Secret picture

Thalia's Pov

"What's wrong?" Eirik asked, following me into his study.

I was hurt and heartbroken. The Anniversary surprise I planned had been ruined right before it started. I wanted clarity. I wanted to know what was going on and most importantly, when Mirelle would be leaving my family. 

"Thalia..." He called again, noticing my dull mood.

I took a breath in and began. "Why did you allow Mirelle to take our son for a ride without my consent?" I asked, wanting to know if he knew about it or not.

"I'm sorry. Ianth was in a foul mood this morning. Mirelle suggested a ride, that was why I allowed it." He explained.

Some of my anger dissipated but something still pricked me that he could be lying. But for what reason? "I went to the jewelry store, wanting to get a surprise gift for you symbolising our wedding anniversary. Did you know what I saw?"

"Mirelle was in that same jewelry store with our son, holding hands with him. Ianth denied me as his mom in front of everyone!" 

My chest heaved with pain, tears falling on my cheeks. Everything was so painful. 

Eirik sighed, "Don't think too much about it. I am sure she only did that to lighten Ianth's mood." He defended her yet again.

"What about how the store staff addressed her as your wife with your surname? She tried to get you a gift!"

Eirik held my shoulders. "It is all a misunderstanding. The store staff must have made assumptions." He was too calm about it. Too calm.

I scoffed. A misunderstanding? Coming into our home wasn't a mistake but taking control of our son was a misunderstanding?

"You barely attend to Ianth these days. He got attached to Mirelle and that is why it happened."

I looked at him, blinking my tears away slowly. "Are you blaming me?" My voice failed me.

"I didn't mean that but if you had spent more time with Ianth, it wouldn't have happened. When was the last time you had a quality time spent with Ianth?" He asked.

On one hand, he is right. But Ianth wouldn't allow me to get close to him. Nothing else I did was good in his sight. He shouts, scrowls in disgust, throws whatever I got him to the ground yet he accepts everything with Mirelle. What was I doing wrong? Was I a bad mother?

"Come here." Eirik wrapped his arms around my shoulder so we were side by side. He coaxed me into believing he would talk to Mirelle again.

Well, the truth was she never listens. She was slowly gaining control of my home, sucking it up like a leech. Suddenly, Eirik’s phone lights up with a notification. 

My eyes caught the group chat named 'One big family'. I froze for a second in surprise because it was pinned on his chat wall. Before Eirik stepped back, I grabbed the phone away from him.

My hands shook unknowingly as I clicked the group chat. The description named Eirik, Ianth and Mirelle as the only group members.

I shook my head, trying to focus. There are several photos and videos. Including the video Mirelle took with Ianth at the same Jewelry store I just talked about. I thought Eirik said he didn't know about it. What is going on?

'I will take care of you as your mommy, Ianth. I will give you and your daddy everything you want. I will buy you snacks, clothes and take you on trips. We will be together as one big happy family' 

I stepped backwards, emotions whirling in me like a tornado. That was Mirelle's text. She had gained control. She had taken over and I had no idea.

"One big happy family, yes?" I chuckled, the betrayal spiked me more than usual. It was more than Ianth addressing Mirelle as mom. He must have been addressing her that way even before now.

"Ianth insisted the group should be created." Eirik made an explanation that didn't make sense.

He couldn't refuse it as his dad? What nonsense is he rapping about? Am I dumb?

"I will delete it right now. Don't be mad." Right in front of me, Eirik deleted the group but news flash, it didn't make me feel any better.

A few days passed and everything died down. Not like I made a real fuss about it even though I was enraged. But for the sake of my wedding anniversary, I made sure to push those thoughts far behind.

I prepared a lavish dinner for my anniversary. It was the same way I did it every year but this one was a bit different. I made sure to dress up beautifully too.

I headed out to pick Ianth. I wanted to show him that I was still his mother, the one he deserved. 

"Who are you? His mom has picked him up." The teacher said,

I was left standing there, confused and rejected. But immediate panic set in. I picked my phone and dialled Eirik’s number. "Ianth is not in school. His teacher said someone picked him up."

"Don't worry about it. Mirelle picked him up." Eirik’s tone was dismissive.

I had to pause. I didn't hear him clearly. "Who picked him up?"

"I was busy so I asked Mirelle to pick him up. They should be home by now." Before I could say anything else, the line went dead and no matter the number of times I called back, Eirik didn't pick my calls.

I rushed back home but Mirelle and Ianth were nowhere in the house which meant they hadn't come back. What is happening?

I called Eirik again. "They are not in the house." My anxiety was spiralling out of control, fear creeped into my bones.

"Don't worry about them. I will be back soon." Eirik hung up again.

I chuckled, dropping my phone on the couch. It began to sink in, how excluded I was from my own family. I sat on the couch, wanting to relax my tense mind when I saw something under the couch.

It was a photo. I turned it over and my jaw dropped. The photo included Eirik and Mirelle. They were hugging one another with Eirik placing a kiss on her cheek.

I turned the photo over. I recognized his handwriting, inked in two words: 'My Love'

The photo fell off my hands in shock. Their closeness wasn't recent.

Could this be the reason why Eirik allowed Mirelle into our home? Was this why he always supported her and never saw anything wrong with whatever she did especially when it included our son?

My hands clenched into fists. I felt betrayed and hurt. Were they in an affair?