youre imagining things!”

But Jamess mum had noticedAlex had Andrews birthmark. As he grew, the resemblance was undeniable. Shed secretly done the test, swabbing Andrews glass and Alexs cheek at a family dinner.

One night, she confronted Emma in tears. “Youve ruined my sons life! Does Andrew even know he has a child?”

Emma begged. “It was one stupid night! James and I were fighting, I was drunkI never thought Please dont destroy us!”

Jamess mum left heartbroken but kept quiet.

Emma hid the test results, praying hed never find them.

One evening, she decided to confess. But when she got home, James was goneonly a new remote-control car left on Alexs bed.

“Mummy, wheres Daddy?”

“Work trip, sweetheart.” She fled to the balcony, sobbing.

She called James, voice trembling. “Please, lets talk!”

“Dont. Ill always love Alex. Ill support him. But I cant live with you. You betrayed me. If not for him, Id erase you from my life.”

He hung up.

When James picked Alex up for the weekend, Emma begged for a chance to explain.

“Remember that fight over the flight attendant? I went clubbing with friends. Andrew was there. I dont even remember ending up at his flat. I wanted to tell you, but I was terrified. Andrew said to forget it. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought it was yours. Your mum showed me the test when Alex was six months old. I hid it. Andrew envied youthis was his revenge! Please, forgive me!”

“No. Never.”

James went back to flying. He filed for divorce, sent Alex gifts from every country, and paid child support. Andrew moved abroad, never knowing he had a son.

One reckless night ruined everythingtrust, love, friendships. James lost his best friend and his wife.

Emma lived comfortablyposh London flat, nice car, great job, Jamess monthly cheques. Alex went to the best school. She had everything. Except love.

She tried endlessly to win James back, but hed moved onthough new relationships were hard. Hed been burned too badly. Eventually, he soared to the career heights hed always dreamed of.

Lifes funny like that. Sowas Emma right to hide the truth? What would *you* have done?