My Husband Refused to Show Up for Our Son on Prom Night Because of His Girlfriend – I Was About to Yell at Him When My MIL Said, ‘You Need to Know the Truth About Her’

My husband refused to support our son on prom night because he didn't approve of his girlfriend, who uses a wheelchair. Then my mother-in-law showed up and said, "You need to know the truth about her." What she revealed shook me. But following my husband one night uncovered the real secret.

After last winter break, a new girl transferred into my son's class.

Her name was Yuki. She was smart, kind, and used a wheelchair.

Not long after that, my 17-year-old son, Lucas, told us they were dating.

I was so happy for him.

She was smart, kind, and used a wheelchair.

He smiled more. He'd come home from school talking about Yuki for hours.

For the first time since middle school, my quiet boy was truly happy.

But my husband, James, reacted very differently after seeing Yuki's picture on Lucas's phone.

At first, he didn't say much.

But I could see it in his face. The tension whenever Lucas mentioned Yuki's name. The way his jaw would clench.

My husband, James, reacted very differently after seeing Yuki's picture.

Then James started saying things.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Him dating her?"

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, does he really understand what he's getting himself into? She'll need constant care. He's only 17. He has a bright future ahead. And this girl..."

"James, she uses a wheelchair. She's not helpless."

"She'll need constant care."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"Forget it."

But he didn't forget it. Over the next few weeks, his comments got worse.

"He should be focusing on college applications, not relationships."

"Relationships are part of growing up, James."

"Not these kinds of relationships."

His comments got worse.

I stared at him. "What is wrong with you?"

He wouldn't answer.

When Lucas announced he was taking Yuki to prom, I was thrilled.

He showed me pictures of the corsage he'd ordered. The restaurant reservation he'd made.

He was so excited.

But when I told James, his face went dark.

"As long as Lucas is dating Yuki, I won't be anywhere near them."

Lucas announced he was taking Yuki to prom.

"James, it's our son's prom."

"So what?"

"Are you serious right now?"

"That girl isn't good enough for our son. End of discussion."

"That girl has a name. It's Yuki. And she's kind and smart, and she makes our son happy."

"I don't care."

"That girl has a name. It's Yuki."

"What is your problem with her? Is it because she uses a wheelchair? Because if that's it, I'm ashamed of you."

"It's not about the wheelchair."

"Then what is it about?"

James stood up and walked out of the room without answering. I followed him, calling his name, but he didn't turn back.

I told myself I'd deal with him later. Right then, my son mattered more.

"Is it because she uses a wheelchair?"

***

On prom night, I helped Lucas get ready.

He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo. When the cab arrived and Yuki rolled up in her stunning blue dress, I started crying.

"You both look beautiful," I said, hugging them.

Lucas whispered in my ear. "Is Dad really angry?"

"He's not feeling well, honey. But he'll be fine. I promise."

I watched them drive away, my heart breaking.

Yuki rolled up in her stunning blue dress.

Then I went back inside to confront James.

He was sitting in the kitchen, staring at his phone.

"I can't believe you did that to him."

He didn't look up.

"You're his father. It's his prom. How can you do this?"

"I already told you. I'm not happy."

"Why? Give me one good reason."

"I'm not happy."

Before I could yell further, the front door opened.

My mother-in-law, Dorothy, stopped by unexpectedly that evening.

She took one look at me, then said, "Merlin, sit down. I heard everything. I think it's time. You need to know the truth about her."

"What truth?"

"Please sit."

I sat down slowly at the kitchen table.

Dorothy pulled out a chair across from me.

My mother-in-law, Dorothy, stopped by unexpectedly that evening.

"Two years ago, James was involved in an accident."

"An accident?"

"He hit a young girl who was riding her bike. He panicked and drove away, but not before calling 911 anonymously to report the accident."

I looked at James.

"What?"

Dorothy continued, "That girl was Yuki. James recognized her when Lucas showed him her picture. He's been carrying that guilt ever since."

He panicked and drove away.

My hands started shaking.

"James? Is this true?"

He wouldn't look at me. "I didn't want Lucas to know. I didn't want anyone to know."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was ashamed."

Dorothy stood up. "I thought you deserved to know why he's been acting this way."

She left for the guest room, closing the door quietly behind her.

"You deserved to know why he's been acting this way."

I stared at James.

"Is that really why you've been against their relationship? Because you feel guilty?"

"Yes."

But something in his eyes told me there was more. He avoided my gaze, and James had never been the kind of man who could hide things from me.

He stood up. "I need some air."

And he left.

Something in his eyes told me there was more.

***

Over the next few days, I watched James carefully.

He'd been coming home late for weeks. Taking phone calls in the other room. Always on his phone, texting someone.

One evening, he called from work.

"Hey, I'm going to be late. Office party."

"On a Wednesday?"

"Yeah. Client appreciation thing. I'll be home by 10 or 11. Don't wait."

He'd been coming home late for weeks.

I hung up and sat there for a moment.

Something didn't feel right.

Two days earlier, I'd hidden a GPS tracker in his car. I'd been suspicious for a while but hadn't wanted to admit it.

I opened the tracking app on my phone.

The little dot wasn't at his office.

It was at a motel 15 miles outside of town.

My heart started racing.

I'd hidden a GPS tracker in his car.

I grabbed my keys and drove to the motel.

It was one of those cheap roadside places. The kind you only go to if you don't want to be seen.

I pulled into the parking lot.

James's car was parked near the back.

I walked into the lobby. A young woman was behind the desk, filing her nails.

"Can I help you?"

"I need to know which room my husband is in. His name's James."

The kind you only go to if you don't want to be seen.

I showed her his picture on my phone. She looked up.

"I can't give out that information."

I pulled out my wallet and placed $200 on the counter.

"Please. It's an emergency."

She hesitated.

Then she glanced at her computer. "Room 214. Second floor."

I took the stairs two at a time.

I showed her his picture on my phone.

When I reached the door, I could hear voices inside.

A man's voice. A woman's voice. And laughter.

I called James's phone.

He cut the call.

I called again.

He cut it again.

I kept calling until he finally answered.

"What, Merlin? I'm in an important meeting."

I could hear voices inside.

"Really? Because it sounds like you're having a great time."

"I'm busy with a client."

He hung up.

A few moments later, I heard him call room service.

I had an idea.

I went back downstairs and waited near the staff changing room.

When a young woman came out with a trolley of drinks and food, I stopped her.

"Please. I need your help."

I heard him call room service.

"Ma'am, I'm working..."

"My husband is in room 214. With another woman. I need to see for myself. Please."

She glanced around, then looked at me with sympathy.

"I could lose my job."

I pulled out some cash. "Please. I'm begging you."

She took the money and led me to the changing room.

"My husband is in room 214. With another woman."

Five minutes later, I was wearing a hotel staff uniform and a mask that covered half my face.

The woman handed me the trolley.

"Good luck."

***

I knocked on the door of room 214.

"Room service."

James opened the door.

He barely looked at me. "Great. Bring it in."

I wheeled the trolley inside.

I was wearing a hotel staff uniform and a mask that covered half my face.

And that's when I saw her.

A woman sitting on the bed. Mid-40s. Familiar.

I'd seen her before. At Lucas's school.

She was Yuki's mother.

James gestured to the table. "Just set it up over there."

I did as he said, keeping my head down.

They were both laughing about something.

I'd seen her before.

"I can't believe we've been doing this for two years," Yuki's mother said.

"Best two years of my life," James replied.

I froze.

"Soon I'll be free from that boring wife of mine. I'm filing for divorce next month. She has no clue!"

The woman laughed.

"Good. Because I'm tired of sneaking around. And we need to keep our children away from each other. Lucas and Yuki dating is getting complicated."

"We need to keep our children away from each other."

James nodded. "I've been trying to get him to break up with her."

I couldn't listen anymore.

I reached up and pulled off my mask.

"Boring wife, huh?"

James's face went completely white.

"MERLIN?"

Yuki's mother stood up, too numb to talk.

I reached up and pulled off my mask.

"I can explain..."

He started to mumble excuses, but I couldn't hear him anymore. My chest felt hollow. I turned and stormed out.

Behind me, I heard James calling my name.

But I didn't stop.

***

Lucas was sitting on the couch when I got home.

"Mom? What happened? You look terrible. And… what are you wearing?"

He started to mumble excuses.

I sat down beside him.

"Lucas, there's something you need to know about your father."

"About Dad?"

"Yes."

I told him everything. The affair. The motel. Yuki's mother.

His face turned red.

"He's been cheating on you with Yuki's mom?"

"Yes."

I told him everything.

"For two years?"

"Yes."

Lucas stood up, his fists clenched.

***

An hour later, James came home.

The moment he walked in, Lucas confronted him.

"How could you do this to Mom?"

"Lucas, it's complicated..."

"Complicated? You've been sleeping with my girlfriend's mother!"

"How could you do this to Mom?"

"It's not what you think."

"Then what is it, James?" I snapped.

James took a breath.

"Two years ago, there was an accident. But I didn't drive away like Mom said. I rushed Yuki to the hospital. That's where I met her mother. She was a single mom. I paid for Yuki's operation."

"Then why didn't Yuki recognize you?"

"I kept my distance. I paid for her surgery and follow-ups, but I made sure Yuki never saw me. She doesn't know who I am. She never did."

"I paid for Yuki's operation."

"And then you started sleeping with her mother?"

"It just happened. We bonded during Yuki's recovery. I helped from a distance and made sure Yuki never knew who I was."

Lucas looked disgusted. "So you've been lying to everyone. To Mom. To me."

James nodded, guilty.

"I told my mother a different story because she was nosy. I made up the part about leaving Yuki at the accident scene so she'd stop pestering me about why I was so against your relationship with Yuki."

"We bonded during Yuki's recovery."

I stood up, my hands shaking.

"Get out."

"Merlin, please..."

"I said get out. I want a divorce. And I have evidence."

I pulled out my phone.

I'd been recording everything secretly. My phone had been in my shirt pocket the entire time.

James froze.

I'd been recording everything secretly.

"Merlin, please. We can work through this."

"There's nothing to work through. You cheated. You lied. And you used our son's relationship to hide your affair."

***

That was three weeks ago.

Lucas and Yuki didn't break up in anger. They just agreed to take a step back until the adults stopped making their lives messy.

They decided to stay friends, but it was too painful to continue dating knowing the truth about their parents.

I filed for divorce.

Lucas and Yuki didn't break up in anger.

James tried to fight it, but the recording left no room to argue. His lawyer advised him to settle.

My lawyer says I'll get the house, a fair share of James's assets, and full custody of Lucas, even though he's almost 18.

I won't lie and say I'm okay.

I'm not.

Some days I'm angry. Some days I'm just sad. Some days I wonder if I could've seen it sooner.

But I'm also proud.

Proud that I didn't look the other way. Proud that I didn't let James gaslight me into thinking I was imagining things.

James tried to fight it, but the recording left no room to argue.

Was the main character right or wrong? Let’s discuss it in the Facebook comments.

Here's another story: I booked a luxury hotel for Valentine's Day for $3K. My boyfriend and I agreed to split it. He dumped me the next day, stayed at the hotel without me, and charged everything to my card. When I got the final bill, it was double. He blocked me. So I logged into his Instagram and let karma do the rest.