While staying with my parents to give my husband space during a work deadline, I was stunned when my daughter called, crying—he’d taken the kids without notice. Tracking his location, I found his car in a CVS parking lot, where a young woman, Laurel, sat with my kids, laughing. Devastated but silent, I drove away and cried. He claimed Laurel was just a work friend, but their closeness at a school fundraiser, where she acted overly familiar with my kids, confirmed my suspicions. Confronting Laurel, I learned she thought we were divorced. I packed his
things, texted him to communicate through lawyers, and moved on. Laurel later apologized, having ended things after realizing his lies. Another woman, Safiya, revealed he’d cheated years earlier, even during my pregnancy. His pattern of seeking novelty was clear. A year later, I’ve rebuilt with my kids in a new home. I’m dating Martin, who’s kind and patient. I’ve learned to trust my instincts and walk away when my heart knows the truth.
