Alice’s son had always been happy, but now he shrank as her new husband, Sam, entered. At first, she dismissed it as fussiness. However, her son told her something about Sam that made her tremble.
Never intended to be a single mother.
I wanted to start a family with Daniel, my first husband, and raise our child in love.
Fate had other plans.
I found Daniel gone one morning when Jeremy was just weeks old.
I thought he went for a walk or coffee. I then realized his suitcase and closet were empty.
The toothbrush was gone too.
I panicked and called him, but it went to voicemail.
Next, I contacted his best friend Chris.
“Hi Chris, Have you heard from Daniel? Not at home.”
Silence. Then sigh.
Alice, I… I suggest you sit down before I explain.”
Then I discovered the truth.
I wasn’t abandoned by Daniel. He fled to another country with another woman.
He was secretly seeing her for months.
I was dazed for weeks after finding my husband. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or function.
I was worst off since I blamed myself for everything. Was I insufficient? I did something wrong? Why did he abandon us?
After gathering the strength to tell the truth, I understood it wasn’t about me. He was selfish. He betrayed our family.
I refused to let his treachery define me.
I started working to provide Jeremy the finest life imaginable. My mother watched Jeremy while I worked.
I began to enjoy small moments as the anguish subsided. I enjoyed Jeremy’s giggles and his name me “Mommy.”
I realized we were alright over time.
So I met Sam.
My favorite coffee shop was busy that afternoon. I had finished a long morning at work while Jeremy was at daycare.
My card didn’t work as I reached into my bag to pay.
I mumbled, “Oh, come on,” trying again.
Still nothing.
I felt embarrassed as the clerk looked polite yet sleepy. I heard a strong voice behind me as I placed my coffee back.
“Let me get that for you.”
I turned to find a tall man with warm brown eyes. He tapped his card on the reader.
You don’t have to—
He answered, “Really, it’s fine,” smiling charmingly. “Just coffee.”
I hesitated to sigh. “Alright. But give me your number so I may repay you.”
He chuckled. “Deal.”
It began like way. Simple kindness. Number switched. Texts here and there.
I later discovered Sam was an insurance broker. Despite being two years older than me, he didn’t mind my tiny child.
I remember telling him about Jeremy.
“Alice, that’s great!” he exclaimed. “I love kids.”
I had hope for the first time in years. Maybe love was possible.
Sam was everything I wanted during our year-long relationship before we married. He was attentive and patient, never making me feel “too much.”
The best part was that Jeremy quickly liked him, laughing at his foolish jokes and holding his hand when we strolled.
I let my guard down for the first time in ages. I felt like we were finally a family then.
However, my life took an unexpected turn. I never imagined experiencing this.
It began when my mother pulled me aside. She looked worried.
“Alice,” she whispered. “Don’t you see him whining around Sam?”
I frowned. “You mean what?”
“Watch him. Sam makes Jeremy look different every time.”
I initially dismissed it as my mother’s overprotection. She was always wary of men after Daniel hurt me.
I started paying attention later that night.
When we were alone, Jeremy was always cheery. He played, laughed, and spoke about daycare all day. Something changed when Sam entered.
His shoulders tensed, his voice quieted, and he sometimes cried for no reason.
It made me know I needed to tell Sam.
“Can I ask you something?” Said later that night.
He looked up from his phone. “Sure.”
Have you noticed Jeremy’s behavior around you?
“You mean what?”
I hesitated. “He becomes quiet. Sometimes he cries.”
“Alice, I love that kid,” he added. I treat him like mine. Why would he—?
“I know,” I said, afraid if I upset him. It’s just… No idea.”
He grasped my hand. “Maybe he’s adapting. It’s a major adjustment for him, right? Father figure new. It’s much for a five-year-old.”
To trust him, I nodded. He sounded genuine. But something felt wrong.
A few days later, I picked up Jeremy from daycare and we stopped for ice cream on the way home. Sat on the bench beside me, he licked his cone.
I remarked, “Hey, buddy,” gently. “May I ask?”
He nodded while eating ice cream.
Why are you upset around Sam?
He turned away as his smile faded.
“You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” I murmured, turning him around. “I won’t be mad.”
I heard Daddy on the phone…” He regarded me. “And he said I’m a problem.”
I couldn’t comprehend.
“Are you sure, sweetheart?”
Headshaker Jeremy.
“Yes. He said, ‘Little Jeremy is a problem.’ I hurried to my room and missed the rest.” “Mommy, will he leave like my first daddy?” he asked quietly.
He cried with huge brown eyes. I couldn’t take it.
I grabbed him and brushed his hair. “No, sweetheart. Never let anyone leave you, okay?
That night, I confronted Sam.
After Jeremy fell asleep, I stood in front of him. Did you call Jeremy a problem?
From the couch, Sam looked up. “What?”
“Jeremy overheard you on the phone. He said you called him a problem.”
His expression twitched briefly. Something dark.
However, his face rapidly recovered.
He laughed, shaking his head. Come on, Alice. Must have misinterpreted. I mentioned a coworker. His name is Jeremy. We have a lot of paperwork, so I probably muttered something in frustration.”
I searched his face for deception. “You weren’t talking about my son?”
Of course not. I’d never say that about him. Love that kid.”
Nodding, I shakily breathed. Maybe I overreacted. Jeremy may have misheard.
“I’ll talk to him in the morning,” Sam said. “I’ll clarify.”
And he did.
He sat Jeremy down the next morning to persuade him it was a misunderstanding. My son nodded as Sam explained everything. Pleased to see Jeremy grin.
But my mother scowled when I told her. Have you visited his office? Know anybody he works with?
“I know where he works,” I said. “I have the address.”
“That’s not what I asked,” she said. “Do you know his coworkers? Have you met his coworkers?
I opened my mouth to reply but nothing came out. Actually, I hadn’t. I had never visited his office or met his coworkers.
“Alice, something isn’t right,” Mom said. You must check.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “Mom, you’re paranoid.”
“Am I?” she replied. “Or are you ignoring signs?”
I got a call the next morning while packing Jeremy’s lunch. My mother. Urgency filled her voice.
“Alice, I checked,” she said. That address he gave you? We have no record of him working there. Never heard of him.”
A chill raced down my spine.
“How do you know?” I shakily asked.
“Remember Mrs. Parker? “She works there,” my mom said. She said yes, Alice. They don’t employ Sam.”
I thought Sam was lying then. I had to discover it.
I told Sam I had to visit my sick mother that evening. I promised to stay with Jeremy for a few days.
Like expected, he didn’t mind. He let us stay as long as my mom needed.
At my mother’s house, I locked the door and slumped onto the couch. I needed honesty.
I never imagined hiring a private investigator, but necessity drove me to do so.
I required data. I needed definitive proof of Sam’s identity.
Three days later, I heard back.
“It’s worse than you think,” the investigator handed me a folder.
Opening it made my hands quiver. Call logs, bank statements, and Sam’s history were within.
All his life was a lie.
He gave me his office address? It was bogus. No insurer or Jeremy colleague existed.
The investigator tapped Sam’s phone and found everything. Sam was talking to his mother that night, not a coworker.
My investigator said they were scammers and this was their game.
“He’s been planning to frame you at work,” the investigator said. Work offers you access to money accounts, right? He put things up so you’ll take the fall if something goes wrong. He gets your savings and home when you’re arrested.”
I grabbed the folder as I saw Jeremy was a problem for Sam and his mother. If I went to jail, Sam would have to care for him or put him in state custody.
He didn’t just scam me. He planned to eliminate me.
Breathing deeply, I tried to stay calm. How should I proceed?
“Go to the police, Alice,” the investigator ordered. “As soon as possible.”
I acted immediately.
With the investigator’s findings, I contacted authorities. The proof was overwhelming.
Sam and his mother had a lengthy history of defrauding women. They moved from state to state under different names.
He married me this time. It was probably because I had something valuable.
After I told the police everything about Sam, they assured me he wouldn’t get away with it. A few days were enough to arrest him.
Although I wasn’t there, I heard he didn’t go quietly. Screaming, he denied everything and said it was a setup.
But the proof was there.
The sight on his face as the police led him away in court will never leave me. It felt like he was promising to return.
I smiled and straightened my back while looking into his eyes, not terrified.
Jeremy saved me from losing everything, so I took him out for ice cream after the trial. If he hadn’t told me about Sam’s conversation with his mother, I wouldn’t be writing this article.
I will always be grateful to fate for giving me Jeremy, a bright son.
