They left that party together shortly after midnight. They got into the same taxi and went to another hotel where they stayed until around 2:00 in the morning. Nobody spoke. Vivian immediately stood up. Are you seriously doing this in front of everyone?
I looked at her. Yes, I am. George had stopped smiling. He was sitting completely still, staring at the photograph. I took another document from the folder.
I also have the hotel records and photographs confirming where they went that night. Vivian's father leaned forward. "Vivian? Is this true?" She looked at him, then back at me. "He’s making it sound much worse than it was." I placed another photograph on the table.
"Then perhaps you can explain this." It showed Vivian and George kissing outside the hotel entrance several weeks before the party. Her face went pale, and for the first time that evening, George looked genuinely uncomfortable. I wasn't finished yet. The worst part of their betrayal was still waiting inside that folder. I placed the remaining documents on the coffee table and looked around the room.
I know what you're probably thinking. Maybe this was one terrible decision made after too much drinking. Maybe they got carried away that night. I would have preferred that explanation, as painful as it would have been. But that's not what happened.
Vivian shook her head. "Barry, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself." I looked at her. Am I? Then explain the photographs.
She glanced toward George, apparently expecting him to say something. George finally stood up. "Look, Barry. I think you’re taking this too far. Vivian and I made a mistake.
It happened, and we’re both sorry about it." I stared at him. "A mistake?" "Yes, it was one night. I know I shouldn’t have let things get that far." I picked up another document. One night? This photograph was taken several weeks before the party, and I have records of at least three other meetings between you two.
George's expression changed. "Those meetings weren’t what you think." "Then tell everyone what they were." He remained silent. I turned toward Vivian. You told me George was helping you get home because you had been drinking. You looked me in the eyes and said nothing happened.
Do you still want to stand by that explanation? She folded her arms. "I didn’t know you were going to turn this into some kind of public trial." Nobody forced you to come here and lie. You had every opportunity to tell me the truth. Her mother looked devastated.
"Vivian, please tell me this isn’t true." Vivian lowered her eyes. "I made a terrible mistake, but Barry and I were having problems long before this happened." I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So, that’s your explanation? Our marriage wasn’t perfect, therefore sleeping with my cousin was justified?" That's not what I'm saying. Then what are you saying?
She took a breath. "I felt neglected. You were always working, and we barely did anything together. George listened to me. He made me feel appreciated." I nodded slowly.
So, instead of talking to your husband, you started seeing his cousin behind his back. Vivian looked away. George suddenly interrupted. "Don’t put all the blame on her. I was involved too." I turned toward him.
You're absolutely right. You were involved. You knew I was married to her. You knew I trusted you as family and you still decided to get involved with my wife. He rubbed his forehead.
I never planned for this to happen. Neither did I, but somehow I'm the only person in this room who didn't know what was happening. My father finally spoke. George, how could you do something like this to your own family? George looked down.
"I don’t have an excuse." Then why did you keep going? My father asked. George didn't answer. I picked up a printed copy of the messages between them. The investigator had obtained photographs of their conversations, including messages arranging private meetings.
I placed them in front of Vivian. "Would you like to explain these?" She looked at the pages and her expression changed immediately. One message showed George asking when she would be alone. Another showed Vivian suggesting a day when I would be working late. There were also messages exchanged shortly before the party.
Vivian pushed the papers away. You had someone following me? I hired someone to establish the truth after you lied to my face. "That’s disgusting, Barry." No, what's disgusting is having an affair with your husband's cousin and expecting him to believe nothing happened. Her sister, Amanda, covered her mouth.
Vivian's father leaned back in his chair looking completely defeated. George tried to speak again. "Barry, I know you’re angry, but I hope we can eventually find a way to move past this." I looked at him for several seconds. "Move past it? You slept with my wife.
You continued seeing her behind my back, and now you’re asking me to move past it?" I said I'm sorry. Your apology doesn't change what you did. Vivian began crying. "Can we please talk about this privately? We don’t need everyone involved." I shook my head.
You had plenty of opportunities to talk to me privately. You chose to lie instead. Then I took one final document from the folder. "There is something else you should all know. I have already met with a divorce attorney, and the proceedings have been started." Vivian stopped crying.
"What?" "I’m filing for divorce. My decision has already been made." She stared at me as though she hadn't expected those words and suddenly the entire room went silent. Vivian stared at me apparently waiting for me to take back what I had just said. "You’ve already started the divorce?" she finally asked. "Yes." "Without even talking to me about it?" I looked at her.
We just spent the last 20 minutes talking about your affair. What exactly did you think was going to happen? She wiped her eyes and stepped closer. "Barry, please. I know I made a terrible mistake.
But you can’t throw away eight years of marriage because of one night." One night? You were meeting him for weeks. You lied about where you were going. You arranged to see him when I wasn't home and you slept with him after that party. Don't stand there and pretend this was one bad decision.
"I told you I was sorry." "And I heard you." "Then why aren’t you willing to give me another chance?" I took a breath before answering. Because I don't believe you regret what you did as much as you regret getting caught. If I hadn't received that photograph, you would probably still be seeing him. Vivian opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her mother stood up.
Vivian, you need to understand what you've done. Barry trusted you and you betrayed him with someone from his own family. "Mom, please don’t start." "I’m not starting anything. I’m asking you to take responsibility." George, who had remained near the sofa, finally picked up his jacket. "I think I should leave." I turned toward him.