After the ceremony, we all gathered at the family home.
The day of Dad's funeral was full of emotions. The grief over the loss mixed with memories of – his laughter, wise advice, the warmth he brought to our lives. I stood by the grave, watching the coffin fall into the ground, and felt my heart break. He was my hero, a man who always took care of his family. I didn't know that my image of my father would be shattered that day.
After the ceremony, we all gathered in the family home. It was crowded and noisy – family, friends, neighbors, everyone tried to somehow soothe our pain. Despite my sadness, I felt surrounded by love and support. However, in the corner of the room, I noticed a woman I didn't know.
Elegant, in black, she stood to the side, as if deliberately avoiding conversation. I wondered who she was, but in the chaos of the funeral I didn't have a chance to ask.
In the evening, after most of the guests had left, the notary arrived to read the will. I was certain that Dad had divided everything fairly – the family home was to go to Mom, and the rest of the estate was to be left to me and my brother. He always said that family was the most important thing.
When the notary started reading, everything seemed fine. But halfway through, his voice changed, and the words that fell froze us all:
– „I bequeath all my movable and immovable property to Mrs. Izabela Nowak.”
The room fell silent. I looked at my brother, who looked as surprised as I did. Mom sat pale, her hands clenched around a handkerchief.
– „Who is Izabela Nowak?!” – I exploded, looking at the notary.
At that moment the woman from the corner came closer. Her face was calm, but I saw a shadow of concern in her eyes.
– „It's me– she said quietly.
I was in shock. Who was this woman that dad decided to give her everything? The house, the savings, even the company he spent his whole life building – all went to her.
– „This is some kind of mistake– my brother said, trying to control his emotions. – „Our dad would never do something like that.”
But Izabela looked at us seriously.
– „I'm sorry you're finding out about it under these circumstances. I was… someone important in his life these past few years.”
The words were like a blow. Mom jumped out of her chair, tears streaming down her cheeks.
– “Someone important? What's that supposed to mean?!”
Izabela lowered her gaze.
– “I was involved with your father. For fifteen years. We met while you were busy with your own lives. He was unhappy, and I… I just loved him.”
Mom slumped in her chair, and my brother exploded in anger.
– „It's impossible! Dad would never betray us! Never!”
But I already knew it was true. Every business trip, every late-night meeting – everything suddenly started to fit together. Dad had a second life that he never told us about.
I tried to control myself, but the questions wouldn't leave me alone.
– „Why now? Why did he give you everything? And us? What about us?”
Izabela looked at me with pain.
„I didn't ask for it. I just wanted to be with him when I could. The will was his decision. He said he wanted to thank me for the years I gave him.”
I listened to her words, but anger was building in my heart. How could he do that? How could he give everything to the woman who was his secret, and leave us with nothing?
When Izabela left, the house fell silent. Mom was crying, my brother was pacing back and forth, and I was trying to understand what had just happened. The man I loved and admired turned out to be someone I never really knew.
It's been weeks, but the pain hasn't gone away. The family is divided – my mom won't talk about my dad, my brother can't hide his anger, and I keep asking myself why? Maybe I'll never find the answer. Maybe my dad took his secrets to the grave. But one thing I know for sure – Christmas Eve, which was supposed to be full of memories and warmth, left us with wounds that will never heal.
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