I Had No Doubt My Son Brought His New Girlfriend on Our Family Trip – Until I Accidentally Saw a Text on His Phone

I planned our family vacation as a chance to bond with my husband, Mark, and our son, Eric. Instead, it became a nightmare of betrayal.

Mark had been struggling since losing his job, and I carried the household alone. Our annual vacations were my way of reconnecting as a family. This year, Eric asked to bring his girlfriend, Jessica. I reluctantly agreed, hoping the trip would cheer us all up.

Jessica seemed pleasant but oddly disconnected from Eric’s life, knowing little about his passions or major. As the days passed, her indifference felt off. Then I found a diamond necklace in Eric’s bag—too extravagant for a college student. He claimed he’d saved for it, but his hesitation made me suspicious.

The truth unraveled when I accidentally saw a text on Eric’s phone: a payment from Mark, thanking him for “covering” for the necklace. Jessica wasn’t Eric’s girlfriend—she was Mark’s mistress. Mark and Eric had conspired to bring her along, using my money to fund the charade.

Heartbroken but composed, I confronted them at dinner, wearing the necklace meant for Jessica. I exposed the betrayal, shaming Mark and Jessica. Jessica fled, leaving Mark humiliated. I filed for divorce and cut ties.

Eric and I are rebuilding our relationship—he made a mistake, but he’s still my son. I hope he learns to never follow in his father’s footsteps.