Chapter 8 The moment I spoke , Darlene burst into tears and began lamenting her hardships . * I was only nineteen when I married your father . I gave him children , worked hard to ease his burden . I never asked for luxury - just for hire to tre me well . Why would he betray me like this ? " She hugged her knees , keeping her voice low , likely to avoid waking Raymond and Caleb , sobbing quietly . While halfheartedly patting her shoulder in mock comfort , I took the phone from her clenched hand and liegan scrolling through the conversations with someone saved as " Honey . " It was abundantly clear that the woman labeled " Honey " was not my mother . In the messages , my father - normally so quiet and reserved - was attentive to this woman's health , buying her flowers , makeup , and sending her money - all things my mother never received . He also complained about Darlene to this woman : " Not meeting you earlier is the biggest regret of my life . " " My wife is old and ugly , nothing feminine about her . She snores like a damn freight train when she sleeps - kissing her once gives me nightmares for half a year ! " train's ba " I must have been out of my mind when I married that walking disaster . She's dumb as a rock . It's bad enough she's always bitter and cruel to Tiffany at home , but she had to pull that stunt at the hospital too , right when the cop showed up for a follow - up visit . I got chewed out in front of everyone - she's completely humiliated me ! " As I scrolled through page after page , my father's disgust for my mother practically radiated from the screen . Suddenly inspired , I began consoling my heartbroken mother . " Mom , Dad's probably just under too much stress and needed someone to talk to . I bet that homewrecker saw an opportunity and seduced him . " " You can't let her get away with this . What if Dad leaves us for her ? " SLAP ! The words had barely left my mouth when Darlene , tears still in her eyes , slapped me hard across the face . She hissed through clenched teeth : " You little bitch , he'd only ever leave YOU ! " Fighting through the stinging pain in my cheek and the urge to curse her out , I forced a tight smile and began quietly planning how to catch them in the act . " Mom , Dad cares most about his reputation . He thinks you made him lose face , so he's getting close to this woman , confiding in her . But what if she made him lose face too ? Wouldn't he come back to our family and be a good husband to you again ? " Hearing my plan , Darlene nodded furiously , completely convinced by my reasoning . The next day , I returned to my restaurant job , back to my normal routine , but with a new anticipation : catching them red - handed ! Finally , one afternoon as my shift ended , Darlene stormed in , dragged me out without explanation , and hustled me into a taxi , cursing the entire time . " That whore , seducing my husband every chance she gets . I'll skin her alive today ! " " Tiffany , once we burst into the hotel room and I take pictures , you grab that slut . I'm going to claw her face up so badly she'll never be able to seduce another man again ! " With these instructions , ten minutes later , we barged into the hotel room . As the door flew open , I rushed in without hesitation and started snapping photos of the two naked bodies tangled in bed . All Down ! My father , finally registering what was happening , quickly covered himself and the woman with a blanket before roaring You crazy bitch ! Can't you ever give it a rest ? " Darlene seemed to break at his words , screaming back : " No , I can't ! Why should I do nothing when some tramp is stealing my husband ? " After screaming , Darlene charged forward , yanking the blanket off and unleashing a flurry of slaps and hair pulling on the naked woman in bed , The woman let out a piercing scream that triggered my father's protective instinct . He hastily wrapped himself in a bathrobe , grabbed Darlene's wrist , violently yanked her backward , and slapped her hard across the face . The blow momentarily stunned Darlene , halting her assault . But Raymond was clearly enraged and continued with punches and kicks while cursing : " It's one thing when you terrorize Tiffany at home , but who the hell gave you the right to touch my woman ? You've got some nerve ! " At first , Darlene tried to fight back , but she was no match for a man's strength . Her defiance gradually transformed from cursing to broken pleas . Still , Raymond didn't stop until he was too tired to continue , carelessly tossing Darlene to the floor before comforting the woman in bed , helping her dress , and strutting out together . By then , Darlene's face was swollen and bruised , with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth . Watching the pair leave together , she broke down screaming : " I won't let you get away with this ! " And me ? I was hiding safely in the corner , only approaching to help Darlo " Mom , what are we going to do ? " I asked , my voice filled with contrived Darlene's face quivered with rage , every muscle tense . after Raymond and the woman were long gone . " It looks like Dad really loves that homewrecker . " " That's bullshit ! They think they can just ditch me and be together ? Not happening ! "