Paige adores her career, despite the frequent travel it entails. However, after returning from a business trip, she overhears a cryptic conversation between her husband and their four-year-old son. Little does she know, the stability of her marriage is about to crumble.
When I reflect on the pillars of my life, three stand out: my husband, Victor, my son, Mason, and my career. Despite the storms Victor and I weathered together, including four heart-wrenching miscarriages, we emerged stronger. Or so I thought. Victor and I were a strong, supportive couple. We knew what worked for us, especially in healing from our miscarriages. “It’s okay, Paige,” Victor always reassured me. “We’ll have our baby when the time is right. If not, there are other options.” I smiled, wondering when his words would come true.
Then, a pregnancy test was positive. Three months later, our baby was thriving in my womb. When Mason arrived, it felt like our shattered dreams had pieced back together. Mason became our focus. Whenever he needed us, we dropped everything. “Mason is a lucky kid,” Victor often said, watching him play. “He is incredibly loved.” And he was. Victor and I prided ourselves on caring for him above everything else.
With my demanding role as a chief executive in a clothing brand, travel was constant. I was involved in every step of our product designs, often leaving Victor and Mason to fend for themselves. But I didn’t worry—Victor was a perfect father. He even changed his work schedule to be home more for Mason. “I don’t want a babysitter or a nanny taking care of our son,” Victor once said. “If you can handle the days, then the evening shifts are all mine,” I compromised.
Recently, as Mason approached preschool age, I vowed to limit my work trips to be more present. But during one of these trips, the fabric of our family began to unravel. I had been away for about three days, stuck in meetings, eager to get home to hug Mason and smell the baby fabric softener on his clothes. When I returned, the house was quiet. Victor and Mason were upstairs, and I overheard a conversation that shook me to my core.
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