To hide his affair, Herman inflicts emotional distress upon his stepson. When his jilted wife, the boy’s mother, learns the truth, she calmly delivers justice.
The soft melodies of Billie Holiday filled the room, the sultry voice surrounding the entangled figures on the white sofa. Herman, in his thirties, and Jezebel, his mistress, shared stolen moments in the dimly lit living room.
“This is so naughty of us!” Jezebel whispered. “What if your wife comes home early?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Faceboo
“My wife hasn’t come home early in at least a year! We have the whole morning,” Herman insisted.
“The whole morning!” Jezebel echoed. “Well, in that case, best we make the most of it, Mr. Loverman. Kiss me like you mean it.”
“That’s not all I’m going to do; just wait,” Herman replied, tossing his sweater aside.
They lost themselves in the moment, but a creaking door interrupted them. Panic gripped the pair; Herman’s wife wasn’t supposed to be back for hours.
“Who is it?” Jezebel whispered.
“It can’t be my wife,” Herman pleaded. “She told me she was working late. Quick, get—”
The front door slammed shut, and Herman faced the music.
A young voice broke the tension. “Herman? Are you here?” Herman’s son, Jake, entered, backpack slung over his shoulders.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
“What are you doing home, Jake?” Herman asked angrily.
“They made us go home early because of a scare,” Jake explained. “They thought there was someone with a gun in the school. Herman, who is this lady?” Jake asked, looking at Jezebel.
Herman denied Jezebel’s presence. “Jake, you must be seeing things.”
“But I see a lady right there,” Jake insisted.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
Herman concocted a lie about Jake’s shock from the school scare.
“Close your eyes and count to ten. If you can’t see the ghost, it can’t see you. And you see, it’ll disappear if you do that.”
Jezebel disappeared into the bedroom as Jake obediently counted. When he opened his eyes, the woman was gone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
“I made her disappear?” Jake exclaimed.
“You got rid of the ghost. You’re a brave young man,” Herman assured.
After coaxing Jake to keep the encounter a secret, Herman allowed him unlimited screen time.
After Jake left, Jezebel re-entered the room, disapproving of Herman’s actions. “What was that? You lied to your son?”
“Stepson,” Herman corrected. “What did you expect? Tell him about us? Admit to our affair? I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us together.”
Jezebel sighed. “Okay, cool,” she said.
“That was close, though,” Herman said. “We’ll get back to what we were doing another time!”
“Yeah,” she agreed, kissing him goodbye. “See you later, Loverman,” she added seductively.
***
Herman’s wife, Grace, returned home after sunset. Tension enveloped the dinner table as they sat down to eat. Jake seized the opportunity to share his peculiar day.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
“Mom,” he began, “we left school early today because they thought there was someone with a g un inside.”
“What…what happened?” Grace gasped.
“It was a false alarm. Everything’s fine, right, Jake?” Herman interjected.
“I’m fine,” Jake said. “But when I came home, I saw a ghost.”
“A ghost?” Grace asked, concerned.
“It’s just his imagination,” Herman intervened, concealing his panic. “Post-traumatic stress from the school scare.”
Ignoring Herman, Grace focused on Jake. “What did the ghost look like?”
“She was a lady with big, frizzy hair,” Jake explained.
“She?” Grace repeated, looking at Herman.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
Herman laughed nervously. “He must be in shock. Go watch cartoons,” he told Jake.
After Jake left, Herman leaned in, trying to placate Grace. The tension lingered.
“I’ll call the school and get Jake an appointment with the psychologist,” Grace said. “Now that you’re not working, you can take him to the appointment.”
Herman almost yelled, “I’m trying to find a job!”
“I know. But..Maybe spend less time at that Moe’s Diner you visit often and help more with Jake,” Grace suggested stiffly.
Herman didn’t say much, promising to help her with her son.
After dinner, Grace decided to talk to Jake. “Talk to the counselor at school. It might help you understand what’s going on, honey, alright?”
“Okay, Mom,” Jake said sweetly and wished Herman and Grace good night.
Herman’s heart sank in regret, realizing his secret tryst with Jezebel was unraveling. He had hoped to manage the affair, but it was proving more complicated than expected.
As they sat in the living room, Grace’s eyes locked with Herman’s. “It’s for the best that we’re taking him to a doctor. My boy’s well-being is at stake.”
They argued, and Herman again said it wasn’t needed, but Grace’s determination prevailed. “I’ll make an appointment with the psychologist for Jake! And I’m taking him there myself!”
***
In Dr. Warren’s child-friendly office, Jake’s anxiety was palpable. His tiny hands gripped the chair he sat in.
Dr. Warren greeted him warmly. “Let’s talk about what happened, Jake.”
Jake hesitated, recalling the frightening incident that brought him here and Herman’s trick with ghosts. “Herman said if I close my eyes, the ghost would disappear.”
Dr. Warren turned to Grace. “What trick did Herman show you? What ghosts?”
Grace explained Herman’s role in their lives — that he was her second husband — and Jake continued, “Herman said when I close my eyes, the ghost can’t see me, so it goes away.”
Dr. Warren addressed Jake gently. “Closing your eyes won’t make dangerous things go away. It’s important to talk to someone you trust.”
Jake nodded, sharing his fear of the ghost breaking up his family. “I saw a Iady. I am scared that lady will make Herman leave Mom.”
Dr. Warren looked at Grace. “I’m going to recommend regular visits to help Jake understand these feelings better. Jake,” he added, turning to the boy, “can you please excuse us? Your mom will be out in just a minute. I want to make an appointment for your next visit with her.”
Jake nodded and left the room.
“I divorced Jake’s father because he was unfaithful. He had an affair,” Grace told Dr. Warren.
The man nodded. “I think what’s happening with Jake is a classic case of Kleinian Projective Identification,” he said.
“Is it serious? What…what can we do?” Grace asked, concerned for her little boy.
“Don’t worry,” Dr. Warren reassured her. “It’s just a theory in child psychology based on Melanie Klein’s work. Projective identification involves a child projecting feelings onto another or the world outside, often with the intent of making the other person experience what the projector is feeling, causing delusional behavior, like Jake’s. We can deal with this.”
“I just want what’s best for Jake,” Grace said worriedly. “If you think you can help him, then we’ll do whatever it takes.”
“I’d like to work with Jake,” Dr. Warren continued. “He might need counseIing and medication. I’m here to support both of you.”
***
Grace briefed Herman on Dr. Warren’s diagnosis over dinner. “What did he call it?” Herman asked.
“Something about projecting fears onto the externaI world,” Grace said.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
“Is it a real issue?” Herman inquired.
“Yes, according to Dr. Warren. Jake might need medication,” Grace replied.
Herman Iowered his head and concentrated on eating his food. “Is something wrong?” Grace asked him.
“Uh, no, no, nothing wrong,” Herman said unconvincingly. “Just thinking.”
“I’m taking the afternoon off tomorrow and taking Jake out for lunch. I think it will be good if he and I spend some time together. Maybe he will open up about what’s troubling him.”
“Okay,” Herman agreed nervously.
At Moe’s Diner, Grace and Jake discussed the menu. Suddenly, Jake closed his eyes, claiming to see the ghost from their living room.
“The ghost? Are you sure, honey?” Grace asked, worried and concerned.
Jake pointed to the frizzy-haired waitress, Jezebel. Grace approached her, inquiring about any unusual experiences at the restaurant. But Jezebel denied any ghostly occurrences.
Grace, suspicious, pressed on, “It’s just that sometimes kids pick up on things, you know? Strange vibes or unusual occurrences. It would put my mind at ease to know if there’s anything unusual about this place. For my son’s sake.”
Jezebel dismissed Grace’s doubts, claiming that Jake had an overactive imagination. Grace thanked her and returned to the table.
But the woman sensed something off about Jezebel. Pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that the truth was within reach.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
When Jezebel dropped the food, Grace said nothing. Jake closed his eyes and began counting again.
“It’s okay now, Jake, she’s gone,” Grace assured. Jake opened his eyes, focusing on his ice cream.
Grace had an idea. “Jake, should we call Herman and ask him to join us for lunch?”
Jake nodded unenthusiastically.
Grace smiled, pleased. “But my phone’s dead. I’ll ask the waitress if I can use hers.”
Approaching Jezebel, Grace said, “My phone’s almost flat. Can I use yours to make a quick call to my office?”
Jezebel handed her phone reluctantly. “No problem. Go right ahead,” she said.
Grace dialed Herman’s number and got the shock of her life when the caller ID on Jezebel’s phone revealed “Loverman.” Shocked, Grace hung up quickly and returned to the table. But now the truth was out.
With a weak smile, she encouraged Jake to finish his food soon.
After arranging a playdate for Jake, Grace returned home. Settling on the sofa, she reached for her phone, dialing Dr. Warren.
“It’s Grace. I need your guidance and support.”
Grace recounted the events, revealing her plan to remove Herman’s belongings. Dr. Warren supported her decision.
Soon, the removal men arrived, packing up Herman’s things.
When Herman arrived, he was shocked. “Grace, what’s going on? What are these men doing with our things?” he asked, baffled.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
Grace imitated the charade Herman had once played with their son, a mocking smile on her lips.
“Herman, what men? I don’t see any men. You must be seeing ghosts. Oh, and to be clear, those are not our things; they are your things.”
Herman’s face paled. The tables had turned.
His voice quivered, “Grace, you must believe me. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I—”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
Grace cut him off, her voice firm and unwavering. “Herman, there is no room for excuses. The time for lies and infidelity is over. You know what you are to me now? A ghost!”
Herman’s eyes twisted up with regret, but Grace’s resolve held. She explained that all of his personal items were being moved to a storage facility, signaling the end of their shared life together.
“I’ve also been in consultation with Dr. Warren, and we’ve initiated criminal charges for emotional abuse. The police will be here shortly.”
Soon, two officers arrived, their badges glinting. They informed Herman of his rights and took him away; justice was served.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Facebook
Grace, feeling vindicated, turned to the door, closed her eyes, and counted to ten – her way of making Herman’s ghost disappear.
Opening her eyes, she saw Jake, who ran to her and embraced her.
Grace held him close. The road ahead was uncertain, but they were united, and they would face whatever challenges that lay ahead with courage and love.
I Found Out My Son Was Planning to Cheat on My Lovely Daughter-in-Law and Decided to Crash His Date with His Mistress
Maggie adores her daughter-in-law, Lara. So when she overhears her son, Dan, planning a night with his mistress, she refuses to stay silent. With Lara by her side, she follows him, straight to his betrayal. But exposing him just isn’t enough. Instead, Maggie is about to teach her son a lesson that will cost him everything.
I have two sons. My eldest? James. A loving husband, a wonderful father, hardworking, honest, and kind.
My other son? Dan.
A woman sitting at a kitchen table | Source: Midjourney
Dan has always been… difficult. Selfish. Lazy. He was the type of kid who skated by on charm, always looking for the easiest way out. While James built a life, Dan bounced from one “passion” to another.
“It’s just the way I am, Mom,” he’d say. “Life is full of opportunities, and I want to try them out!”
The latest? A local fitness blogger, selling online courses on “proper nutrition and sports.” He barely had any followers, but he loved the attention.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
The comments, the likes, the little taste of fame.
We had long accepted that Dan would never settle down. So when he married Lara six months ago, we were shocked.
And Lara?
Oh, she was a dream. Sweet, thoughtful, kind, exactly the kind of woman I wished Dan could be worthy of. A wonderful wife and an even better daughter-in-law. A beautiful soul. And for a moment, I truly believed she could change him.
A young woman holding a puppy | Source: Midjourney
But Dan is Dan.
And a few nights ago, I found out exactly how much of a fool I had been.
It was late afternoon, and Dan was in my guest bedroom. He and Lara had a studio apartment, meaning that there was no room for his digital set-up. I was used to him coming and going, constantly making noise while filming.
I had just put the kettle on when I heard Dan’s voice, muffled but still audible, coming from the hallway.
“Yes, babe,” he chuckled. “I miss you too. But she’ll be at work tomorrow until late, so we can go to the restaurant and then move to the hotel. Yeah?”
A man talking on a phone in a hallway | Source: Midjourney
There was silence for a moment.
“Yes, the fancy restaurant on Paradise, Jen… I’ll text you the time.”
I gripped the container of teabags I was holding. My stomach dropped.
This foolish man was cheating.
On Lara.
A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
The sweet girl who made him homemade lunches. Who laughed at his bad jokes. Who believed in him when the rest of us had given up any hope.
My hands shook as I turned off the stove. And in that moment, I made my decision.
I wasn’t going to let Lara be another woman blindsided by Dan’s selfishness. I was going to tell her everything. And we were going to teach Dan a lesson.
A woman making a sandwich | Source: Midjourney
The next afternoon, I picked Lara up from work. She greeted me with a warm smile, wiping her hands on her apron. She worked at one of the busiest bakeries in town.
“Maggie! What a surprise! What are you doing here?” she asked, beaming.
I took a deep breath.
“Lara, sweetheart, we need to talk.”
A young woman in a bakery | Source: Midjourney
We sat in my car, and I told her everything. Every single word I had overheard. Everything I had suspected.
Her face went pale.
“He… he said that?” her voice cracked.
“I love and respect you too much to hide it, Lara. You’re the daughter I never had,” I said, reaching for her hand.
A woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
Tears welled in her eyes, and she clutched her apron tightly with one hand. But she didn’t break.
She swallowed hard and whispered,
“I want to see it with my own eyes. Do you know which restaurant?”
I nodded.
“Then let’s go, sweetheart. I heard which restaurant while he was on the phone.”
The exterior of a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Dan had made dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant. One of those dimly lit places where the food is served in tiny portions, but the bill could make you cry.
Lara and I slipped inside, finding a perfect spot by the window.
And there he was.
My son, grinning like a fool, sitting across from a blonde woman in a tight red dress. Jen.
A woman sitting in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
She leaned in, twirling a piece of hair around her finger, laughing at something he said.
I watched Lara dig her nails into her palm. I put my hand on her knee.
“Breathe, Lara. It’s not over yet.”
“Unbelievable,” she muttered.
We didn’t confront them. Not yet. We just watched. Watched him pour her wine. Watched him whisper in her ear. Watched him act like he wasn’t married to the best woman he would ever have.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
Someone a million times more than he deserved.
Then, hand in hand, they left the restaurant.
And we followed.
As they approached the hotel two roads away, we sat in the car and waited. As much as I knew we were doing the right thing, I didn’t want to break Lara’s heart. But here Dan was… already doing that.
The exterior of a hotel | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out my phone.
“He probably posted something about it on his socials, right? Dan’s that stupid. He can’t resist posting hints about his ‘private life.’”
“Let’s check his story,” Lara said.
And there it was.
A grainy black-and-white photo of a hotel hallway, stupidly captioned:
Privacy is everything.
A hotel hallway | Source: Midjourney
Lara zoomed in, and all the answers were there.
“Room 312,” she said.
Bingo.
Dan had given us everything we needed.
We got to the third floor just in time to see Dan and Jen disappear inside the room.
A woman walking down a hotel hallway | Source: Midjourney
“Are you sure you want to do this, Mom?” she asked, exhaling slowly.
I loved when she called me Mom. It made my heart melt. And I realized that I truly did love this girl.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Lara,” I said. “He cannot get away with this.”
And with that, we stormed in.
Dan was on the bed, his shirt already halfway unbuttoned, Jen straddling his lap.
A man sitting on a hotel bed | Source: Midjourney
His face went ghost white when he realized what was happening.
“What the… Mom?!” he yelped, scrambling to push Jen off him.
Lara wasn’t crying. She wasn’t yelling. She simply picked up Dan’s phone from the table with his wallet and watch and held it up.
“Smile for the camera, Daniel,” she said.
A man’s phone and wallet on a table | Source: Midjourney
And just like that, she went live on socials.
Dan’s followers flooded in. His small but dedicated audience, the ones who actually believed in his “perfect athlete and family man” persona, were tuned in and watching.
“Hey, everyone!” Lara said into the camera, her voice steady although her hands shook. “You all think this man is a role model, right? A perfect husband? A loyal partner?”
She turned the camera to Dan.
Jen shrieked, covering her face. Dan lunged for the phone.
A woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney
“Turn it off, dammit!” he screamed.
I stepped in front of him.
“Oh, honey, don’t you dare.”
Lara looked straight into the camera.
“Meet the real Dan. A liar. A cheater. A fraud. This is what he does while he tells you to be ‘better, stronger, healthier!’ While his wife is at work, supporting him. This is the man you follow. This is the man you trust.”
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
I picked up my phone and joined in on the live. I wanted to see the comment section explode.
Wait! He’s married?!
This is the guy I bought a nutrition plan from?
Unfollowing NOW! What a joke!
Is this him cheating? And his wife is exposing him? Haha!
Dan shouted. He yanked at his hair, rage and panic flooding his face.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
But it was too late. The world had seen him. The real him.
The fallout was brutal.
Lara filed for divorce. Dan lost everything. Sponsors dropped him immediately. Followers vanished overnight. And as for Dan’s courses?
Refund requests flooded in.
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
James, my eldest, washed his hands of him.
“No way. I’m not bailing you out this time, Dan. And why would you do that to Lara? You make me sick. I don’t want my kids to know you.”
And me?
I did what a mother had to do.
I let him fall.
Because if you raise a son who has no respect for his wife, then as a mother, you have failed.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
I may have lost a son that night, but I gained a daughter.
And I’d choose Lara every time.
Lara sat at the kitchen table, fingers tracing the rim of her mug. The warmth of the tea did little to thaw the heaviness in her chest. It was clear to see.
“I still can’t believe you stood by me like this,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You didn’t have to. You could’ve just… ignored it. Pretended that you didn’t hear any of it.”
A woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Sweetheart, how could I?” I said softly. “I love you. You’re my daughter, even if not by blood.”
Lara looked up, her eyes glassy.
“But it must have hurt. To see your own son exposed like that.”
I clenched my hands around my mug.
“It broke me, Lara,” I admitted.
A woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
“Because of what he did to me?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the scone in front of her.
“Because of what he turned into,” I said. “Because I raised a man who could humiliate a woman like you. And because I couldn’t stop it.”
Lara let out a watery chuckle. “And instead, you helped me destroy him.”
I smirked. “Damn right I did.”
She reached across the table, squeezing my hand.
A scone with jam and cream | Source: Midjourney
“I lost a husband,” she whispered, “but I gained a mother.”
Tears stung my eyes.
“And I’ll always choose you, sweetheart.”
A week later, Dan had moved out of his apartment and into Jen’s home, leaving Lara to find herself in her own space. But this evening, he had come home for one final family meeting.
Dan stood in my living room, arms crossed, looking every bit the sulking child he had always been. James sat beside me, his jaw clenched so tight I thought he might break his teeth.
“So, what now?” Dan scoffed. “You guys are just going to cut me out completely?”
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
James exhaled sharply.
“You did that yourself, Dan.”
Dan rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. Lara’s fine. She got her revenge. What more do you want?”
I stared at him, disgust curling in my stomach.
“Fine?” My voice was low, dangerous. “You humiliated her. You destroyed your own marriage. You ruined everything, and for what? A cheap thrill?”
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
Dan scoffed. “It wasn’t like that…”
“Shut up, Dan.” James’s voice was sharp, cutting through his excuses. “For once in your life, shut up and take responsibility.”
Dan had the audacity to laugh.
“Oh, please. You’ve always hated me. This is just an excuse to push me out.”
I stood up, my hands trembling.
A woman standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“Do you think this is easy for me?” I whispered. “Do you think I wanted to be ashamed of my own son?”
Dan’s smirk faltered.
“I have always loved you, Dan. Even when you failed. Even when you disappointed us.” I swallowed hard. “But this? I can’t stand by you after this.”
James stood beside me.
“Neither can I.”
A man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
Dan looked between us, panic flickering in his eyes.
“You’re choosing her over me?” he asked, voice cracking.
I nodded.
“Dan. I’m choosing what’s right over you.”
And with that, I turned away. James followed. As for Dan? He was finally alone.
Some betrayals deserve to be exposed. Some men deserve to lose everything. And sometimes? Your real family isn’t the one you’re born into. It’s the one you choose.
A woman holding a plant | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
When Emily’s sister-in-law plans an elaborate potluck, she feels nothing but dread at the things that Jessica insists she brings. Trying to keep her budget in mind, Emily makes a casserole, but Jessica dismisses it, and her. It’s only when karma steps in, that Jessica has no choice but to eat humble pie.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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