My Husband Told Me His Mistress Is More Important Than Our Children. He Didn’t Know I Was Recording The Whole Conversation. How Do I Make Sure He Never Sees Them Again?

Lance’s face goes red and he says that’s not what he meant, that I must have recorded him wrong or taken it out of context. Jillian reaches into her bag and pulls out a small recorder, asking if he’d like to hear the actual audio.

His attorney puts a hand on Lance’s arm and shakes his head slightly, clearly telling him to stop talking. The mediator writes something on her notepad and the sound of her pen scratching paper fills the quiet room.

She looks up and addresses Lance directly, telling him that his behavior has been detrimental to his children based on the professional assessments and documented evidence. She asks him what he thinks is more important: his relationship with Gloria or his relationship with his kids.

The room goes completely silent and I can hear Lance breathing next to me across the table. He sits there frozen and I watch him actually think about his answer like it’s a difficult question.

The pause stretches out for five seconds, then 10, then 15. In that growing silence, everyone in the room understands exactly what his hesitation means.

His own attorney looks away and shakes his head, clearly disgusted with his client. The mediator makes another note on her paperwork and the scratching sound seems louder this time, more final.

Jillian glances at me and I see the smallest hint of satisfaction in her expression because we both know Lance just destroyed whatever chance he had. He finally says he loves his children but Gloria makes him happy and he can’t just end that relationship.

The mediator asks if he understands that his children’s therapist has documented significant emotional distress directly caused by Gloria’s presence in their lives. Lance says the kids will adjust once they get to know her better, that they’re just being difficult because I’ve turned them against her.

The mediator closes the folder in front of her with a firm snap that makes Lance jump slightly. She tells us she’s reviewed all the evidence and heard both sides and she’s ready to make her recommendation to the court.

Lance sits up straighter like he thinks this might go his way somehow. The mediator says she recommends primary physical custody to me with supervised visitation for Lance every other weekend.

Lance starts to protest, but she holds up her hand and continues talking. The visitation is contingent on him completing parenting classes and individual therapy to address his priorities and behavior patterns.

She adds that Gloria should have no contact with the children until they’re older and can choose for themselves whether to have a relationship with her.

Lance’s attorney writes this all down and then tells Lance quietly that he should accept this recommendation. Lance asks why he should accept anything, that he wants to fight this in court.

His attorney explains that a judge will likely be even less sympathetic given the evidence and that fighting this will cost him a lot of money and probably result in an even worse outcome. He says the words carefully, like he’s talking to a child who doesn’t understand consequences.

Lance looks at me across the table and his expression is pure anger, like I’m the villain in this situation instead of the person protecting our children. The mediator asks if he’s willing to sign the agreement or if he wants to proceed to trial.

His attorney nudges him and Lance grabs the pen roughly, signing his name on the paperwork with hard strokes that nearly tear the paper. He glares at me the entire time and I meet his eyes without looking away because I have nothing to be ashamed of.

The mediator collects the signed documents and tells us the court will review and finalize everything within the next few months. We all stand up and Lance storms out without saying anything to anyone.

His attorney apologizes to the mediator and to Jillian before following his client out. Jillian packs up her documents and tells me this went exactly as well as we hoped.

I feel relief wash over me, but also exhaustion from holding myself together through the whole meeting. Three months pass with paperwork and court filings and finally the divorce is finalized.

The custody arrangement is exactly as the mediator recommended. I have primary custody, Lance has supervised visits twice a month, and he’s required to pay child support that actually reflects his real income.

The judge added the requirement that Gloria have no contact with the children, which is written into the official court order. I get the final papers in the mail and sit at my kitchen table reading through them, making sure everything is correct.

Two weeks after the custody agreement is finalized, Gwyneth calls me sounding excited about some gossip she heard. She tells me that Gloria broke up with Lance, apparently deciding that a man who lost his family for her but then resented all the consequences wasn’t worth the trouble.