I thought my marriage to Theo was perfect. We had been together for seven years and shared a beautiful four-year-old daughter, Mira. When he received a promotion at work, his company threw a lavish party to celebrate. Mira and I were thrilled to share in his success. As we mingled with his colleagues, Mira suddenly tugged on my dress and pointed across the room. “Look, Mommy! The lady with worms!” she exclaimed loudly. Several guests turned to look, and I gently asked her to explain.
She told me she had seen red worms on the bed at a lady’s house and that Daddy had told her not to tell me about them. My heart sank as she pointed to Nora, a glamorous coworker I had always felt uneasy about. I confronted Theo at the party, but he brushed it off, claiming the “worms” were just hair curlers and that he had made a joke to calm Mira. His nervousness told a different story. Later, I met with Nora, who confirmed my worst fears with a smug smile. She revealed that she and Theo had been having an affair.
Devastated but resolved, I quietly prepared for a divorce. Theo moved in with Nora shortly after, and I focused on rebuilding a stable, happy life for Mira and myself. Though the betrayal was painful, my daughter’s innocent honesty ultimately freed us from a relationship built on lies. Today, we are happier and stronger, living a truth-filled life without secrets.
