When my son Eric, now twenty, asked to bring his new girlfriend Jessica on our family vacation, I was curious. My husband was instantly charmed by her, but something about Jessica felt off.
She seemed unfamiliar with Eric’s passions—acting surprised when I mentioned basketball, avoiding questions about his college major. Then, in his suitcase, I found an expensive diamond necklace—something Eric couldn’t afford.
The final shock came when I saw a message on Eric’s phone: “Add an additional $500 to our deal.” My heart sank.
When I confronted Eric, he confessed Jessica wasn’t his girlfriend but a paid actress. He’d felt pressured to impress us and hired her to make his life look better.
I held him and told him we love him for who he is, not for appearances. We promised to face this together.
That trip didn’t just reveal a beautiful place—it revealed my son’s hidden struggles and the healing we needed as a family.
