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?

The house was older and needed some work, but it had a backyard where Jake could practice soccer and a spare room Mia could use for her art. I filled out the application right there and put down a deposit using money from my savings account.

The landlord said I could move in within the month, and I felt hope for the first time in weeks. Tuesday morning, Lance left for work early and three hours later Gloria showed up with suitcases and boxes.

She didn’t knock; she just used the key Lance gave her and walked in like she owned the place. I watched from the kitchen as she took over the guest room, hanging her clothes in the closet and putting her toiletries in the bathroom.

Then she started rearranging the living room furniture without asking anyone. She moved the couch to a different wall and shifted the coffee table to the center.

She took down the kids’ artwork that was displayed on the walls, the drawings and paintings they were so proud of, and tossed them in a trash bag. In their place, she hung her own pieces, abstract paintings with harsh colors that feel cold and unwelcoming.

When Mia came home from school and saw her butterfly painting in the trash, she started crying. Gloria told her the house needs to look more mature now that she lives here, that children’s artwork is fine for the refrigerator but not for display.

I pulled the drawings out of the trash after Gloria went upstairs and hid them in my closet. Thursday afternoon, Jake came home from school with red eyes and tear tracks on his face.

I asked what’s wrong and he told me some kids were teasing him about his dad having a girlfriend. Apparently their parents had been talking about seeing Lance and Gloria around town together, holding hands at restaurants and kissing in parking lots.

The other kids called Jake’s family weird and asked if his mom knew his dad had a new wife. Jake says he tried to ignore them but they wouldn’t stop, and he ended up pushing one of the boys during recess.

I hugged him close while he cried into my shoulder. When Lance got home I tell him what happened and he barely looked up from his phone.

He said kids are mean sometimes and Jake needs to toughen up, that he can’t let other people’s opinions bother him. Jake starts crying harder and runs to his room.

Lance shrugged and went to find Gloria. I sat at my laptop that night and typed out every detail of what happened to Jake.

I wrote down the names of the kids who teased him, what they said, and how Lance dismissed his pain. I described Jake’s tears and his fear of going back to the school.

I emailed it all to Jillian with the subject line “Reputational Harm to Children.” She responded within an hour saying,

“This is exactly what we need—proof that Lance’s public affair is damaging the kids’ social lives and emotional health.”

She said she’s ready to file divorce papers whenever I give the word. I told her I need one more week to get the rental house ready to move some things over gradually so Lance doesn’t notice.

Saturday afternoon, Gloria announced she wants to give Mia an art lesson. She set up supplies in the dining room and called for Mia to come downstairs.

Mia stayed in her room with the door locked. Gloria knocked and said she’s trying to help, that Mia has potential but needs proper instruction.

Mia yelled through the door that she doesn’t want Gloria to teach her anything. Gloria’s face turned red and she stormed off to find Lance.

Twenty minutes later, Lance came upstairs and told Mia she’s being disrespectful to someone who’s trying to help her improve. Mia said she likes her art the way it is and doesn’t want to change.

Lance said she’s grounded from her art supplies for a week, that she needs to learn gratitude and respect. Mia screamed that she hates Gloria and slammed her door.

I stood in the hallway with my phone in my pocket, recording the whole conversation. After Lance left, I photographed Mia crying on her bed and the empty space where her art supplies used to be.

Monday morning, I had an appointment with Curtis for both kids’ therapy session. After he met with them separately, he called me into his office alone.

His expression was serious as he tells me both children are showing major anxiety and depression related to the home situation. He says Mia is developing fear about going home because she worries what Gloria might criticize or throw away next.

Jake is having trouble sleeping and started acting out at the school when he never had behavioral problems before. Curtis says the damage is real and getting worse the longer they stay in that environment.

He offered to write a professional assessment for custody proceedings, a detailed report about what he’s seeing and how Lance’s harming his children. I accepted immediately and he says he’ll have it ready within a week.

He also says he’s willing to testify in court if needed about the psychological harm they’re experiencing. I started picking up every extra shift I can get at work, covering for other people and staying late whenever possible.

At night after Lance falls asleep, Gwyneth comes over and helps me pack boxes. We work quietly, filling boxes with clothes and toys and kitchen items Lance won’t notice missing.

I take them to the rental house in small loads, setting up the kids’ rooms first so they’ll have familiar things waiting for them. Gwyneth keeps telling me how proud she is that I’m protecting my kids, that I’m doing the right thing even though it’s scary.