My husband always called me crazy for suspecting he was cheating, but when I uncovered the truth, everything changed. What I thought was just a simple doubt turned into a revelation that shattered my world. Now, I had to figure out how to deal with the aftermath and what to do next.
I never thought I’d be this lucky in life, but I had everything I ever wanted. I built a good career, married the man I loved, and then I got pregnant and went on maternity leave, becoming a stay-at-home mom.
Robert and I had two kids together, Ellie and Miles, and I was the happiest woman in the world.
They were still little, so working physically wasn’t an option, but I planned to work from home once they were a bit older.
I honestly never thought anything could go wrong, but it did, and I wasn’t prepared for it at all.
It all started on what seemed like an ordinary Saturday. Robert and I took the kids to the park for a picnic.
While Robert was holding Miles and watching the ducks in the pond, I fed Ellie her lunch. After a while, Robert and Miles came back to us.
“In moments like these, I want a third child,” Robert said.
I laughed. “Miles is only nine months old, give it some time,” I replied.
“Well, these two turned out pretty great,” Robert said.
“Remember those times when they both start having meltdowns at the same time?” I said.
“Don’t ruin my idyllic moment,” Robert said, heading back to the pond but holding Ellie’s hand.
He was right, though. In those moments, everything seemed perfect, and my heart overflowed with love.
Suddenly, Robert’s phone rang, and an unknown number appeared on the screen.
I was about to call out to him to pick it up, but the call ended, and soon after, a new message came through.
You haven’t talked to me in so long. I miss hearing your voice 🙁
My body shook after I read it. My heart raced wildly, and I felt like I was burning with heat, then freezing cold. What could this mean? Was my husband, my love, cheating on me?
I didn’t dare ask until we were on our way home. The kids were fast asleep in the back seat, exhausted from the busy day.
I twirled my wedding ring around my finger, trying to find the right words to talk to Robert, but what came out was what came out.
“Are you cheating on me?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“What? Where did you get that idea?” Robert asked.
“Someone called you, and then this message came through…” I said.
“Did you go through my phone?” Robert asked.
“No, it just popped up on the screen,” I said.
Robert grabbed the phone and unlocked it. He showed me the same message.
“See, there’s nothing else,” Robert said. “Someone just dialed the wrong number.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Sure. Kelly, I love you more than anything. I would never cheat on you,” Robert said.
“Alright, I love you too,” I said.
Robert took my hand and kissed it.
“But if you ever do cheat on me, I want you to admit it,” I said.
“I’m not going to cheat on you,” Robert said.
“But what if—”
“Alright, I’ll tell you.” Robert said.
After that conversation in the car, I calmed down a bit, but inside, there was still an uncomfortable feeling that I tried to ignore.
But Robert’s behavior became stranger and stranger. Before, he’d rush home after work to see me and the kids as soon as possible, but recently, he started staying late, giving no clear reason why.
We still spent time together when he was home, but it felt like something had changed, like he wasn’t fully with me.
Another odd detail was that he changed his phone password. For years, it had been the same, but suddenly, it was different.
I tried talking to him, to find out what was going on, but Robert brushed it off, insisting that everything was fine and that I was just overthinking things.
One day, I dropped the kids off at my mom’s so I could finally go to the hairdresser, and as I was leaving, I saw Robert in his car with some woman.
I quickly got in my car and followed him. Robert parked in a lot near a café, and I did the same, approaching his car. But when I got there, I froze. He was sitting alone, no woman in sight.
“Kelly, what are you doing here?” Robert asked, rolling down the window.
“I… I was at the hairdresser,” I said.
“Yeah, I can see that. Your new haircut looks great,” Robert said.
“I just updated the color and length,” I said. “Robert, where’s the woman?”
“What woman?” he asked.
“There was a woman in your car,” I said.
“Kelly, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came here to grab lunch,” Robert said.
“But I definitely saw her,” I said.
“You’ve gotten so worked up that now you’re seeing things that aren’t there. It’s uncomfortable that you’re accusing me of something like that,” Robert said.
“I… alright, sorry,” I said.
“You’re starting to sound like some crazy person,” Robert said.
“I’m sorry,” I said, walking back to my car.
I began to think maybe he was right, maybe I had imagined it. I just wanted to go back to my mom’s, pick up the kids, and head home. But my intuition screamed at me to stay, so I decided to listen.
I pretended to leave the parking lot, then circled back and blended in with the other cars so I wouldn’t be spotted from the café.
And then I saw her—the same woman I had seen in Robert’s car. She walked into the café and sat down with him.
They laughed, talked about something, and when she kissed him, I physically felt my heart break. The man I loved was kissing another woman.
I took a few photos, then started my car and drove off. I cried the entire way to my mom’s, I couldn’t stop.
Not only had he been cheating on me, but he’d also lied straight to my face and made me out to be the crazy one.
That evening, when Robert came home, I was waiting for him.
“I know you’re cheating on me,” I said.
“Kelly, how many times do we have to go through this? Don’t turn into one of those paranoid wives,” Robert said.
“I saw you, and I have photos so you can’t just say I imagined it,” I said.
“Kelly, I…” Robert trailed off.
“All I asked from you was honesty, but you couldn’t even manage that,” I said.
“Because I love you, Kelly,” Robert said. “I love you, I love our kids, and I didn’t want to lose this family.”
“Then why were you with her, if you love me?” I asked.
“Because I love her too,” Robert said.
“You love her?” I asked.
“Yeah, I love both of you. I didn’t think it was even possible, but it happened,” Robert said. “Just don’t leave me, I beg you.”
“You know what the worst part of all this is? I still love you, even with all the pain you’re causing me right now,” I said.
“Then stay. We’ll figure this out,” Robert said.
I just stared at him, saying nothing. He wasn’t even considering the option of breaking up with her. He wanted to sit on two chairs, but life doesn’t work that way.
So that night, when Robert fell asleep, I packed my things, kissed the kids goodbye, and left.
I loved Robert, but I couldn’t be with a man who wasn’t fully mine, I just couldn’t.
I asked my mom to check in on the kids, and it broke my heart to leave them, but I had a plan, and I was sure it would work.
To Robert, I just vanished. I changed my number, moved out, and he couldn’t find me, not even my mom knew where I was.
Robert didn’t mourn for long. I found out that his lover, Lindsay, moved into our house.
He simply replaced me with her—she was raising my kids, sleeping in my bed, she was me.
The only problem was, she wasn’t handling it as well as I did, because she hadn’t expected to be not only a mistress but also a wife and mother.
A month later, when I was ready to return, I ran into her near our house, walking with my kids.
The once glamorous woman I had seen in the café was gone. Now, she walked with her hair in a messy bun, wearing a dirty T-shirt, with dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. I was still myself—well-dressed, with neat hair, light makeup.
“Hey, Lindsay,” I said, walking up to her, though all I really wanted was to hug my kids.
“YOU!” she shouted. “You ruined my life! I didn’t sign up for all this!”
“I thought you wanted to be with Robert,” I said.
“But not like this! I didn’t want to raise someone else’s kids! And you just disappeared!” Lindsay yelled.
“Well, I’m back,” I said.
“Great, take your kids, your husband, I don’t need any of it!” Lindsay screamed and then turned and walked away.
I quickly walked over to my kids and hugged them. I’d missed them so much, and now, I’d never have to leave them again.
I went into the house, gathered up all of Lindsay’s things into trash bags, and threw them outside, then did the same with Robert’s stuff.
I put the kids in the car and drove to Robert’s work. I went into Robert’s office, holding Ellie’s hand and Miles in my arms.
“Kelly! Where have you been?!” Robert yelled when he saw me.
“Does it even matter? You didn’t suffer much, you found a replacement for me right away,” I said.
“What was I supposed to do? I want a divorce and custody of the kids. Lindsay and I are going to raise them together,” Robert said.
“Your Lindsay ran off as soon as she got the chance,” I said. “And I’ve already filed for the divorce, don’t worry,” I said, tossing the papers in front of him.
“She couldn’t have run off! She’s not you, we love each other!” Robert yelled.
“I’d start wondering why women keep running from you if I were you,” I said.
Robert stared at the divorce papers. “It says here you get the whole house, but that’s impossible, it’s in my mom’s name,” he said.
“I didn’t sit idle this month. I told your mom everything. She said she was ashamed to have a son like you and doesn’t want you living in her house,” I said.
“No, you didn’t dare!” Robert shouted.
“But you did this to yourself. You won’t get the kids either. I might agree to joint custody, but as soon as you file for full custody, I’ll make sure you can’t even get near them,” I said.
“You won’t be able to do this!” Robert yelled.
“Don’t forget, before I was a mom, I was a lawyer. A great lawyer, so I can do anything,” I said, then grabbed the kids and left the office while Robert screamed at me, calling me a witch.
I’d never let any man manipulate me again or feed me lies. I would protect myself and my kids, even though it wouldn’t be easy.
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This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only.
