The only confirmation my mother gave to my stepfather in the beginning of their relationship was the rejection of her first born children.
My stepfather asked why she had so many children in her first marriage, and she said that she "just" got pregnant and then had to marry him. So my stepfather turns to my mother kindly and says so tenderly, devotionally, sympathetically, empathetically and happily that she only had done as a duty.
My mother hanged on to this explanation like it was gold. And i guess for a mother of 3 children in a new relationship, having that excuse was like having the door wide open for the next relationship.
When that is said i can`t really say that she always took so good care of her "duties"..she had 3 but 2 of them lived with their father permanently and sometimes she would forget about me.