When my dying mother-in-law called me late one night, I never expected her to confess a secret that would turn our lives upside down. That secret led me to a point where I had to make a difficult choice.
Iโve been married to Dawson for about ten years, and my mother-in-law never missed a chance to remind me that I wasnโt the kind of woman she wanted for her son.
A woman talking to her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney
Colette is one of those people who believe in telling the truth, no matter how bitter it is. She doesnโt care if the truth will hurt her loved ones because she believes honesty comes first.
โI wanted Dawson to marry my friendโs daughter,โ she told me one day when she came over to our place. โI always thought theyโd make a great couple.โ
A woman speaking to her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney
Honestly, I wanted to tell her off, but Iโm not the type to disrespect anyone. I always ignored her snide remarks, and thatโs the only reason our relationship survived.
A few months ago, Colette was diagnosed with cancer, and the doctors said she didnโt have much time left. Before her diagnosis, we only saw each other at family gatherings and rarely spoke otherwise.
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
So, it was surprising to see her name flash on my phone screen a week ago. Especially at 11 p.m. I was making tea when she called.
โHello?โ I answered, thinking what made her call me this late.
โElizaโฆโ she began in a frail voice. โI need to talk to you.โ
My heart skipped a beat.
What was this about?ย I thought.ย Was everything okay?
โColette, is everything fine?โ I asked. โWhereโs Martha, your nurse?โ
A woman talking to her mother-in-law on the phone | Source: Midjourney
There was a long pause on the other end. I could hear her breath in a haphazard pattern, and then I heard something I wasnโt expecting.
I heard her sob.
โColette? What happened?โ I asked again.
โIโฆ I have to tell you the truth,โ Colette stammered. โBefore itโs too late.โ
What?ย I thought. I wasnโt expecting this.
So, the thing is, Colette has never shared anything personal with me during all these years. She had never considered me as a friend, and this sudden call from her was making me worried.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
โThe truth will ruin your life and Dawsonโs, but you need to know what I did,โ she continued. โSomething I will never forgive myself for. I wasnโt always the person you think I am.โ
โI donโt understand,โ I said slowly, wondering what her words meant.
โThere was someone else in my life before I married Dawsonโs father,โ she confessed. โHis name was Wesley.โ
Before I could respond, Colette revealed something even more shocking.
A grayscale photo of a couple | Source: Pexels
โWesley and I had a childโฆ a daughter,โ she began as her voice trembled. โHer nameโs Claire. She was born before Dawson. His older sister.โ
I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, and I almost thought Iโd fall to my knees. Dawson had a sister? Did he know he wasnโt the only child?
โWhatโฆ What happened to her?โ I asked, still trying to make sense of what she said.
A young woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
โI gave her away,โ Colette revealed and her voice sounded like she was about to cry. โI gave her because Wesley wasnโt ready to become a father. He left me, so I had to give Claire away. Iโve regretted my decision since that day. I wish I hadnโt done it.โ
Hundreds of questions popped into my mind but there was one that bothered me the most. Why was Colette, out of all people, telling this to me?
โDoes Dawson know?โ I asked.
A man standing outside his house | Source: Midjourney
โNo,โ she replied. โHe doesnโt know. But now, I need you to do something.โ
โWhat is it?โ
She cleared her throat before saying her next sentence.
โSo, Claireโฆ she found me,โ Colette said. โAnd sheโs dying too. She told me she needs to undergo a kidney transplant, but you know I canโt donate mine.โ
I knew exactly what was coming next, but I wasnโt ready for it.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
โI know itโs too much to ask for,โ she continued. โBut sheโs my daughter, Eliza. Sheโs Dawsonโs sister, and she needs someone to save her life.โ
โSheโs lying, Eliza,โ a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was Dawson.
I quickly turned towards him, and I could see his face had turned red, and his eyes had anger that I hadnโt seen before.
โHang up, now!โ he yelled.
A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney
I fumbled with the phone as I ended the call.ย How long had Dawson been listening to us talk?ย I thought.ย How can he say his motherโs lying?
โShe told you I have a sister, right?โ he asked. โSheโs lying. Thereโs no sister.โ
โWhy would she lie about something so serious, Dawson?โ
He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. โSheโs been manipulating people for years. Sheโs doing this to seek attention.โ
A man talking to his wife in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
โBut I think sheโs telling the truth,โ I said. โI could hear it in her voice, and sheโs always been honest with me. You know that.โ
โI told you thatโs not true,โ Dawson said firmly. โI donโt want you talking about this again.โ
Later that night, I couldnโt stop thinking about my conversation with Colette. As I replayed it in my mind, I couldnโt recall a single moment where she seemed untruthful.
She spoke with conviction, and her story made sense.
An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
The following day, I decided to visit Colette after Dawson left for work. I quickly got ready and drove to her house.
โSheโs been asking for you,โ the nurse told me as I entered Coletteโs house. I hurried toward Coletteโs bedroom.
โOh, Eliza!โ Coletteโs face lit up. โYouโre finally here!โ
โI want to know everything, Colette,โ I said. โPlease tell me everything about Claire so I can help her.โ
A woman visiting her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney
For the next hour, Colette laid it all bare. The love affair, the daughter she gave up, and the weight of the secret that had consumed her. But just as I was about to leave, she grabbed my hand.
โHere, take this,โ she said, handing me a piece of paper. โThis is Claireโs address.โ
I looked down and saw an address scrawled in Coletteโs handwriting.
โThereโs one more thing,โ she whispered. โDawson knows.โ
โWhat?โ I gasped.
But before she could explain, the front door slammed open.
A doorknob | Source: Pexels
It was Dawson.
โWhat are you doing here, Eliza?โ he demanded.
โI just came to see her,โ I replied calmly. โAnd she told me about your sister.โ
โI told you sheโs lying!โ Dawson shouted. โSheโs insane. Why donโt you get it?โ
โBut Dawsonโโ I began, trying to reason with him.
โLetโs go home,โ he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the house.
At that point, I was convinced Colette was telling the truth. I was determined to find Claire but couldnโt tell Dawson. I knew he wouldnโt let me.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
So, I drove to the address the following day after Dawson left for work. It was about an hour away from our house.
Upon reaching there, I found myself outside a beautiful cottage. I went ahead and rang the bell.
A few minutes later, a woman opened the door. She had the same eyes and lips as Dawson and seeing her made me certain that Colette hadnโt lied.
โHow may I help you?โ she asked as she looked at me from head to toe.
A woman standing at her doorstep | Source: Midjourney
โHi, Claire,โ I began. โIโm Eliza. Dawsonโs wife.โ
Her expression shifted instantly. She stared at me with eyes wide open, as if I were an unexpected and unwelcome guest.
โYouโre Dawsonโs wife?โ
โYes,โ I nodded. โI came here because Colette gave me your address and said youโฆ youโre sick. That you needed help.โ
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she opened the door wider, gesturing for me to come in.
I entered the house and followed her into the living room.
A cabinet with a mirror | Source: Pexels
It was a cozy space with worn-out furniture, but something about it made me feel at home.
โI never thought anyone from my motherโs family would ever visit me,โ she said, sitting on the couch. โI reached out to her months ago but never expected a response. Not after what she didโฆโ
โI understand,โ I nodded slowly. โDawson never told me about you, but Colette said he knew. Is that true?โ
Claire looked at me for a few moments before recalling a bitter memory.
A woman sitting in her living room | Source: Midjourney
โHe found out when we were teenagers,โ she revealed. โColette told him in a fit of guilt one day, and then he came to see me. He was angry, and I think he blamed me for everything. He never returned after that.โ
I was stunned. Dawson had known about his sister all along and had kept it from me. Even now, knowing she was dying, he wasnโt willing to help.
A close-up of a manโs face | Source: Midjourney
โIโm so sorry for what happened, Claire,โ I managed to speak. โI guess he blamed you because he was just a kid.โ
โYeah, I think so too.โ
โSo, what happens now?โ I asked while fidgeting with my fingers.
โI donโt know,โ she shrugged her shoulders. โI never thought youโd come here.โ
โIโm here to help you, Claire,โ I said, sitting up straight. โIโll get tested to see if Iโm a match.โ
Tears welled up in her eyes.
โBut you donโt have toโโ
A woman talking to another woman | Source: Midjourney
โI do,โ I interrupted. โYouโre family. Whether Dawson acknowledges it or not, you need us, and I canโt just walk away.โ
โThank you, Eliza,โ she hugged me tightly. โThank you so much.โ
Later that night, I told Dawson about my visit and tried to help him see how much his sister needed us.
โI didnโt want you to know,โ he said as tears trickled down his cheeks.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
โI didnโt want anyone to know because I was ashamed of what my mother had done. I avoided Claire because she reminds me of how cruel my mother can be.โ
โI know itโs difficult, babe,โ I held Dawsonโs hands. โBut itโs all in the past and right now, fateโs giving you a chance to be there for your sister. You could save her life.โ
That was the first time I saw Dawson break down and cry like a child.
A man sitting with his face buried in his hands | Source: Midjourney
He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed. He cried for the sister he lost, the mother he resented, and the life he had been forced to confront.
In the end, Dawson agreed to visit Claire with me.
Rebuilding their relationship wasnโt easy, but Dawson eventually agreed to get tested to see if he was a match for the kidney transplant.
A man in his house | Source: Midjourney
As we wait for the results, I hope Dawson and Claire get to live their lives together like they should have. I hope they truly understand how good it feels to have a sibling who understands you and stands with you through thick and thin.
If you enjoyed reading this story, hereโsย another oneย you might like: When Gracieโs mother-in-law invited her on a family trip, she considered it a step toward mending their relationship. Instead, the trip kicked off with a jaw-dropping ultimatum that Gracie couldnโt ignore. She had to devise a plan to expose her mother-in-law and teach her a lesson.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided โas is,โ and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.