Still, something didn’t sit right.
Midway through the trip, I was looking for sunscreen in Eric’s suitcase when I stumbled upon a small velvet box.
Curious, I opened it to find a stunning diamond necklace.
It looked SUPER EXPENSIVE, and I couldn’t believe my son had bought something so elegant for his girlfriend.
How did Eric manage to save up for it? I thought.
Later that evening, I brought it up casually.
“Eric, I found the necklace in your suitcase,” I smiled. “It’s beautiful, and I’m sure Jessica’s going to love it.”
He looked at me with wide eyes as if I’d said something I wasn’t supposed to say.
“Yeah, I-I,” he stammered.
“I’ve been saving for a while. I, uh, I really liked it and I thought I’d get it for her. After all, she deserves it.”
“That’s amazing!” I faked a smile.
“I’m so proud of you!”
I wasn’t ready to believe that my son, a college student on a tight budget, could afford something so extravagant. I decided not to press him, but my gut told me there was more to this necklace than he was letting on.
Jessica’s indifference to Eric’s life, her lack of genuine interest, and now this mystery necklace? Things weren’t adding up.
On the final morning of our trip, the hotel was quiet.
Mark was having breakfast downstairs, and Eric and Jessica were lounging by the pool.
I stayed in the suite, sipping coffee and trying not to overanalyze the situation.
That’s when Eric’s phone, left charging on the counter, buzzed with a notification.
It was a text. I glanced at it absentmindedly, but my eyes widened when I read it.
It read, +$500 to our deal. Thanks for covering up for me with the necklace.
The sender?
Mark. My husband.
My stomach dropped as my mind tried to connect the dots. I immediately grabbed Eric’s phone and entered the passcode (I knew it because I’d watched him unlock his phone once).
I knew it wasn’t right to invade his privacy, but something told me I had to see more.
The message thread unraveled a web of betrayal I couldn’t have imagined.
Mark and Eric had been plotting for weeks, and Jessica wasn’t Eric’s girlfriend.
She was Mark’s mistress.
Eric had been pretending to date her as a cover so Mark could bring her on the trip without arousing my suspicion. The “deal” they had struck involved money Mark had promised Eric in exchange for his silence. And the necklace?
Mark had paid for it with my money.
I stared at the screen as dozens of questions popped into my mind.
How could Mark do this to me? And Eric? Why did he go along with it?
They thought they could betray me like this?
I was angry. I was heartbroken.
But I knew I couldn’t let this slide.
That evening, I called everyone to dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. I dressed carefully, choosing a nice dress and pairing it with the diamond necklace my husband had bought for his mistress.
I wanted to look composed and strong, even if I felt like falling apart inside.
When I walked into the restaurant, they turned to look at me.
Jessica’s eyes lit up, but her smile faded when she realized I was wearing her necklace.
“Mom, why are you wearing Jessica’s necklace?” Eric asked. “That’s her gift.”
“Oh, really?” I chuckled. “That’s odd.
Because your dad bought it with MY MONEY.”
Mark’s face turned pale.
“Wh-what are you talking about?” he stammered. “What—”
“Stop pretending, Mark,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Then, I turned to Jessica. “I don’t know what my husband has told you, but he’s currently unemployed.
He got laid off years ago, and since then, he’s been struggling to find a decent job.”
“But, I—”
“Shh!” I cut her off. “Let me finish. You see, I’ve been paying for everything ever since he lost his job.
Everything including this trip, the necklace, and even the money he promised Eric to play along with this charade.”
“Mom, I didn’t mean to… I mean—” Eric began.
“I never thought my son could do something like this,” I glanced at Eric as tears streamed down my cheeks. “I had no idea I was paying my own son to lie to me.”
That was the last thing I said to the three of them. I stood up and walked back to my room.
The next day, I flew home alone.
Eric and Mark kept calling me, but I refused to answer any of their calls.
A week later, I filed for divorce. Jessica vanished when she realized Mark had no money, leaving him humiliated and alone.
As for Eric, we’re working on rebuilding our relationship. He made a mistake, but he’s still my son, and I’m hoping he won’t do anything like this again.
I guess he just wanted some money and didn’t really care what his father wanted him to do. I pray he grows up and understands what Mark did that day was totally unacceptable.
I hope Eric never follows in his father’s footsteps.
