My wife, Natalie, and I split after five years, and we share custody of our three-year-old son, Oliver. We live in different states, making visits complicated. One day, Natalie called, crying, and told me, “Our son’s gone!” She claimed Oliver had died and was already buried. Devastated and confused, I bought a ticket to her city, questioning why she hadn’t told me sooner.
The next day, Mike, Natalie’s new husband, called. “Natalie has lost her mind. She made all of this up. Oliver is alive,” he revealed. I learned Natalie fabricated the story to sever ties with me. She believed I’d take Oliver away because she was pregnant again.
When I confronted Natalie, she admitted, “I thought you would take Oli from me.” Her actions were driven by fear, but they were inexcusable. I assured her I’d never separate Oliver from her, but warned that such lies would lead to legal action.
We agreed to attend counseling to address underlying issues. Mike has been supportive, and I’m grateful he told me the truth. I’m now looking for jobs closer to Oliver to be more involved in his life.
