Her Life Beyond the Walls

Mandy looked like James's words had hit her hard, and it took her a moment to find her voice. "James, she's really tried her best as your wife all these years. Let's not bring up that old mess again, okay?"

However, James was on a roll like he was dumping all the frustration he had been holding in all day. "We're better off divorced. I don't want her bad influence rubbing off on Chester and Calvin.

"Mom, think about Calvin. How is he going to feel growing up with her, knowing his mother did whatever it took to get ahead? That's going to hurt."

He was about to keep going, but Mandy cut him off.

"That's enough, James. Just stop."

James could not remember when Mandy had ever stood up for Emma like that.

Before he could even wrap his head around it, Mandy's eyes filled with tears.

"James, I should've told you this a long time ago, but... well…

"You made me see today that I shouldn't let my own wants get in the way of you and Emma making peace."

Mandy struggled to speak like they were too difficult to say. "You've never forgiven Emma for that night at the party when she drugged you, and you ended up having to marry her."

She turned to her grandson Chester, who she adored. "And Chester, you've been holding onto that grudge too, haven't you? It's kept your parents from getting back together.

"No matter how nice she's been to you, how much she's cared and loved you, you've just been indifferent to her, not even willing to call her 'Mom'.

"Listen, you've got it all wrong. That drug wasn't her doing—it was me. The whole thing was a mix-up, and even Emma got hurt by it."

The trio's eyes widened, and Chester could feel a slight shiver run through him.

He had despised Emma for so long, blaming her for drugging his father and shattering any hope of his parents getting back together, of ever having a whole family again.

However, if it was all just a big misunderstanding, what about all the things he had done to her over the years?

He could not bear to think about it.

Mandy kept going, "You see, I was trying to play matchmaker for James and Chester's mom. Your split was a joke, and you two weren't on bad terms, so I figured with both of you being so headstrong, I'd step in and help out.

"At that party, I had the drug ready for James and Chester's mom, but somehow, Emma ended up with the drink that was meant for her.

"I first thought she was playing dumb, taking advantage of the mix-up on purpose. However, then, chatting with Kelly one day, we pieced it together—it was our blunder that got the drinks swapped.

"By then, Emma had Calvin, and I was worried she'd be indifferent to Chester if she had her own kid. I figured with this secret hanging over her, she'd have to at least pretend to care for Chester, so I kept quiet all this time."

"Grandma," said Chester, the word tasting bitter in his mouth.

He stood there, his neck rigid, as if holding onto the last shred of defiance. "Then why didn't she clear her name? Why did she quietly take the blame all these years?"

"She tried to tell us, but we wouldn't believe her," said James, the words seemingly weighing heavily on him.

For some reason, he remembered a night long ago when he had too much to drink and was on top of Emma. When she pushed him away, saying she did not want it, he felt a sting of anger.

That day, after being upset by something outside, he saw the rejection in Emma's eyes and blurted, "Didn't you always dream of being with me? Now that it's happening, why are you acting all high and mighty?"

He could still see the way Emma's eyes dimmed when she replied, "James, I like you, but I've never played games with you, and I never wanted to just sleep with you."

He had just scoffed and kept going, not believing her, not caring about her feelings.

All those years, had anyone in their family truly cared about Emma? They had judged her guilty without a second thought and slapped a nasty label on her.

Only Calvin seemed lost, asking carefully, "So, Grandma, you mean that Mom didn't break up brother's mom and Dad? Mom isn't the other woman?"

Chester could not take it anymore. He wrapped his arms around his little brother and said, "Calvin, all those things I told you before, and what we heard from grandma, from our aunt about your mom... it was all wrong. We lied to you, we all did.

"Your mom isn't the other woman. She's not a bad person at all! She's really, really good..."

Chester's voice broke, and he could not finish his sentence, overcome with emotion.