My 5-Year-Old Was Always Whining Around My New Husband — When I Asked Why, He Whispered, ‘He Said I’m a Problem’

Although Alice’s son had always been content, he had recently become withdrawn whenever her new spouse, Sam, entered the room. She initially dismissed it as fussiness. But then she got a chill when her kid told her something about Sam.

It was never intended to be a single mother.

I dreamed of starting a family and raising our child in a loving environment when I married my first spouse, Daniel.

However, destiny had other plans.

One morning, when Jeremy was only a few weeks old, I woke up to discover Daniel had left.

I initially believed he had gone for a coffee date or a stroll. However, I later discovered that his suitcase was gone and his closet was empty.

He had also lost his toothbrush.

In a panic, I called his phone right away, but it went straight to voicemail.

I then gave Chris, his best friend, a call.

“Hi, Chris, Has Daniel gotten back to you? He’s not at home.

Quiet. Then a sigh.

“Alice, I Before I tell you what’s happening, I think you should take a seat.”

I discovered the truth at that point.

Daniel had not abandoned me. He and another women had fled to another nation.

For months, he had been seeing a lady behind my back.

After I found out where my husband was, I was in a daze for weeks. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or do my job well.

The worst thing was that I held myself responsible for everything. Was I insufficient? Did I make a mistake? Why did he abandon us in this manner?

However, I discovered it had nothing to do with me when I eventually plucked up the confidence to confront the reality. It was him who was self-centered. Our family was betrayed by this person.

And I didn’t let his treachery to define who I was.

In order to provide Jeremy with the greatest life possible, I soon poured myself into my profession. While I balanced my career, my mother took care of Jeremy.

The discomfort gradually subsided, and I began to rediscover joy in the little things in life. Jeremy’s giggles made me laugh, and I loved how he referred to me as “Mommy.”

I came to see that we were doing well over time.

Then I got to know Sam.

My favorite coffee shop had a busy afternoon. I had just finished a long morning at work, and Jeremy was at daycare.

I discovered my card wasn’t working when I reached into my purse to make the payment.

I mumbled, “Oh, come on,” and tried once more.

Nothing has changed.

I felt the heat of shame rise up my neck as the cashier gave me a courteous but worn-out gaze. I was ready to replace my coffee when I heard a loud voice speak from behind me.

“Let me get that for you.”

A tall man with warm brown eyes caught my attention as I turned. He tapped his card against the reader after taking it out.

“Oh no, you don’t have to—”

He answered, “Really, it’s fine,” with a lovable smile. “It’s just coffee.”

I paused, then let out a sigh. “All right. However, please provide your number so I can reimburse you.

He laughed. “Deal.”

That was the beginning. A small gesture of goodwill. They traded numbers. An occasional SMS message.

I eventually found out that Sam was an insurance broker. He didn’t mind that I brought a young guy because he was two years older than me.

The day I informed him about Jeremy is still fresh in my mind.

He said, “Alice, that’s wonderful!” “I love kids.”

I felt hope blossom inside of me for the first time in years. Perhaps there was yet hope for love.

Before we were married, we dated for a year, and Sam was all I could have ever wanted. His patience and attention to detail prevented me from ever feeling like I was “too much.”

The best aspect was that Jeremy clicked with him right away, reaching for his hand whenever we went for a stroll together and laughing at his goofy jokes.

For the first time in a long time, I let my guard down at that point. I thought we were finally a family at that point.

But then something unexpected happened in my life. I never would have imagined that I would have such an experience.

The day my mother drew me aside was the beginning of it all. She was wearing this worried expression.

“Alice,” she said quietly at first. “Don’t you see that he’s always whining around Sam?”

I scowled. “What do you mean?”

“Just keep an eye on him. Jeremy’s appearance changes whenever Sam is there.

I initially dismissed it as my mother being unduly protective. Because of what Daniel had done to me, she had always been cautious around males.

Later that night, though, I began to listen.

When it was just the two of us, Jeremy was his typical happy self. He talked constantly about his day at daycare, played, and giggled. However, something shifted as soon as Sam entered the room.

His speech grew hushed, his shoulders tensed, and occasionally he would burst into tears for no apparent reason.

It helped me realize that I needed to discuss it with Sam.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Later that evening, I said.

He lifted his eyes from his phone. “Of course.”

“Have you noticed how Jeremy acts around you?”

“What do you mean?”

I paused. “He becomes quiet. He even tears sometimes.

“Alice, I love that kid,” he said. “I handle him as if he were my own. Why would he—-“

I interrupted, uncertain if I had upset him. “I know,” I said. “It’s simply I’m not sure.”

He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Perhaps he’s adapting. It’s a significant shift for him, isn’t it? A new role model for fatherhood. For a five-year-old, that’s a lot.

I wanted to believe him, so I nodded. He sounded quite earnest. However, something wasn’t quite right in the back of mind.

Jeremy and I stopped for ice cream on the way home when I picked him up from daycare a few days later. He licked his cone while sitting next to me on the bench.

“Hey, buddy,” I murmured. “Can I ask you something?”

As he ate his ice cream, he nodded.

“Why do you get upset around Sam?”

After his smile dimmed, he turned away.

I turned him back to face me and said, “You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” “I won’t be mad.”

“I heard Daddy talking on the phone…” He gave me a look. “And he said I’m a problem.”

I was unable to comprehend that.

“Are you sure, sweetheart?”

Jeremy gave a headshake.

“Yes. “Little Jeremy is a problem,” he remarked. I hurried to my room, so I missed the rest. After he paused, he said, “Mommy, will he leave like my first daddy?” in a low voice.

His large brown eyes filled with tears. That would be too much for me.

I brushed his hair back and drew him into my arms. “Oh, no, my love. Please know that I will never allow anyone to abandon you.

That evening, I went over to Sam.

I stood in front of Jeremy as soon as he fell asleep. “Did you call Jeremy a problem?”

Sam raised his head from the sofa. “What?”

“On the phone, Jeremy heard you. “You called him a problem,” he said.

Something flared in his face for a brief moment. Something gloomy.

However, his face soon evened out.

He shook his head and laughed. “Come on, Alice. He must have misinterpreted. I was referring to a coworker. Jeremy is his name. We’ve been juggling a ton of paperwork, so I think I muttered something out of exasperation.

I looked for any hint of dishonesty in his expression. “So, you weren’t talking about my son?”

“Obviously not. That’s not something I’d ever say about him. I adore that child.

I nodded and released a trembling breath. I might have overreacted. Perhaps Jeremy had actually misheard.

Sam said, “I’ll speak with him in the morning.” “I’ll clear everything up.”

And he did.

He sat Jeremy down the following morning and told him that everything had been misunderstood. My young son nodded while Sam went over everything. Jeremy’s smile gave me a sense of relief.

However, my mother scowled when I informed her about it. “Have you visited his office before? Do you know anyone with whom he collaborates?

Telling her, “I know where he works,” “I have the address.”

She stated, “That’s not what I asked,” “Do you know anyone with whom he truly collaborates? Do you know any of his colleagues?

I started to respond, but nothing came out. In actuality, I hadn’t. I had never met any of his coworkers or visited his office.

Mom said, “Alice, something isn’t right,” “You need to check.”

I shook my head and moaned. “Mom, you’re being paranoid.”

She shot back, “Am I?” “Or are you ignoring the signs?”

My phone rang the following morning as I was preparing Jeremy’s lunch. My mom was the one. She spoke urgently.

She said, “Alice, I checked,” “That address you were given by him? He is not listed as having worked there. He has never been heard of.

I felt a chill go down my back.

“How do you know that?” My voice trembled as I asked.

“Do you recall Mrs. Parker? My mother answered, “She works there.” “Alice, she confirmed. Sam is not employed there.

I knew then that Sam was keeping something from me. And I needed to know what it was.

I informed Sam that night that my mother wasn’t feeling well and that I had to go see her. I promised him that Jeremy and I would spend a few days there.

He didn’t mind, as was to be anticipated. He assured me that we could remain there for however long my mother required.

After we arrived at my mother’s house, I sank down on the couch and locked the door behind me. I had to be told the truth.

I had never considered hiring a private investigator, but I was forced to do so out of desperation.

I required facts. I required tangible, indisputable evidence of Sam’s identity.

I received my response three days later.

“It’s worse than you think,” the investigator replied, passing a folder to me.

I opened it with shaky hands. It contained financial statements, phone logs, and a thorough history of Sam.

He had lived a lie all his life.

The address he had provided me for the office? It wasn’t real. Both the insurance company and Jeremy, the coworker, were absent.

Everything had been discovered when the investigator tapped Sam’s phone. As it happened, Sam had been speaking to his mother that evening rather than a coworker.

According to the investigator, this was their game and they were scammers.

“He’s been planning to frame you at work,” the investigator went on to say. “You have access to financial accounts because of your job, correct? He has been arranging everything so that you will be held accountable if something goes wrong. He gains access to your assets, such as your home and funds, once you are arrested.

As I began to see how Jeremy was an issue for Sam and his mother, I clutched the folder. Sam would have to care for him or place him in state custody if I went to jail.

He had been more than a con artist. He had intended to completely remove me from the picture.

I inhaled deeply while trying to maintain my composure. “What do I do now?”

“Go to the police, Alice,” the investigator sternly advised. “As soon as possible.”

I didn’t think twice.

I went directly to the authorities with the investigator’s findings. The evidence was overwhelming.

Sam and his mother had a lengthy history of defrauding women, I discovered. Under several aliases, they have been relocating from one state to another.

But by marrying me, he had gone one step farther this time. I suppose that was due to the fact that I possessed anything of value.

The police assured me they wouldn’t allow Sam get away with this after I told them everything I knew about him. To make sure they had enough to arrest him, they only needed a few days.

I heard he didn’t pass away softly, but I wasn’t present when they took him away. He screamed, said it was all a set-up, and denied everything.

However, the evidence was self-evident.

The expression on his face as the police escorted him out of the courtroom is something I will always remember. He seemed to be attempting to assure me that he will come back.

But instead of being afraid, I sat up straight and grinned as I met his gaze.

Jeremy rescued me from losing everything, so I took him out for ice cream after the trial. I wouldn’t be here telling you all this story if he hadn’t told me about Sam’s talk with his mother.

I will always be thankful to fate for sending me Jeremy, a bright young man