I heard my son saying on the phone: “Hi, Mom, I’ll come to see you tomorrow instead of going to school” – I decided to follow him.
I didn’t expect that following my 10-year-old son would lead me to such a discovery. Read more below 👇 👇 👇 👇
I didn’t expect that following my 10-year-old son would lead me to discover my husband’s double life. The moment I saw that young woman open the door and warmly kiss my son, everything in my world fell apart.
They say curiosity killed the cat. For me, it destroyed something far more noble.
My curiosity ended the ideal family life I thought I had carefully built while climbing the professional ladder.
Charles sighed when he saw me preparing my laptop. “Another business trip?” he asked, leaning against the kitchen counter. “That’s the third this month, Nathalie.”
I answered without looking up from my list: “It’s only for three days. The client is finally ready to sign, and I need to be there in person.”
Charles murmured, “Of course you do.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, looking at him.
“Nothing, just that… the science fair in Luc’s town is this week. He was hoping you’d be there.”
I felt a pang of guilt but quickly brushed it aside. “I’ll make it up to him when I get back. This contract is crucial for my promotion.”
I packed my bag. “And you’ll be there for him, right? You handle everything perfectly when I’m away.”
“Yeah, I always do, huh?” he replied in a strange tone.
I chalked it up to the usual tension that came with my business trips and focused on my tasks.
The morning of my departure, Luc was already at the kitchen table, ready for school.
“Hey, sweetie,” I said, kissing him. “I’ll be back before you know it. And we’ll have the whole month for ourselves. Maybe we can finally go camping, like you want?”
He nodded without enthusiasm. “Okay, Mom.”
I smiled. “I promise. No more trips after this one. Well… for a while.”
He gave me a vague smile. “Okay.”
I should have noticed how unaffected he was by my departure, but I didn’t think about it, absorbed in the presentation I had to finalize.
The trip went well: we landed the client, and my boss hinted that this long-awaited partnership would soon materialize.
When I got back, I was euphoric, eager to share my success with Charles and spend time with Luc as promised.
My first day back was spent doing housework. Charles had mentioned he was working in a coworking space, so I was home alone until school let out.
When the door slammed at 4:00 PM, my heart skipped a beat.
“Luc! I’m back!” I called cheerfully.
He appeared in the doorway, his backpack still on.
“Oh, hey, Mom,” he said, then headed straight for the stairs.
“Hey, wait!” I called out. “Don’t I get a proper hello? I’ve been gone for three days!”
“Yeah, cool,” he shrugged indifferently.
I felt hurt and pushed aside, but I told myself it was just a passing reaction. Still, a strange feeling washed over me.
Later, while folding laundry near his room, I overheard a conversation.
Luc was speaking cheerfully to someone.
“Hey, Mom! School went well today. I’ll tell you my grades tomorrow!”
My heart clenched. Mom? He wasn’t talking to my own mother, who lived in Florida. Who was he speaking to so affectionately? A chill ran down my spine.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t confront Luc or Charles, but something pushed me to find the truth for myself.
The next day, after they left, I decided to follow Luc discreetly. He took the usual route, then turned onto a street I didn’t recognize.
My heart beat faster.
He stopped in front of a blue house, knocked on the door. A young woman, barely older than him, answered. They kissed before she invited him inside.
I froze. The adrenaline hit me all at once.
I crossed the street, knocked on the door. When it opened, her smile instantly vanished as she recognized me.
“You’re… Nathalie,” she said.
“And you are?” I asked sharply.
“Where is my son?”
She hesitated before glancing over her shoulder. Without waiting, I pushed past her and entered the house.
Luc was there, on the couch.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” he said.
My heart broke in an instant. The truth hit me brutally: Charles had been cheating on me for a year with Marie, who had become a second mother to Luc.
“She’s always there for me, Mom,” Luc murmured, his head lowered.
His words stung painfully.
Three weeks later, the divorce had begun. Luc chose to live with Charles and Marie, and I only saw him on weekends.
I gave up the promotion and requested a position with no travel, to be more present for him.
But, some mornings, I wake up with a bitter taste, wondering if Luc will ever forgive me for not seeing what was right in front of me.
I should have understood that my presence mattered more than my professional successes.
