Hand in hand, they departed the restaurant. And we followed. We waited in the vehicle as they neared the motel two roads away.
Even though we were doing the right thing, I didn’t want to hurt Lara’s heart. Dan was already doing it. I grabbed my phone.
“He probably posted about it on social media, right? Dan is foolish. He can’t resist providing “private life” clues.
“Let’s check his story,” Lara added. There it was. A blurry black-and-white hotel corridor shot with a ridiculous caption:
Protecting privacy is vital.
All the answers were there when Lara zoomed in. “Room 312,” she said. Bingo.
Dan provided everything we needed. Dan and Jen disappeared inside the room as we reached the third level. Do you want to do this, Mom?
She asked, slowly inhaling. I liked being called Mom. My heart melted.
And I realized I loved her. “Oh, sweetheart, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Lara,” I replied. “He cannot get away with this.”
So we stormed in.
Dan lay on the bed with Jen on his lap, his shirt half-unbuttoned. He became pale white as he understood what was occurring. “What the… Mom?” Jumping to shove Jen off, he yelped.
Lara didn’t weep. She didn’t shout. She grabbed Dan’s phone off the table and held it.
“Smile for the camera, Daniel,” she added. Suddenly, she went live on social media. Dan’s followers flocked.
His tiny but loyal following, who believed in his “perfect athlete and family man” reputation, watched. Dan yelled. He grabbed the phone.
It was too late. The world saw him. The genuine him.
The aftermath was terrible. A divorce was filed by Lara. Dan lost everything.
Sponsors deserted him quickly. Followers disappeared suddenly. What about Dan’s classes?
Refund demands poured in. My oldest son James cleaned his hands. “No way.
Dan, I won’t save you. Why would you hurt Lara? You sicken me.
My kids shouldn’t know you.”
And I? I fulfilled my motherly duty. Let him fall.
Because if your kid disrespects his wife, you failed as a mother. Though I lost my son that night, I got a daughter. I’d always choose Lara.
