My name is Angelica, and I still remember the first time I met Tom in high school. From the start, everyone knew we were meant to be together. We both came from affluent families, living a life of comfort and privilege.

"We're like a fairy tale," Tom often said, smiling at me.

After college, we married and built a beautiful home together. We were blessed with two wonderful children, Emma and Jack. Our life was filled with family vacations, elegant dinners, and social gatherings.

"Our house feels like a dream," I often told Tom. "I love our life."

"Me too, Angelica," Tom would reply. "We're so lucky."

Weekends were spent playing with the kids in our backyard, hosting BBQs for friends and family, and enjoying quiet evenings together. One Saturday, as we grilled burgers, Emma and Jack ran around playing tag. Tom looked at me and said, "I wouldn't trade this for anything."

"Neither would I," I agreed, feeling content.

To the outside world, we were the perfect couple. We rarely argued, always supported each other's ambitions, and seemed to have everything one could wish for in a marriage.

Our friends often told us how lucky we were. They envied our love story, which seemed right out of a romantic movie. I often heard comments like, "You guys are the perfect couple," and "I hope my marriage is as strong as yours."

Then, one day, we received an invitation to our high school reunion. It had been ten years since we last saw our classmates, and we couldn't wait to catch up with old friends.

"Can you believe it's been ten years?" Tom asked, looking at the invitation.

"It feels like yesterday," I replied, excitement bubbling up. "It will be fun to see everyone again."

We spent the next few weeks talking about the reunion, reminiscing about our high school days, and wondering what everyone else had been up to.

"Do you think Sarah will be there?" I asked Tom one evening.

"I hope so," he said. "It would be great to see her again."

The night of the reunion finally arrived. We walked into the venue, excitement buzzing in the air. The room was decorated with old photos and school colors. Laughter and chatter filled the space as we greeted old friends.

"Angelica! Tom!" someone called out. We turned to see Sarah, an old classmate from a humble background who had been close to us during our school years.

"Sarah! It's so good to see you," I said, hugging her tightly.

"I've missed you both," Sarah replied, smiling warmly.

As we caught up, Sarah showed us pictures of her children. "These are my pride and joy," she said, her eyes shining with pride.

"They're beautiful," I said, smiling. "How old are they now?"

"Emily is eight, and Joshua is ten," Sarah replied, beaming. "They keep me busy, that's for sure."

Tom looked at the photos and said, "You must be so proud, Sarah."

"I am," she said, her voice filled with love. "They mean the world to me."

As I looked closer at the photos, my heart skipped a beat. There, on the neck of Sarah's eldest child, Joshua, was a distinct birthmark identical to the one my husband has. A wave of nausea washed over me. I blinked, hoping I was imagining things, but the birthmark remained. It was unmistakable.

Tom stepped away to catch up with his old buddies, leaving me alone with Sarah. My mind raced with thoughts. I tried to keep my composure, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"Sarah," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she replied, her eyes widening.

"That birthmark... on Joshua's neck. It's just like Tom's. It's quite a coincidence, isn't it?" I said, trying to sound casual, but my heart was pounding in my chest.

Sarah looked at me, eyes filled with sorrow and regret. "Angelica, I can't lie anymore. Back in high school, Tom and I... we had an affair. It was brief, and we both regretted it. But then I found out I was pregnant."

I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. "Pregnant?" I whispered, barely able to form the words.

Sarah nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yes. When I told Tom, he was shocked. He didn't know what to do, so he told his parents. They all decided it was best to keep it a secret. They offered me a large sum of money and agreed to provide informal child support until Joshua turned 18, in exchange for my silence. They didn't want to lose you as a daughter-in-law, coming from such a noble and wealthy family."

I stared at her, trying to process what I was hearing. "So... Joshua is Tom's son?" My voice trembled, and I felt a lump in my throat.

"Yes," Sarah replied, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, Angelica. I didn't want to hurt you. I thought this was the best way to handle it at the time. But living with this secret has been eating me up inside."

I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to comprehend the betrayal. Without another word, I stood up and walked away, my heart shattered.