Jake shrugged and went to his room. As he left, my mind was still reeling. I knew I had to confront him about the piggy bank.
I returned to Jake’s room, heart pounding, and pulled out the photos and money. There were at least ten photos, each showing David with different women. The realization hit me hard—my husband was cheating on me.
It was clear these photos were taken by a private investigator, but why did Jake have them? My stomach churned with a mix of fear and anger. I needed answers.
“Jake, can you come here, please?” I called out, my voice trembling.
He appeared, curious. “What’s up, Mom?”
I held up the photos, my hand shaking. “Can you explain these?”
Jake’s face went pale. “Mom, I can explain…”
“Please do,” I said quietly.
Jake looked down, shuffling his feet. “I found out about Dad a few months ago. I followed him and saw him with another woman. I started taking pictures to prove it. I didn’t want to believe it at first.”
My heart ached. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jake’s eyes filled with tears. “I was scared. I didn’t want to hurt you. But then I confronted Dad and asked for money to stay silent.”
I was stunned. “You blackmailed him?”
Jake nodded, ashamed. “Yes. I put the money in the piggy bank because I didn’t know what else to do with it.”
A wave of betrayal washed over me. My husband’s infidelity and Jake’s deceit were overwhelming. I needed to regain control. “Jake, go to your room. I need to think.”
As he walked away, I was filled with a mixture of sadness and anger. I loved my son, but his actions had hurt me deeply. I knew I couldn’t stay in this marriage. I needed to move forward, even if it meant starting over.
The next morning, I contacted a lawyer and began the process of filing for divorce. It was a difficult decision, but necessary. I couldn’t remain with someone who had betrayed me so profoundly.
When David returned from his trip, I confronted him with the photos and divorce papers. “It’s over, David. I know everything.”
David looked shocked but didn’t deny it. “I’m sorry, Marie. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“It’s too late for apologies,” I replied coldly. “I’m done.”
The final blow came when Jake chose to live with David. “I want to be with Dad,” he said, avoiding my gaze.
My heart shattered. “Why, Jake? After everything?”
“I just… I can’t stay here, Mom. I’m sorry.”
As they packed their things and left, I stood alone in the empty house, feeling abandoned and betrayed. But I knew I had made the right choice. I had to start anew. I hoped one day Jake would understand why I made the decisions I did. Until then, I had to find my strength and rebuild my life from the pieces they had left behind.