Brian found a password-protected “PRIVATE” folder on his father’s computer when he tried to use it.
Curiosity got the better of him and he managed to figure out the folder’s password. But he was afraid of what was inside.
The Greenwood house was quiet, and 18-year-old Brian, a college student, was immersed in his task.
After a long day at college, Brian’s teacher and respected economics professor Alex seemed exhausted when he returned home. “You look exhausted,” said Brian’s anxious mother Amanda when she met Alex.
“It’s been a long day,” groaned Alex, referring to the pressures of last semester.
While having dinner with his family, Brian’s college experience came up. “Learning is good,” Brian added, cutting too close to his nerves. “There is a girl, Elizabeth White, but she seems to be avoiding me.
Alex froze at her remark. “Elizabeth White? Brian, you should stay away from her at all costs. She is not a good influence,” he said in an uncharacteristically forceful tone.
“Why, Dad?” “What’s wrong with her?” Brian asked in surprise.
She is known for being quite fanciful. Seen in different boys.
Brian was repulsed. He had strong feelings for Elizabeth. “Anyway. Dad, can I use your laptop later? I changed the subject because of his strange behavior.”
“Of course, you can use it anytime,” Alex noted.
The next morning, Brian had the house to himself and sat down in front of his father’s laptop. Curiosity got the best of him and found a password-protected “Private” area.
Remembering the date of birth of their dog, “Rocky0710”, he was taken aback by what he saw when he opened the folder.
Brian’s pulse quickened as he opened the first picture. It was a picture of his father and Elizabeth holding hands tenderly against the sea. Elizabeth was kissing him on the cheek in another picture.
The truth of the matter hit Brian hard; it was easy to see why his father opposed Elizabeth from the start.
“How could he?” Brian muttered, shocked and heartbroken.
As Brian kept thinking about how his father cheated on his mother, his anger grew. He was afraid that it would be difficult for his mother to accept Alex’s reality. But Brian also wanted revenge on his father for what he had done.
Weeks passed and Brian continued to come up with a plan without talking about how he felt. He concluded that the ball would be an ideal opportunity to make amends.
The prom was a time of excitement.
Finally, Brian took the stage and his secret weighed heavily on him.
“Today I will share the truth about my father,” he said as he spoke. The giant screen showed photos of Alex and Elizabeth and a huge gasp echoed through the hall.
Alex stood up and walked over to the stage, drawing murmurs from the audience. With his confession hanging heavy on him, it was difficult for him to speak. “For a long time I was unfaithful to both my son and my wife,” the father revealed.
Principal Carla Thompson tried to stop him, but Alex kept talking. But it’s not as you think. Elizabeth is not my friend.
“She’s my daughter,” he declared, shocking everyone.
“And her mother is the headmistress of the college, Mrs. Thompson,” Alex replied.
Everyone in the room was going through a wide range of emotions as they tried to digest what Alex had just revealed.
It turns out that Alex and his wife Amanda had a bitter argument eighteen years ago when Brian was still a young man. He was angry with her after he found out she was seeing someone through his friend Adam. “How could you get me involved? Us? I was looking at the pictures you took with him.” Alex yelled at her.
Amanda was very impressed. But she at all. She even tried to explain that she was at a friend’s house and it was all just a misunderstanding.
But Alex wasn’t listening. Enraged, he fled the house and went to a bar next door, trying to put his problems behind him. The bartender tried to cheer him up, but Carla, a former co-worker and instructor at the college where Alex was principal at the time, invited him to the bar to celebrate her birthday that night to distract him.
As the night went on and the party ended, Carla realized that Alex wasn’t feeling well. And she said she would take him home. After drinking too much, they end up kissing and spending the night together.
Alex felt terrible about what happened when he woke up in Carla’s apartment the next day after telling Amanda what happened.
When he returned home early in the morning, Amanda began to worry. “Alex, how are you? You smell like alcohol,” she said clearly.
To cover up his actions, Alex lied about where he was. He said, keeping his eyes on Amanda, “I was just at a friend’s house and I lost track of time.”
That’s when Amanda told the truth. “Remember the pictures me and the guy took at the hotel? She said, showing some receipts, ‘Just to be clear, he was planning a surprise for your birthday.’
After Amanda feels terrible and realizes she did nothing wrong, Alex apologizes to her. “Sorry. I should have trusted you.” But he decided not to tell her about his own mistake so as not to aggravate her.
“Let’s promise to trust each other from now on,” Amanda said and they decided to start over. Amanda did everything in her power to make sure Alex had the best birthday possible. Carly was among the people who laughed and shared stories during the celebration as they caught up with friends, family, and co-workers.
However, everything changed when Carla pulled Alex aside. “We need to talk,” she commented, sounding quite serious. Then Alex went out with her.
She said startled, “I’m pregnant, Alex, and it’s your baby.”
Alex was shocked. If anyone found out about his one-night stand, he would lose his reputation. Upon my return, I intend to take over the position of director. Carla then came up with a plan: “When I move out, I’ll put the baby in a shelter and have him.” This is not the child I want.”
Alex agreed. “Okay, Carlo. By saying, ‘We’ll do it your way,’ he took a big step that changed the course of their lives.”
Brian’s eyes widened as Alex finished his story to the students and professors. The hall fell silent as everyone realized what had happened.
Elizabeth completely flared up. “When I found you, you told me my mother died and you never knew you had a daughter!” she snapped at Alex.
I was afraid, Elizabeth. “I couldn’t face the truth about the hideout…about leaving you,” Alex begged for forgiveness.
But Elizabeth slapped him back and ran away. She didn’t want to work with a man who lied to her and his family.
“I never want to see you again,” Brian raged..