My face hard, “Alex, you didn’t just doubt me; you humiliated me. You left me alone, you accused me of che:ating, and you let your mother threaten me. I don’t know if things can ever go back to the way they were.”

He nodded, “I understand that. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. I don’t expect you to forgive me right away, but please, give me a chance to prove myself again. For Sarah’s sake, for us.”

I saw the regret in his eyes. Part of me wanted to shut the door on him forever, to shield myself from any future hurt. But another part, the part that still remembered the love we’d built over two years, wanted to give him a chance to make amends.

I let my anger and hurt slip away, if only for a moment.

“I don’t know how to trust you right now, Alex. But for Sarah’s sake, I’ll try,” I said finally.

He reached for my hand, “Thank you, Jenn. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust. I love you both more than anything.”

But as the days went by, one day I started processing the fact that my husband seemed disappointed that I hadn’t che:a:ted on him.

That night while he was sleeping, I took and unlocked his phone and found something I hadn’t expected. There were messages between him and a female colleague.

In the texts, he claimed he’d leave me for her soon and I knew there was no going back for us. I took screenshots of the messages and that morning while Alex went to work, I called a lawyer and filed for divorce.

By the time he got home that evening, I was long gone. I stayed with my sister Emily while the divorce proceedings happened and of course, Alex tried denying the infid:eli:ty but I had proof. In the settlement, I received the house, our car, and significant child support.