The cropped version.

And the original.

He stared silently.

Then he turned toward his mother.

“You told me they were alone.”

“I was protecting you!” she protested.

“No,” I interrupted. “You manipulated a family photograph to make him question our marriage.”

She tried defending herself.

But I’d heard enough.

“Please leave.”

She looked toward Andrew.

“You’re going to let her throw your own mother out?”

Andrew opened the door.

“She asked you to leave, Mom.”

For the first time, his mother had nothing to say.

After she left, Andrew approached my bed.

“Emily, I’m so sorry.”

I looked at him.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

He lowered his head.

“I wanted to speak with Daniel first.”

My eyes filled with tears.

“So you trusted your mother’s accusation more than your wife?”

He remained silent.

“I woke up frightened and alone. One of our daughters was crying, and I couldn’t even lift her because I was recovering from surgery.”