I thought my marriage was wonderful until I saw little signs that made me wonder what was actually going on, like lipstick smears and perfume on Tim’s clothes. I wasn’t sure of myself, but one day I went outside and found a big sign hanging over our porch with horrible things written on it about my spouse. People in the neighborhood had to have seen it, and it hurt a lot.

I thought for a second that Tim’s young secretary might have done it. But when she came to our house with office papers, the truth started to come out. She kept saying she was innocent and told me something shocking: Tim’s mother had been becoming involved in ways I never thought possible. As the pieces started to fit together, my heart fell.

It turned out that my mother-in-law, Gabriel, had been seeding doubts in my mind for months with lipstick, perfume, and now the horrible banner. She told me that she had never accepted me as her son’s wife and wanted me to go. She wanted to split us up, even if it meant ending our marriage. The realization was heartbreaking, but it finally made sense of everything.

Tim was shocked when he found out the truth. He stood by me for the first time and told his mother to go. He also said he was sorry for not recognizing it sooner. At that sad time, I understood that love can only last if there is trust and honesty. The betrayal hurt, but what mattered most was that Tim and I decided to face the future together, with open eyes and new strength.