I was heading to meet my mom for the third time this month, hoping she wouldn’t pull the same stunt as before. The thing is, my mom doesn’t like John, my husband. Despite us being married, she still tries to set me up with other men.

This happened twice already this month. Mom introduced me to a financier and an architect because she thought John’s job as a foreman wasn’t prestigious enough.

As I approached the restaurant where I was supposed to meet her, I felt a mix of hope and dread. When I stepped inside and saw she was alone at the table, I sighed with relief. Maybe this time would be different, I thought.

But my relief was short-lived. Seconds later, a man around my age sat down next to her. My heart sank, and I was about to turn and leave before they saw me, but then my mom shouted, “Kate, darling! We’re here!” and waved at me.

I plastered a smile on my face and walked over to them, my stomach twisting with frustration. Mom stood up and hugged me tightly. I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Mom, you’re at it again.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, feigning innocence. “Meet Michael,” she pointed to the man sitting next to her.

Michael stood up and reached out to shake my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, Kate,” he said with a friendly smile.

“Likewise. Except, I’ve heard nothing about you,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. “Excuse me, I need to talk to my mom.”

I pulled my mom aside, making sure we were out of Michael’s earshot. “Are you out of your mind?” I asked her, my frustration bubbling over. “This is the third guy this month!”

She looked at me, not understanding my anger. “I don’t understand why you’re reacting this way. Michael is very nice and works as a pediatrician, which means he loves kids,” she said as if this explained everything.

“Why am I reacting this way?! Because I’m married!” I exclaimed, feeling my patience slipping away.

“Oh, stop it. John doesn’t deserve you. You can do much better,” she insisted, her tone dismissive.

“This is the last straw. I’m not going to tolerate this anymore. I have a husband, and I love him. Don’t call me anymore,” I said, my voice shaking with anger.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and stormed out of the restaurant, my heart pounding. I got into my car and rested my head on the steering wheel, feeling tired and frustrated.

After a few minutes, I heard a knock on the window. When I looked up, I saw Michael standing there. I rolled down the window to hear him.

“Rough day?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“It’s my mom. Sorry for leaving so rudely, but I’m married,” I said, showing him my wedding ring.

“I know. I noticed it in the restaurant. Seems like your mom doesn’t like your husband much,” Michael said, looking concerned.

“That’s right,” I agreed, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Listen, I know this might sound strange, but your mom has told me a lot about you, and I’d love to have a friend like you,” Michael said.

“That is strange,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing weird, I promise. But if you ever want to talk, here’s my card,” Michael handed me his business card, and I took it. “Drive safely,” he said with a small smile before walking back to the restaurant.

I started the car and took a deep breath. As I drove home, my mind raced with thoughts. My mom’s behavior was getting out of hand, and now a stranger knew more about me than I knew about him. The evening had been exhausting, and all I wanted was to get home and forget about it.

When I got home, I saw that John was not there again. Lately, he had been working late a lot, saying they had an important project. The house felt emptier each time I walked in alone. I missed the way he used to greet me with a smile and a hug.

Not wanting to wait for him and listen to more excuses, I went to the bedroom and fell asleep immediately. The silence of the house was heavy, but I was too tired to dwell on it.

The next day, John texted again that he would be late for work. I felt a pang of disappointment but decided to do something nice for him.

I made his favorite dinner—spaghetti and meatballs—and thought he might appreciate the surprise. Maybe this would bring a smile to his face, and we could talk about what was going on.

When I arrived at his workplace, I couldn’t find him. The site was bustling with activity, but John was nowhere in sight. I approached one of the workers, a man in a hard hat who was mixing cement.

“Do you know where John is?” I asked him.

“Yeah, he went to that restaurant you were at a month ago,” the worker replied while mixing cement. “But I thought you’d be with him. He said he was going on a date.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. He told me he’d be working late,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The worker glanced at me, then quickly looked away. “Maybe I said too much,” he muttered, staring at the ground.

“You did the right thing, thank you,” I said, forcing a smile. I turned and walked back to my car, my mind racing.

As I got into the car, my hands were shaking. I gripped the steering wheel, trying to calm myself down.

I drove to the restaurant where John was supposed to be. My heart was racing like never before. Could he be cheating on me? The thought made me feel sick. I parked near the restaurant and went inside, scanning for John.

The place was crowded, making it hard to see clearly. Finally, I spotted him with a woman, but I couldn’t see her face as she had her back to me. My mind was spinning.

Who was she? I approached the table, preparing for a confrontation, my heart pounding in my chest.

When I saw who was with John, I was shocked. It was MY MOM! How could she do this to me?! My world felt like it was collapsing.

My own mother, the person I trusted the most, was sitting with my husband. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I felt a mix of anger and betrayal. Tears welled up, but I blinked them away, determined to get answers.

“What is going on here?!” I shouted so loudly that the entire restaurant heard me. Heads turned, and the place fell silent.

“Kate, I can explain,” John said, looking panicked.

“So, this is where you’ve been spending your evenings? With my mom?!” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“It all happened so unexpectedly,” John started to explain, his voice trembling. Mom sat there silently, looking down, as if she couldn’t face me.

“I don’t want to hear any explanations! It’s over!” I screamed, my voice breaking with emotion. I turned and ran out of the restaurant, tears blurring my vision.

Mom followed me almost immediately. “Kate, listen to me,” she said, trying to catch up.

“All these years, I heard from you how horrible John is, only to find you together on a date?!” I shouted, my anger boiling over.

“I lured him on a date to prove how deceitful he is. And he agreed right away, Kate!” Mom said, desperation in her voice. “But with each date, I realized I was falling for him. I didn’t expect this from myself. I was trying to find someone for you to make it easier for you to handle.”

“So this has been going on for over a month?!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the parking lot.

“I didn’t want this, really. But love is cruel, and you never know who your heart will choose,” Mom justified herself, looking at me with pleading eyes.

“Love?! You’re talking about your daughter’s husband!” I could hardly breathe, my chest tight with betrayal.

“I know, but I love him, and he loves me. We didn’t know how to tell you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Go to hell! Both of you!” I shouted, feeling a surge of anger and pain. I got into my car, slammed the door, and drove away, my heart shattered into a million pieces.

When I got home, I was filled with rage. I gathered all of John’s things—his clothes, shoes, and personal items—and threw them outside.

This scoundrel would never set foot in my house again! Each item I tossed felt like a small victory. I cried in bed all night, my pillow soaked with tears. The betrayal cut deep, and I felt lost and alone.

In the morning, I pulled myself together. I had to be strong. I went to see a lawyer. The only thing that comforted me was our prenuptial agreement.

John had always been very jealous, so he insisted on creating it, stating that in the event of infidelity, everything would go to the cheated partner. And now, he had fallen into his own trap.

After speaking with the lawyer, we went to John’s place together. I knew where to find him—he was at my mom’s. I felt a mix of anger and determination as we drove there. I arrived at her house, and the lawyer followed me.

We walked up to the door, and I knocked. My heart pounded in my chest. Mom opened it, looking surprised to see me.

“Kate! Have you come to talk?” Mom asked, looking nervous.

“No, I’ve come to get a divorce,” I said, stepping into the house with the lawyer behind me. “Where’s John?” I asked, my voice steady.

Mom hesitated but then led me to the kitchen, her face pale and anxious.

John pleaded with me not to go through with it. He begged, saying he would lose everything. His eyes were desperate, but I stood my ground. I felt nothing but a cold resolve.

He had made his choices, and now he had to face the consequences. Mom stood there, silent and looking guilty. Her betrayal hurt just as much as his.

An hour later, I had signed divorce papers in my hand. The sense of finality was overwhelming but also a relief. John and my mom were left with nothing.

“Have a happy life together, lovebirds!” I shouted as I walked out of their house, my voice echoing with anger and pain. I knew it was the last time I would see either of them.

As I got into my car, I felt a mix of sadness and determination. I took Michael’s business card out of my bag and entered his number into my phone. After a few seconds of hesitation, I texted him, “Hi 🙂 Want to meet up sometime?” and hit send.

I decided that I wouldn’t suffer over people who treated me this way. I deserved better. Instead of dwelling on the betrayal, I would find people who appreciated me for who I was. This was the start of a new chapter in my life, and I was ready to embrace it.