Marie’s ordinary day of chores took an unexpected turn when she found a dusty piggy bank in her teenage son Jake’s closet. Inside were several hundred-dollar bills and photos of her husband David with other women.
“I gasped, ‘Oh no!’” Marie recounted the moment the piggy bank shattered, exposing its secrets. The photos led her to a devastating realization about David’s activities.
Confronting Jake, she learned he had been aware of David’s behavior for months and had confronted his father about it. “I was scared, Mom. I didn’t want to hurt you,” Jake confessed through tears.
Marie felt betrayed by both her husband and son. Deciding to take control, she filed for divorce. “I couldn’t stay with a man who had betrayed me so profoundly,” she resolved.
The hardest blow came when Jake chose to live with David. “I just… I can’t stay here, Mom. I’m sorry,” he said. Alone in her empty house, Marie began the painful process of rebuilding her life.