Once Betrayed
Laura felt like a blissful woman: she had her cherished son, Ben, a beloved husband, Nick, and a comfortable job.
Nick always earned well, enabling her to work part-time and dedicate a lot of her time to their son.
Isn’t that happiness?
Yet, it all could have been different…
“I’ve fallen for someone else,” her adored husband declared 13 years ago, avoiding her gaze. “We need to part ways.”
“Nick, are you serious?! I love you, and you loved me too. This can’t just end like this!”
Nick simply shrugged and suggested she could file for divorce if it was easier for her.
Easier?! She wanted nothing but to have her beloved, truly adored husband by her side.
She spent a week crying into her pillow and having outbursts, only pushing Nick further away.
Then she calmed down, collected herself, and suggested a farewell evening to her husband…
Divorce never happened, as Laura discovered she was pregnant. They had been trying for a child for five years without success.
Laura, 25, and Nick, 27, were both perfectly healthy, yet pregnancy eluded them.
And then, after a single goodbye meeting… goodbye was unnecessary.
Nick announced he was staying—Laura sensed a relief in him—and he cared for her and was overjoyed when Ben was born.
They never spoke of his affair; Laura didn’t even want to know about the other woman.
Whatever! What mattered was that everything improved!
Now, Ben is already 12, growing into a clever young man. Laura even considered enrolling him in a school with a maths focus but realized too late.
Currently in a regular school, he won nearly all local mathematics competitions, attended chess club, and played violin in music school.
Though he wasn’t keen on violin, Laura firmly believed in a well-rounded education.
“Maybe he should join a football club then?” Nick grimaced when Laura mentioned her musical plans.
“Are you mad?!” Laura gasped. “Do you want your child to get injured? End up disabled?!
No and no!”
Nick waved it off—do as you please. Work challenges occupied his thoughts then.
Now, Nick headed a department, with his career and salary doing well.
Good fortune struck Laura at Nick’s office. She had come to pick him up—they planned to celebrate their wedding anniversary at a restaurant—and got chatting with one of his colleagues.
Striking and slim, Karen was far from a grey mouse; next to her, Laura felt insecure—yet Karen was welcoming.
She also had a son, Ben’s age, so there was much to discuss.
“Would you like me to see if your Ben can join the school where my Philip studies?” Karen unexpectedly offered.
“Well, I doubt that’s possible. It’s hard to get in even with money,” Laura skeptically replied.
“It’s not about money, it’s connections I have. People find me quite charming!” Karen winked playfully.
“Oh, I’d be so grateful!” Laura exclaimed.
Karen was true to her word, and the next school year, Ben started at the “math” school.
However, there was a hitch—the school was in another part of town, and Laura was terrified to let him attend locally alone, much less that far.
In the mornings, she could calmly drive Ben herself, but after classes…
“Laura, our son is mature, smart, sensible. He can make it home on his own! The bus stop is near the school. Just hop on, no transfers necessary!” Nick firmly cut off Laura’s pleading to collect Ben.
“Nick, you act like you have a backup child! It’s scary enough for an adult alone outside, let alone…”
“Enough! That’s it!” Nick interrupted. “I’ll pick him up when I can, but he needs to manage it himself.”
Laura lamented to Karen—they sometimes spoke on the phone about their sons and the school.
“What a fuss!” declared Karen. “How about the boys come to ours after school; we’re so close, and you pick Ben up when you can.”
“Are you serious?” Laura was startled. “Come on! It’s too much trouble for you.”
“No trouble! I’m working too. At least they’ll be home and together. Both are calm, responsible—they might become friends!”
“Oh, Karen, I’d be so thankful to you!”
“No worries!”
Ben hesitantly accepted the idea. He knew Philip, though they were in different classes, and weren’t close.
He found it tough making friends. The new school was appealing only because it meant stopping violin lessons, located far from the new school, which Laura couldn’t manage.
Yet, on the second day Laura picked him up from Karen’s apartment, Ben left reluctantly.
“Mum, can I stay a bit longer?” Ben whined. “We haven’t finished our game with Phil…”
“No, you have to study. Plus, it’s rude to impose on them like this. Phil’s mum is doing us a big favor,” Laura firmly stated.
“Doing you, not us,” Ben murmured under his breath.
Laura pretended not to hear.
Nick was initially annoyed about the arrangement—working with Karen, and concerned about opinions.
But hearing Laura’s reasons and avoiding family drama, he waved it off.
Coincidentally, frequent business trips loomed for him with a new branch opening—he told Laura to do as she pleased!
So it was settled.
Ben increasingly asked Laura if he could stay at Philip’s longer:
“Mum, Phil and I have so much to do… We’ll do our homework, please…” Ben pleaded.
“Laura, why are you being difficult?” Karen echoed. “The boys are getting along, they’re not up to any harm. Let Ben stay a while.”
Every time, they coaxed her. Eventually, Ben stayed overnight a few times.
Laura reluctantly agreed, checking up on him—she was used to having him always nearby.
With Nick often away, she felt lonely and agreed less often about longer stays.
“Mum, why do you act like this?!” Ben shouted once when his mother refused him going to Philip’s.
“Like what?” Laura asked.
“Like this! Hovering over me like a hen with her chick! I’m grown, and you don’t give me an ounce of freedom?!”
“Ben,” Laura said sternly, “explain these… phrases to me now. Where did you hear them? Who taught you?”
“No one taught me!” Ben grumbled. “I’m not living in a forest.”
“I’m your mother, caring only for you. Wanting the best for you,” Laura insisted.
“Karen is a mother too, she cares for Philip! But doesn’t hover, allows everything, and never scolds!” Ben retorted.
“So, what does she allow?”
“Nothing bad,” Ben mumbled. “I’m going to bed.”
Laura sensed something was off. Ben was usually calm, sometimes lethargic, but here he raised his voice.
Karen likely wasn’t allowing chaos in her home—Ben simply missed male guidance. Once Nick was back, a father-son chat was necessary!
But Nick sided with Ben:
“Laura, honestly, you’re suffocating Ben with your attention. Grant him some freedom. I understand Philip’s a good kid; they do homework and play together. That’s healthy.”
“Yes! Only speaking to me like that isn’t healthy!” Laura fumed. “Do you disagree?”
“I agree. But I’m telling you—relax, or he may end up despising you.”
You now have ample free time. Visit a beauty salon, do something!”
“What—ooh! Are you saying I don’t look good?!”
“Let’s just say it wouldn’t hurt you to pay attention to your appearance…”
This, Laura couldn’t bear. She stopped speaking to her husband for a whole week, up to his departure, and afterward, she tersely answered his calls about work and Ben.
She struggled, trying to raise her son well, attend to her husband, maintain a cozy home, only to hear she needs a beauty salon visit?!
Upon returning, Nick apologized and, of course, she forgave him—she still loved him.
Then, the boys planned a camping trip. Fourteen eager participants from two classes, requiring parent involvement.
Initially, Laura refused to let Ben go on “that nightmare,” then offered to accompany him, but work prevented it, and Ben pleaded for her not to.
Unexpectedly, Nick volunteered for the trip:
“Why not? I have a couple of days off. Haven’t relaxed with a tent in nature for ages…” Nick dreamily said.
“Well, if that’s the case…” Laura hesitated. “Fine, go! Just stay in touch!”
Father and son exchanged glances, rolling their eyes together—mum, as per usual!
During the three-day camping, Laura grew anxious. There was limited coverage, and they called her merely twice.
Unable to wait, she drove to Philip’s home—he was to be dropped off first—to meet her husband and son.
The driveway was crowded, and Laura parked on the street.
Near the entrance, she noticed a couple hugging, unable to recognize them initially in the dusk. The voices gave it away.
“Nick, how long can this continue?” Karen asked softly but firmly. “When will you get a divorce?”
“Kaz, let’s not today. We’ve just had three wonderful days, don’t spoil them,” Nick replied. “I love you, it’s clear—I’ll sort my divorce out soon.”
Clearly, they shared a kiss.
Who, exactly, does her husband love? Were they together on the camping trip? Was Nick planning to divorce her for real? Questions spiraled in Laura’s mind…
“What’s going on here?” she loudly asked just one of the thousands of hurt people have echoed before.
“Thank goodness,” Karen softly said. “Couldn’t hide anymore.”
“And how long have you… been hiding?” Laura asked sarcastically.
“Almost a year,” the other woman stated calmly. “It’s been tiresome.”
“I wouldn’t know! What I do want to know is why you took my son in!”
“Nick’s still the devoted dad, and Ben’s the only thing tying him to you.
So I wanted to befriend him. By the way, you’ve got a great kid, despite driving him nuts already.
I’m not opposed to him living with us.”
“What—ooh!” Don’t even think about it! My son’s living with me! And so is my husband. Right, Nick?!”
“Sounds threatening,” Nick cleared his throat. “Let’s discuss this at home in private.”
“No! You say right now you’re staying with the family! And, where’s Ben?!”
“They’re helping to carry items into the apartment; they’ll return shortly,” Nick calmly explained. “And, Laura, let’s handle this without arguments. I’ve ended up loving Karen and want to be with her.”
As Laura formulated her response, Ben appeared through the door:
“Mum? What are you doing here? And guess what?..”
“Let’s head home,” Laura interrupted him mid-sentence. “Quickly!”
She grasped Ben’s hand, pulling him to the car, overlooking his protests.
Nick indeed left for Karen. They attempted taking Ben from Laura, yet the boy, having seen his mother’s tears—she was almost always crying since that evening—declared he’d stay with his mum.
A year later, Nick wanted to return, but Laura didn’t take him back—unable to forgive twice.
