William leaves his wife and daughter to start a new life with his young mistress.
But years later, things change, and at a time when William least expects trouble, he is confronted by his grown-up daughter.
William felt a prick of guilt as his wife looked at him with concern.
For a moment he wondered if he should reconsider his decision.
He knew Linda would be shocked if she knew he had a mistress.
William and Linda had been married for 20 years, had a 17-year-old daughter, and led a quiet life in the house Linda had inherited from her parents.
A year ago they had even started a business selling jerky, but it soon stopped generating income and William’s job became their only source of funds.
‘What did you want to talk about, William?’ – Linda broke the silence.
‘I have another, Linda,’ William admitted.
‘I didn’t want this day to come, but I…I couldn’t have it any other way.’
‘What do you mean?’ – Linda’s facial expression changed.
“Do you…have another woman? Answer me, I’m asking you a question!”
William lowered his head.
‘I can’t explain it, but I love her,’ he said.
‘She’s young, different, and there was an instant connection between us.’
‘Do you even hear yourself, William!’ – Linda exploded.
‘We’ve been married for twenty years, we have a daughter, and now…’
She was interrupted by the phone ringing.
‘Yes-yes?’ – she replied, trying to keep her composure, but she soon lost control.
A bailiff was calling her to inform her that their house was to be seized.
They took out a loan for a jerky business and mortgaged the house as collateral.
William had to pay off the debt.
She didn’t even know the payments were late.
“What’s your excuse this time, William? Do you want to leave me and our daughter on the street while you live out your fantasies with your mistress?” – She shouted, hanging up the phone.
“They need $80,000! Where are we going to get that kind of money from?”
‘Linda, I… couldn’t… put enough aside for those payments…’ – William began to justify himself, knowing full well that it was all his fault.
Linda couldn’t stand her worthless husband any longer.
‘OUT!’ – she screamed.
‘Get out of my house!’
Loud car horns brought him back to reality.
William was still standing at the traffic lights.
He was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the light turn red again.
Six years ago, William had left his wife and daughter behind, but he had not found the life he had dreamed of.
Instead, he lived in poverty, lost his job, and lost his new family.
He even started drinking to take his mind off his failure.
Now, heading to his job interview, he hoped to get his life back.
He sat nervously in front of the interview room.
He had applied for a job at the jerky factory.
He felt that his previous experience, even if unsuccessful, could be an advantage.
When his number was called, he walked in and luck was on his side – he was accepted.
William started work as a packer.
On his third day on the job, he was busy putting labels on boxes when his boss, Mr Dunn, approached him.
‘If you don’t want to be stuck in the same position, William, you need to impress our CEO today,’ Mr Dunn smirked and nudged William, who looked puzzled.
‘You didn’t know?’ – Mr Dunn continued, noticing the bewilderment on William’s face.
‘She’s coming for an inspection today!’
William showed no interest.
He politely apologised and went back to his work.
But he was soon distracted by muffled voices and looked towards the entrance where Mr Dunn was greeting the CEO.
William’s jaw dropped when he saw that the CEO appeared to be his daughter.
‘Isabel?’ – He exhaled as she walked up to him.
‘Daddy?’ – She replied confidently.
‘It’s been a while, hasn’t it?’
‘How, how did you become CEO?’ – he blurted out.
‘Are you more interested in my material success than how I live my life?’ – She grinned.
“Don’t let personal matters distract you.
I’m here for inspection and you have a job to do.
And yes,‘ she added before leaving, ’please come to my office this afternoon.”
In the afternoon, William made his way to her office.
‘Come in!’ – she said, and he entered, sitting down uncertainly across from her.
‘Don’t you want to know what you were so interested in that day at the factory?’ – She broke the silence.
“Well, it wasn’t easy, Dad.
After you left, we were left without a home.
We only got a third of the money from the sale of our confiscated house.
And it’s all thanks to you, because you didn’t bother to pay your debts!
Mum gave me the last of her money because she didn’t want me to lose my education.
And then one day, Aunt Georgina called.
Mum had to move in with her, far away from me, and she said…”
Isabel fell silent, remembering one of the hardest moments of her life.
‘Mum’s health was in danger…’