“Mason! Victor! Mom’s home!” I called out, walking into Mason’s room to find Victor sitting on his bed, Mason surrounded by toys. “What’s going on?” I asked, Mason leaping into my arms.
“Nothing, honey,” Victor said, winking. “Just a boys’ chat. Welcome home.” Victor stood up, kissed my head, and left for work. But I was disturbed. That night, sleep eluded me. Victor’s whispered words haunted me—would something as simple as eating the wrong food make me “sad”?
The week-long business trip that followed was torture. Victor’s daily photos of Mason were my only solace until one photo brought about more questions than answers. In the background of a photo, there were blue shoes that weren’t mine. The flight home was a blur. I knew everything was about to change.
I walked in and heard muffled sounds from my bedroom. Bracing myself, I opened the door to find Victor with another woman. The confrontation was a blur of tears and heartbreak. Victor denied everything, blaming me for not being present enough. “I need human contact, too,” he said.
In the aftermath, my family encouraged me to have Victor move out. “Let him leave,” my father said. “You and Mason need to stay comfortable.” Victor moved out, denying the affair. Now, armed with the truth, I am determined to rebuild, not just for my sake, but for Mason’s.v