falter. She scanned the room, swallowing nervously.

I wanted to inquire what was happening, but before I could, Izzy’s mother, Gloria, stormed toward us.

Her face was flushed with anger, and she stepped close to Jenna, abruptly delivering a hard slap across her face.

Jenna staggered, her hand instinctively brushing her cheek, shock written across her features. I instinctively moved to shield her, but Gloria wasn’t finished.

“How dare you show your face here!” she screamed at Jenna, fury radiating from her. “After everything you did to my daughter?

Do you think you can just walk in here?!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I interjected, trying to defuse the situation gently.

David stepped forward, gripping Gloria’s arms to restrain her while glaring at Jenna with pure loathing.

“You really don’t know, do you?” he spat at me, conveying disdain as if I were the biggest fool imaginable. “This woman,” he gestured at Jenna, “was Izzy’s high school tormentor. She relentlessly bullied her!”

My stomach churned as I faced Jenna, who was now focused on the ground, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Is… is this true?” I whispered.

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded tightly. “Yes, but that was years ago. I was young and foolish…”

David cut her off.

“It wasn’t only high school, Marcus! She attempted to get Izzy expelled from college. She spread lies and accused her of cheating on exams and plagiarizing papers during her freshman year.”

I took a step back, shaking my head in disbelief.

“No, this can’t be!” I insisted, turning to Jenna. “Tell me this isn’t you!”

“It was me,” David snarled. “She nearly destroyed my sister’s life because she was too incompetent to get into college herself!”

Those words ignited something in Jenna.

“I WASN’T INCAPABLE!” she screamed at him before shifting her gaze to me. “Yes, I did those things, Marcus. It’s true.

But people change. Doesn’t that matter?”

My head was spinning. “Did you know she was my wife when we first met and kept bumping into each other?” I questioned.

Jenna lowered her head and nodded.

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Gloria shouted, thrashing as David held her back.

“Please, Marcus.

Come with me, and I’ll explain everything,” Jenna pleaded, reaching for my arm, but I was over it.

“No,” I replied, my voice catching this time.

A hard demeanor crossed her features. “You think you’re so innocent? You think you’ve never hurt anyone?

You left your wife and kids just because you were bored. This isn’t all on me!”

I was unsure if her words were rooted in spite, intended to wound me, or were merely her way of rationalizing her actions. Nonetheless, she turned on her heel and walked away, head held high although I noticed the flush on her cheek from Gloria’s slap.

As soon as she vanished from sight, I registered the silence enveloping the entire backyard.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on me, waiting for a reaction.

Pity radiated from my relatives, while contempt lingered on Izzy’s side of the family. Caleb stood apart with his arms crossed and a stern expression, while Maya regarded me as if I were some stranger.

“Dad,” she whispered. “How could you?”

“Maya, I didn’t know any of this!” I exclaimed.

Caleb stepped forward.

“Honestly? You had no clue?” he challenged. My son had always been the analytical type, scrutinizing people’s intentions and actions.

“It doesn’t matter!” Maya shot back, livid.

“You tore our family apart for NOTHING!”

Her words struck me more deeply than anything else that day.

I had spent countless months convincing myself that I was doing what was right. That things were meant to happen as they did because everything seemingly fell into place. Everyone appeared happy!

But my kids were not.

Not at all. That realization crashed down on me like a wave. Yet, I still felt like the victim in this scenario.

Throughout this ordeal, Izzy remained silent.

She stood by, watching everything unfold as if it were none of her concern. I wasn’t sure why that irked me so much. In frustration, I yelled at her, “IT WASN’T MY FAULT!

I DIDN’T KNOW!” before stepping away in disgrace.

***

In the aftermath, I tried to regain my composure and reached out to my kids. Caleb occasionally replied but always offered curt responses. Maya didn’t respond at all.

I refrained from contacting Izzy.

Initially, I felt defensive, convincing myself that none of this was my fault. I had been oblivious. I had simply fallen in love.

My family who attended the party eventually understood that, but the fact that my children couldn’t comprehend it filled me with resentment.

Ultimately, I severed ties with Jenna permanently. She continued texting me, but I eventually blocked her. Still, no one was allowing me the opportunity to explain my side.

Weeks later, a chance encounter with my cousin had me expressing some of my feelings, and by the end of that meeting, she handed me a therapist’s business card.

I called just a few days later. One thing the therapist told me resonated profoundly.

“Whether you knew or not is irrelevant. You chose the divorce; you hurt your family on a whim, as you’ve confessed,” the therapist explained.

“What your ex-in-laws revealed was shocking, no doubt. But what truly matters now? Do you want to lose your children for good?”

No, I didn’t want that.

And after that simple realization, the rest of his words fell into place. I recognized all the selfishness and foolishness I had exhibited. So, I decided to take action.

First, I reached out to David, and he shared the full story of how Jenna nearly destroyed Izzy’s future.

They had to involve lawyers and police to finally get her to fall silent and exit their lives. During our conversation, he hurled insults at me, accusing me of being manipulated by Jenna.

I acknowledged this and found solace in the fact that my feelings for her had dissipated. She would not deceive me again.

I sincerely requested David’s forgiveness, which he granted, albeit grudgingly.

Next, I contacted my ex-mother-in-law and implored her for understanding. She offered forgiveness only after delivering a lengthy lecture. She also told me I’d never find someone as exceptional as her daughter—and she was right.

While I’d never have Izzy as my spouse again, she remained the mother of my children.

I called her next. That conversation was the hardest I’ve had. Beyond seeking forgiveness, I had to plead for her assistance with the kids.

I couldn’t permit my relationship with them to fall apart completely.

Luckily, Izzy was kind enough to agree after acknowledging that I truly had no means of knowing who Jenna was. I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Several weeks passed, but eventually, she reached out to say Caleb and Maya were willing to have a heartfelt discussion with me. We had to take it slowly and allow them to set the pace.

This is my ONE chance to genuinely rectify things and reconnect with my children.

I’m meeting with them tomorrow. Wish me luck.