I (34F) arrived at my husband’s (38M) hotel, prepared to surprise him. I smiled and asked the receptionist for his room number. Instead of helping, she became pale and gripped the desk. Her voice shook. “I’m sorry, ma’am but you are not the first wife to ask for him today.”
Let me clarify. Mark and I have been married for twelve years. We had two children, a mortgage, and what I thought was the ideal lifestyle. He is a “sales executive” who travels regularly for work, or so I assumed.
When the receptionist dropped that bombshell, my world came to a halt. She appeared afraid and avoided eye contact. Another woman had arrived barely an hour prior, asking the same question.
I sought additional information. The hapless receptionist stammered, “Ma’am, I don’t think I should say any more.” But I insisted. She grudgingly informed me that my spouse had been renting the same suite several times per month, usually under new identities.
Something inside of me cracked. I marched up to the room and entered with the keycard I had brought for my “surprise” visit. I opened the door and discovered him with another woman. Completely compromised situation. There is no space for misconceptions.
The other woman started crying. Mark became white as a sheet. “Honey, this isn’t what it looks like,” he mumbled. I laughed. A chilly laugh that surprised even me. I got out my phone and began recording. “Tell me exactly what this is, then,” I replied. He stammered. Could not create a coherent sentence.
I have since: Contacted a divorce attorney. We’ve frozen our joint accounts, Told both of our families the truth., We kicked him out of our house. My pals believe I’m managing this well. My sister believes I’m overly calm. My children don’t know the complete story yet, and I’m trying to keep them safe.
