I’ve been married to Masato for sixteen years, and we live with our three kids—Yuma (13), Rei (10), and Takuto (7). One day, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with a serious illness. That’s when Masato finally revealed he had an older brother who’d been shut away from the world for more than twenty years. His parents wanted a “family meeting” that weekend—and even tried to drag our clueless kids into it. I couldn’t take it. That Friday night, I packed the children into the car and escaped to my parents’ house. The next afternoon, Masato showed up, dropped to his knees, and apologized the moment he arrived.
My father confronted him right away: “I hear you’ve been treating my daughter pretty badly.” Masato must have realized things were serious when I actually said the word divorce. He got down on his knees again and promised—sincerely this time—that he’d never let me or the kids have anything to do with his brother.
The last few days, I’d been so angry I could barely think straight. But thanks to my parents, I calmed down enough to think clearly. For the first time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could try trusting Masato again. My mother’s words also helped me take a step back. For now, I’ve decided to hold off on the divorce and go home with the kids.