I Had No Doubt My Son Brought His New Girlfriend on Our Family Trip – Until I Accidentally Saw a Text on His Phone
I arranged our family trip, hoping it would be a chance for my husband, my son, and me to grow closer. Instead, it revealed a betrayal that shattered what was meant to be a perfect getaway. That experience is etched into my memory forever.
Vacations are supposed to strengthen family bonds, aren’t they? At least, that’s what I’ve always believed.
But this time, what began as a beloved tradition turned into the darkest chapter of my life.
Being a working mom has never been simple, yet I’ve always taken pride in managing both my career and my family responsibilities.
My job often keeps me occupied late into the evening, sometimes so late that by the time I return home, dinner has already been cleared, and the house is quiet.
Even so, I’ve always made sure my family never went without anything they needed.
My husband, Mark, had a steady job at one time, but everything changed when he was let go a couple of years back. Since then, he’s taken on small jobs here and there, contributing what he can, but the bulk of our financial burden has fallen on me.
Honestly, I didn’t mind. That’s what you do for the people you love, isn’t it?
But lately, I’d started noticing the cracks forming.
My demanding schedule meant Mark was usually asleep by the time I got home, leaving us less time to connect. It felt as though we were drifting apart.
Still, I didn’t think too much about it. I believed we’d reconnect during our annual vacation.
For years, we’ve kept up the tradition of taking a yearly trip. No matter how tight things got financially, we always found a way to set aside a few days to escape and spend time together.
I cherished these trips because they were a chance to strengthen our bond as a family and create memories that would last forever.
This year, I wanted it to be particularly special. Mark had been struggling to find stable work, and I thought a short escape might lift his spirits.
“We need this,” I told him one evening after a long, exhausting day. “Just a few days away, just the three of us.”
“But I don’t have a job, and—”
“No excuses,” I interrupted. “I’ll take care of it all. When we come back, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle job hunting again. Don’t worry.”
“Okay,” he said, smiling. “Thank you for everything you do for us. Eric will love it too.”
Our son, Eric, is 20 and in college. Like most people his age, he’s caught up in his world of friends, social media, and parties. But when I shared our plans, he sounded genuinely thrilled.
“Sure, Mom! I’m in,” he said enthusiastically. “It’ll be great to spend time with you guys.”
Hearing that warmed my heart.
The next day, though, Eric called back with a request. “Hey, Mom, would it be okay if my girlfriend came along?”
I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend. How had I missed that?
When we met Jessica on the trip, she seemed polite but distant. During one outing, Eric suggested we all try jet-skiing. He was beaming as he talked about how much fun it would be, but Jessica hesitated.
“I’m not really into water sports,” she said.
That struck me as odd. Didn’t Eric know that about her already?
Eric looked disappointed but quickly masked it by proposing we go sightseeing instead.
Later, while relaxing by the pool, I overheard Jessica ask Eric about his major.
“Biology, right?” she said with a nervous laugh. “I always forget!”
My heart skipped a beat. How could she not know what he was studying? This girl, who claimed to be Eric’s girlfriend, didn’t know anything about him—not his passion for basketball, not his major. Meanwhile, Eric was going out of his way to make her comfortable, carrying her things and catering to her whims.
Something didn’t feel right.
Midway through the vacation, while searching for sunscreen in Eric’s suitcase, I found a small velvet box. Inside was an exquisite diamond necklace.
It was stunning—and expensive. How had Eric afforded it?
That evening, I brought it up casually.
“Eric, I saw the necklace in your bag. It’s gorgeous. Jessica will love it.”
His reaction was strange. He looked startled, as if I’d discovered something I wasn’t meant to.
“Uh, yeah,” he stammered. “I’ve been saving up. I wanted to do something special for her.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” I replied, hiding my doubt.
But deep down, I knew something was off. My son couldn’t possibly have bought something that luxurious on a student budget.
Jessica’s apparent disinterest in Eric, the mystery necklace, and her lack of knowledge about him gnawed at me.
On the last morning of our trip, while everyone else was occupied, Eric’s phone buzzed on the counter. A message popped up.
+$500 to our deal. Thanks for covering for me with the necklace.
The sender? Mark. My husband.
I felt my stomach churn as I pieced things together. I unlocked Eric’s phone using the code I’d seen him enter before, my hands trembling.
What I discovered shook me to my core.
Mark and Eric had been plotting for weeks. Jessica wasn’t Eric’s girlfriend—she was Mark’s mistress. Eric had pretended to date her so Mark could bring her on the trip without raising my suspicions. The necklace? Mark had bought it with my money. And the "deal"? Mark had bribed Eric to play along.
I was devastated. Betrayed by the two people I loved most.
That night at dinner, I confronted them. I wore the diamond necklace and revealed the truth, watching their faces crumble.
The next day, I flew home alone, leaving Mark and Eric behind. A week later, I filed for divorce. Jessica disappeared once she learned Mark had no money, leaving him humiliated and alone.
As for Eric, I’m working to repair our relationship. He made a mistake, but he’s still my son. I can only hope he learns from this and never follows in his father’s footsteps.
