When My Husband Cheated and My Kids Turned Against Me, I Faced an Impossible Choice — Story of the Day
I’ve given everything to my family, but my husband’s cheating and the kids are on his side. At one of his parties, I stepped out for air and ran into someone unexpected—my first love. Then came an offer that left me breathless. I stood at the stove, stirring soup, watching it bubble but feeling far away. The house was quiet, just like every evening. Then, Jack came through the front door. No “Hi,” no “How’s your day?” My husband didn’t even glance my way. He tossed his jacket onto a chair and began talking about work. “There’s another event next week,” he said, not missing a beat. “You’re coming.”
“I don’t want to go,” I replied softly, knowing it didn’t matter what I said. Jack kept talking, ignoring my answer like always. His life was all about work, the people he could impress, and how he looked to them. We sat down for dinner soon after. Lucas, our 17 y/o son, was already glued to his phone. He looked up for a second, barely meeting my eyes, then went back to texting.
“You know, you could help set the table,” I said, trying to get his attention. “Yeah, maybe later,” he muttered, not looking up. Jack glanced at Lucas and smiled, but didn’t say anything. He’d always been the easy parent, giving Lucas everything he wanted. A car, money, and no rules. Lucas saw Jack as the cool one, while I was just the nagging mom who made him eat his vegetables and study.
Across from me, Mia, our 14 y/o daughter, sat with her head down, texting just like her brother. We I barely talked anymore. Like Lucas, she looked up to Jack. He let her go to parties, didn’t question her friends, didn’t tell her no. “I’m going to Katie’s after dinner,” Mia said suddenly. That’s how it always was. I was the one left to say NO, to worry about things. Jack, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice the tension around the table.
He glanced at his watch and looked at me. “Be ready by six,” he said. “We’re going to the party tonight. And please, smile. I need to make a good impression on my partners.” I stared at my plate, feeling small. A stranger in my own home. A ghost at my own table. And no one seemed to notice. The party was the same as always—lavish, loud, and exhausting. I stood off to the side while Jack entertained his business partners, shaking hands, exchanging jokes, completely forgetting I existed. That was his world. I was just part of the scenery.
I watched from a distance, trying to blend into the wallpaper. Then I saw her. Claire. Again. She was always there, always too close to Jack. I noticed how she leaned in when he talked, how her smile lingered just a second too long. It wasn’t a coincidence. I had seen it too many times before. My stomach churned. I needed air. Without a word, I slipped out onto the balcony, hoping to escape the weight of the evening. The cool breeze hit my face, I could breathe again. He stepped closer. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”