I Put Heavy Revenge On A Cheating Wife & Got Her Affair Partner In Jail. Sad Audio Infidelity Story

[Music] in the early years of our marriage life felt predictable but comforting Melissa and I met through mutual friends and shared a desire for a simple life meals together relaxed weekends and a future built on love and stability we Face challenges but nothing seemed too difficult our kids brought purpose to our daily routines and I believed our shared history would carry us through any tough times however as time passed cracks began to appear we grew too comfortable conversations shifted from dreams to Logistics and our time together became routine I ignored the subtle signs Melissa's distant

looks and changed tone thinking it was normal after two decades I believed our bond was strong enough to handle any changes but I was about to learn that even deep love can fade if neglected one evening I greeted Melissa in the kitchen but she didn't respond over the years I'd grown accustomed to her Quiet Moments so I wasn't alarmed after washing up she joined me in the bedroom and asked how my day was I proudly told her about my promotion but her lack of enthusiasm worried me when I asked about her day she dropped a

bombshell Mark I want a divorce I was stunned and confused I couldn't understand where this was coming from when I asked why she hesitated then confessed I met someone else we need to be together her words Hit me hard as a skilled salesman I was used to handling surprises but this was different much more personal you met someone and what you want a fling I blurted out still Reeling I looked at Melissa trying to make sense of it all her words didn't register it's not like that it just happened by chance she explained hesitantly my

mind fixated on her words but I stayed silent still in shock like I was suspended in midair waiting to crash down stop looking at me like that she said I must have looked lost like a fish out of water Mark I love him I'm sorry I never meant for this to happen she said before leaving the bathroom I was overwhelmed with emotions but all I could think about was why there was no logic no explanation for why our marriage was over I should have been angry but I was stuck on understanding how this happened I

went downstairs intending to talk to her but she wasn't in the kitchen and nothing was out of place Melissa always prided herself on being a great mother and housewife never wanting to work outside the home I searched the house checked the garage and even looked outside but she was nowhere to be found maybe she's out for a walk clearing her head I thought but as I waited anger began to build she had probably fallen for someone who filled her head with fantasies I grabbed a beer and sat in the den waiting for her return when

I woke up it was evening and the house was still empty I called out for her with no response the house felt lonely and I wasn't enjoying the silence that it hit me she had already left I frantically searched for my phone called her number and heard it ring in our bedroom her phone rings credit cards checkbook and a sealed envelope were all left behind it felt like her entire life had been reduced to nothing standing there I realized how little it all meant now I didn't want to be in that room so I left

drained and overwhelmed I tried to sleep but the next morning I dragged myself to work even though I felt numb I managed to get through the day without drawing attention to myself but Melissa's words echoed in my mind the rest of the week was a blur of emotions the thought of spending the weekend alone with my memories was unbearable so I just got in the car and drove not caring where I ended up as I drove I asked myself if I still wanted to stay married to Melissa I wasn't sure I wanted to be with

the Melissa I married 22 years ago not the one who had just admitted to cheating it felt like it happened ages ago even though it was only a few days the painful reality was that she didn't want me anymore and no matter how much I hoped I knew she had made her ision I found myself on a quiet Road leading to a secluded Lake spot that Melissa and I had discovered while searching for retirement property we never bought land there but we loved the place and visited it often the Lake's Serene Beauty with the sun

setting over the water once brought us peace but now I hated it I didn't want peace I wanted to rage still I got out of the car and sat by the lake lost in thought as dusk fell the memories of joy and love overwhelmed me and I knew I had to leave walking back to the car my emotions finally caught up with me I couldn't hold them back any longer I fell to my knees fists pounding the ground screaming and cursing everything including Melissa when the rage subsided I was left with the Deep pain of

betrayal and rejection as night fell I found solace in the darkness alone with my grief I cried harder than I ever had even more than when I lost my sister back then Melissa had been there to comfort me now I had no one to lean on as I mourned the of our marriage reflecting on our relationship I realized how much I loved her not just for the big moments but for the little things I told her I loved her in unexpected ways and always appreciated her efforts we had our disagreements but they never overshadowed our

love until now I was blindsided by her infidelity and though I could blame work I knew I'd missed the signs I wondered if I was partly to blame I should have seen it coming but I didn't as the sun rose my emotions fin finally settled I knew the coming days and weeks would be tough but I was ready to move forward my hands were bruised and swollen but I was determined to start putting things in order although I couldn't contact a lawyer on a Saturday I checked our finances expecting the worst to my surprise Melissa

hadn't touched the money it didn't match the stories I'd heard about cheating and it gave me a small glimmer of hope if she hadn't touched the money maybe this was all a joke or just a one-time fling and she'd eventually come back but I qu quickly dismissed that hope recalling the look on her face when she left she wasn't coming back I was left wondering why maybe she trusted me not to take advantage of her and was just waiting for the legal process to play out the thought of divorce still hurt but I had no

choice but to accept it I remembered the manila envelope she left behind though I dreaded going into the bedroom I needed to see what was inside feeling like an intruder I grabbed the envelope and quickly left back in the kitchen with a beard I stared at the envelope curious but not ready to open it instead I checked her phone there was nothing on it except my number from when I called her on Monday night Melissa had erased everything I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when she got her phone she insisted on a separate

account the bills went directly to her and I found no trace of them around the house her clothes were still in the closets along with our kids photo albums I couldn't understand why she left behind things she would need to identify herself after thinking it over I set aside the mystery and opened the envelope it had my full name on it opening it felt like the final chapter of our life together inside were several papers a petition for divorce life insurance policies our marriage certificate the kids birth certificates and the deed to the house there

was also a smaller envelope with my name written in Melissa's familiar handwriting I held it dreading what it represented but needing to know it took two tries to open it inside was a single sheet of paper covered front and back with her writing I took a long drink from my beer before reading her letter dear Mark I'm not sure when you'll find this letter but by now you know I've left you for someone else this wasn't something I planned and I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you always trusted me never suspecting I was capable

of this and I've struggled with guilt you've been a wonderful husband and father and I know this hurts but I don't want to go into details that would make it worse I met this person by accident and our connection grew Beyond friendship this isn't a reflection on you you've been everything a woman could want but I couldn't fight my feelings anymore and neither could they they are also married and have left their spouse and kids to be with me if it's any comfort we haven't had ZX and won't until we're both divorced we didn't want

to add more pain by complicating things further I left everything behind because I'm starting a new life and dragging out the divorce in court wouldn't help I'm not asking for anything you've worked hard for what you have I hope by the time you read this I've already spoken to our children they didn't know anything so please don't blame them I'm not asking for forgiveness I know I don't deserve it but I hope our kids can forgive me I would like to stay in touch with them but it's up to them leaving you wasn't easy I'm

throwing away 22 wonderful years with a loving man and I feel the weight of my betrayal deeply there were times I thought of telling you hoping you could stop me but it's too late now our feelings have taken over and I can't change that I wish you a long and happy life however you may find it please don't try to come after me we'll be overseas until the divorces are final I've left a card with an attorney's name Jack Belgium he has power of attorney to handle everything all you need to do is sign the

papers I hope you don't fight this it will only prolong the pain I'll return after the divorce but we won't see each other again I haven't mentioned who I'm with to avoid causing more trouble If We Ever Meet Again I hope it's as friends but I leave that up to you I still love you Mark and always will Melissa as I read the last parts of Melissa's letter my eyes filled with tears and I couldn't stop them I had promised myself not to cry anymore but her words reopened the pain and anger I thought I

had calmed I was too tired and shocked to feel anything but deep emptiness I put everything back in the envelope and left it on the table unsure of my next steps I knew I needed legal advice and it was a relief to know someone else could help carry this burden though Melissa avoided giving too many details I was skilled at reading between the lines I knew I'd reread her letter many times searching for what she hadn't said over that dreary weekend time dragged on despite her claim that she hadn't slept with her lover her I

found comfort in getting rid of certain things in the house I moved the bedroom furniture to the garage and boxed up her clothes even though it was one of the hardest things I'd ever done I could still smell her on every piece but I pushed through knowing it was better to deal with one big hurt then let it eat at me little by little the rest of the month followed the same pattern except my attorney seemed pleased with the settlement or lack of one I was glad someone could find joy in this mess my curiosity

about the man Melissa left with grew i' determined he was wealthy given that she didn't take anything with her expecting to buy new things with his money he was also well connected likely helping them stay Incognito overseas she' left her driver's license behind planning to disappear Melissa had covered her tracks too well for it to be a solo effort I suspected she had professional help but my neighbors didn't notice anyone unusual at the house however they did see her leave around 11:30 a.m. each day the man had also left behind a wife and young children

that combined with his wealth gave me a starting point for my search the rich are easier to track I spoke with my attorney several times over the next few weeks and he urged me to sign the divorce papers fearing Melissa might return and make things worse I shared that fear but wasn't ready to sign yet in our no fault divorce State everything earned during the marriage was considered communal property since Melissa had stayed home I could end up paying significant alimony and losing half of everything despite the risks I needed to learn more about her

Affair before signing using resources at work I identified several wealthy men in the state who fit the profile I narrowed it down to a few possibilities men in their late 30s or 40s with wives likely between 30 and 40 years old it was a long shot but it made sense now I faced the hard task of finding which wife on my list was missing a husband then contacting her to explain why I needed to know I'm not sure why I felt the need to contact this other man's wife for soon to be ex-wife it just

seemed like the right thing to do it sounds simple but after more digging I found that most of the men on my list traveled frequently for business often spending days or weeks abroad which of those husbands hadn't come back if Melissa's lover had returned home and then quickly left it would be almost impossible to identify him in my mind I couldn't believe that two adults supposedly in love and free of their spouses could keep things platonic during a long trip even with the best intentions something would eventually happen a look a touch that would ignite

their desire it was just a matter of time and they had plenty of it it took me several more days to narrow the list down to three possible men meanwhile I repainted and recarpeted the master bedroom and bought new furniture I hadn't moved my stuff back in yet since I was still looking for a few more things to make the room feel like mine again it's strange how things change when I thought my marriage was solid the bedroom was just a place to sleep and and occasionally make love but after Melissa left it felt heavy

with Gloom even though I knew it was just my imagination it affected me deeply leading to the Extreme Makeover I had spoken to my kids a few times since their mom left and it seemed she had told them even less than what she wrote in her letter to me they asked me all sorts of questions some embarrassing that I couldn't answer I think they believed I knew more than I was saying and I could sense they might have blamed me for their mom leaving they didn't say anything harsh but I felt the unspoken accusation every

time we talked I was relieved that both my daughters lived out of state one had just gotten married and although I didn't like her husband much he treated her well enough the other was in college and would be graduating next year if they'd been closer they would have been constantly on my case about the split and I couldn't handle that I was struggling enough as it was at work I was getting back to a more stable emotional state only my boss Herbert McNair mentioned my earlier erratic Behavior while he expressed concern for my well-being I

knew his main worry was whether I could still bring in clients and money I assured him I could and that was the end of it however I noticed some of my co-workers giving me curious looks I'd never been distant with them and we'd shared drinks after work a few times but I kept my personal life private I knew there were probably rumors flying around the office but whatever they were they didn't reach me some co-workers asked how I was doing since Melissa left but I never discussed my marital issues a few women at the office

seem more interested in me but that might have been my imagination I wasn't actively looking but a few weeks after Melissa left I started noticing women more I've never been much of a socialite so I wasn't good at picking up on signals when a woman was interested if someone smiled at me or gave me a certain look I usually made a quick exit unsure if she was just being friendly or wanted more as long as I had Melissa I never needed experience with other women I also began exercising more during my marriage I'd been slightly

concerned about gaining weight not too much but enough to justify 20 minutes of exercise each morning I started runting and doing a more complete workout spending an hour each day at it it helped me burn off anger I also decided to improve my cooking the internet is full of recipes some of which are healthy and tasty so my diet and cooking skills both improved my weekday evenings became predictable cooking cleaning fixing things around the house researching my project bathing and then sleeping aside from the occasional call from family or friends I settled into a life

free of unpleasant surprises I guess I needed the routine to keep myself from unraveling weekends were harder at first because I had so much free time remembering my mother's saying Idle Hands are the devil's workshop I tackled house repairs starting with the master bedroom I wasn't much of a handyman and usually had Melissa call someone but I figured I could learn my first attempts were disasters but I eventually got the hang of it and it turned out to be good therapy this change didn't happen overnight but it did happen gradually instead of drinking myself to

sleep I worked on my project to uncover the identity of Melissa's lover oddly enough it eased my pain a bit by the fourth month I had settled into my routine when I realized something surprising I hated my job sales requires more than just a drive to succeed it needs deep motivation to keep going years year after year my main motivation was gone but I had enough saved to retire though I wouldn't live as comfortably like many others I had dreams and Ambitions that were sidelined by life's demands I thought about writing a novel or inventing

something groundbreaking but I quickly dismissed those ideas instead I considered starting a small business selling useful items though I wasn't sure what yet my attorney kept pressing me to sign the divorce papers but I ignored him I knew he was looking out for my best interests but I was too focused on finding out who Melissa had run off with my daughters were less forgiving of my inaction they didn't want their parents to divorce but they realized things weren't as hopeful as they initially thought they gave me a hard time more out of their own pain

than anything I'd done during all this I hadn't heard a word from Melissa nor had our children I assumed her attorney was keeping her informed my lawyer tried to track her down but her attorney Jack Belgium was tight lipped which only strengthened my resolve my attorney had one last ditch option up his sleeve filing an alienation of affection claim but it was a risky move dependent on the judge's discretion we'd only use it if necessary meaning we'd be fighting the divorce something that both pleased and frustrated my attorney he'd earn more money but was annoyed

because if I signed the papers I'd keep everything from the marriage and he'd have a victory on his record by the sixth month I was certain I despised my job and seriously considered doing something else I stuck with it because it paid well and I might need the money for future legal battles with that in mind I started day trading setting aside only what I could afford to lose it didn't go well at first I lost more than I made but after a few weeks I adjusted and began making small profits I wasn't going to

get rich but I made enough to reinvest I've never been a risk taker but when Melissa left many of the reasons I'd been so cautious in life left with her in the past 6 months I started taking karate classes at a friend's suggestion after my wife left the training brought balance to my life both physically and mentally so much that I began attending 6 days a week I wasn't aiming for a black belt I just enjoyed the discipline and self-defense I adjusted my routine to go to the gym in the mornings and karate at night

getting into the best shape of my life if I couldn't sleep I'd practice my moves for 15 or 20 minutes which always calmed me down I also rekindled my interest in weapons I had learned to shoot as a paratrooper in the Army but after marrying Melissa and having kids I got rid of my weapons however I still enjoyed target shooting and would rent a weapon when I wanted to practice now with no one to object I bought a firearm and got a concealed carry permit though this decision came after something unsettling happened about 2 weeks

after Melissa left I started noticing things out of place at home I had been keeping everything orderly so when I saw my keys on the rack in the wrong order it caught my attention I dismissed it at first but then I noticed other small changes like a book on my nightstand being moved and a bookmark that my daugh made not sticking out as usual these little things made me feel like someone had been in my house searching for something although I wasn't sure the thought unnerved me enough to change the locks and install a top-of-the-line

alarm system in cameras I also started going to the shooting range again and took NRA home protection courses I knew I was getting a bit paranoid but living alone after so many years with Melissa was disorienting my mind was a mess and nothing made sense I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something important or maybe just deluding myself because of my lingering feelings for my wife but then I questioned whether I still loved her at all love Fades if it isn't nurtured and I knew I'd have to confront that if I ever saw

Melissa again but I also wondered why I didn't just accept the divorce and move on especially since the terms were in my favor maybe it was my ego refusing to let go those thoughts didn't comfort me so I pushed them aside I wasn't entirely alone though once word got got around the office about my separation I caught the interest of several female co-workers as I got into better shape that interest grew I went on a few dates but nothing worked out I was too preoccupied with finding Melissa and wasn't ready for a serious relationship the

women quickly realized this and after one date they usually saw that I needed closure before I could move on my search for Melissa had reached a dead end though I had three possible suspects none fully matched the criteria so I changed tactics and tried to figure out where Melissa might have met her lover using a map phone book and the internet I identified every Mall coffee shop and public place within a 30-minute drive from my house the sheer number of options was overwhelming and for a moment my resolve wavered but then I thought what else

is there to do I'm no investigator but it made sense to just start asking around armed with the latest photo of Melissa and printouts of three suspects I began my search starting with the closest locations each day during lunch I spent 1 to two hours visiting places following pre-printed directions to maximize my time I managed to visit three spots daily but avoided weekends since Melissa was with me in the third week I finally had some luck by then I had gotten better at asking questions and showing photos approaching people with calm confidence on a Friday

at a cafe and bar a female server took a second look at Melissa's photo and recognized her though she hesitated at first after some gentle persuasion and a little cash she opened up she didn't recognize the men in my photos but mentioned another man she'd seen with Melissa Gray beard glasses neatly cut salt and pepper hair though I didn't recognize the description she confirmed they had been seen together multiple times leaving the cafe I felt elated finally having a solid lead that day my mood was so good the co-workers noticed and I even closed a

tough deal at work earning praise and a bonus from my boss despite my situation I felt surprisingly positive using the servers description I created a composite sketch of the man the result looked like someone who belonged in a university but I couldn't match him to anyone online a few weeks later I had almost given up I brought the sketch to work to continue searching during lunch one day a cooworker Arturo Mendoza stopped by and noticed the drawing on my desk to my surprise he recognized the man saying he was a regular donor to a charity

our company supported though Arturo couldn't recall the name right away he eventually remembered Conrad Miller I was thrilled sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference and getting this name felt like a major breakthrough I considered investigating at work but Arturo's Behavior made me think it was better to do it at home oddly enough my house had become my home again despite the pain and memories of Melissa that evening I quickly found out about Conrad Miller yes he had a younger wife and two kids but there was no mention of any long trips

abroad in fact he seemed to be a home body his wife Diane lingren kept a low profile which isn't easy when you're married to a billionaire the internet was full of information on Conrad who was a DOT billionaire from the 1990s he had Diversified his wealth investing in everything from Airlines to weapons research I finally understood what Melissa had meant in her warning but why would a guy like that who could have any woman be interested in my wife it didn't make sense Diane was beautiful and while Melissa was was attractive she wasn't in the

same league my initial excitement faded leaving me confused and lost what was I supposed to do now I had been thinking about a millionaire but a billionaire that was a whole different world with tight security around them 247 reaching out to Conrad's wife no longer seemed feasible I couldn't help but wonder what Melissa had dragged us into I went to bed feeling more dejected than ever the rest of the week felt the same uncertain and apprehensive it was as if my subconscious was trying to keep me from discovering the truth the internet may be full

of lies but it's useful when digging up information I quickly found more details about Conrad and Diane online Conrad was wealthy but looked more like a bookish professor Diane was stunning making it even harder to understand why Conrad would be involved with my wife but despite all this I was no closer to understanding anything I spent weeks researching Conrad Miller's business interests while I'm no financial analyst it was clear his businesses were diverse a third of them were publicly traded and easy to research but the rest were privately held and difficult to investigate as for

my day trading I initially set aside $110,000 but quickly lost most of it after investing another $20,000 I finally started to see small profits by the time I had blown through almost $40,000 I began making more significant gains 6 months after Melissa left I decided to quit my job to focus on day trading and finding my wife despite attempts by my boss and co-workers to change my mind I told them I no longer wanted to work with Melissa gone I had nearly $2 million in assets with day trading accounting for 40% the rest came from

savings and equity in my mortgage-free house I also had $400,000 and a 401k I could tap if needed realizing Melissa's lover was a billionaire not a millionaire made my chances of getting close to him slim I shifted my focus to learning more about his wife Diane unfortunately there wasn't much information as she led a reclusive life there were rumors of estrangement which wasn't surprising I did find out that Conrad had a large estate in tuxedo New York where his wife and children lived but he rarely spent time there I learned all this around the time

I quit my job now nothing was tying me down all I needed was my laptop a few clothes my camera and a full tank of gas my daughters Katie and Carla were my only concern but Katie was married and living out of state and Carla was finishing college and planning to start her master's degree they were both Pillars of Strength for me and I stayed in constant contact with them Carla and Katie took their mother's abandonment hard especially Carla who was very close to her at first Carla blamed me for Melissa's departure but as weeks

passed without hearing from her mother Carla's anger shifted when Carla would angrily declare that her mother was dead to her I didn't stop her in a Twisted way it felt good that Melissa had lost at least one of her daughters eventually Katie also began venting about her mother by the time I tried to curb the negative talk it was too late I understood their pain they felt as betrayed as I did I apologize if this story seems disjointed but my thoughts were all over the place divorce is like experiencing a pass away and I was

going through the stages of grief I started with denial not believing Melissa was really gone then came anger and bargaining where I'd pray at night promising to attend church if Melissa came back depression set in by by the third week and lingered acceptance still eluded me I figured it would only come after a face-to-face meeting with Melissa at the start of the seventh month several things jolted me back into action first my attorney called asking what I wanted to do about the divorce I hadn't heard from him in months and assumed the divorce was finalized

since I hadn't signed anything I was shocked to learn it wasn't that was odd the next day Carla and Katie both called saying they had heard from their mother Carla was a mess and it took 10 minutes to calm her down as soon as she realized it was her mom on the line she Unleashed her anger telling Melissa she was dead to her and that she didn't want her at her graduation or wedding Carla even said Melissa would never see her future grandchildren Melissa reportedly sobbed uncontrollably before the call disconnected Katie's conversation with Melissa was

more civil at least at first Katie tried to find out where her mother had been but Melissa refused to share details since I had been open with my daughters about Conrad Miller Katie tried to get more information by revealing that she knew about Melissa's relationship with him Melissa gasped and tried to deny it but Katie had lost Patience by then she told her mother off saying Melissa had ripped out their father's heart and abandoned her daughters for her lover Melissa broke down repeating that she was sorry and still loved them before the call ended around

3:00 a.m. the next morning my phone rang jolting me awake my heart raced fearing something had happened to my daughters after a few tries I answered hello Mark I'm so sorry my two girls hate me I was pretty sure it was Melissa but I asked who is this the line went dead I traced the number and called back but no one answered later that day when I tried again the number was out of service however I found out the call came from tuxedo New York it seemed Melissa was back in the US and living with

her lover but that didn't make sense Conrad's estate in tuxedo was supposed to be for his wife and children maybe they were away or perhaps Conrad was visiting them now that he was back in the country about a month ago I learned that Diane lingren lived on the estate with her children so I tried to contact her by phone but that went nowhere I was politely informed that she didn't take calls from strangers realizing I was dealing with the ultra wealthy I knew I needed a different approach the next day I made some grades and

netted $227,000 that night around 11:00 I went grocery shopping and as I was returning to my car a man grabbed me from behind and whispered you need to stop bothering Mr Miller my penup anger exploded using my self-defense training I twisted free kicked him in the knee and twisted his wrist behind his back who the hell are you I demanded holding him in a position where I could easily break his arm the man likely in his 30s and in good shape was clearly not a random Thug he had a professional Vibe about him you're making

a big mistake he said through clenched teeth just then I felt a weapon pressed against my head let him go a voice commanded I kept my hold and turned to negotiation tactics we at a standoff I said quietly you can shoot me but I'll still break your friend's arm people will hear the fire shot and they might catch you before you escape besides I have a hidden microphone on me everything we're saying is being recorded and if you shoot it'll tie Conrad Miller to a liquidation after a pause the man with the weapon asked what

do you propose take two steps back and keep your weapon on me I said trying to stay calm I'll get your friend up but he'll Shield me your job was to warn me to stay away from Mr Miller and message received then you'll walk away and when I feel safe I'll release your friend the man agreed saying they were only supposed to warn me not hurt me I slowly lifted his friend who looked enraged and dangerous I can still [ __ ] you I warned him but letun avoid that I instructed the other man to

start walking away he did though he kept looking back when he was about 75 ft away I released the man I was holding and pushed him toward his friend but instead of leaving he turned to me and said you've been warned stay away from Mr Miller I pulled out my 9mm and aimed at his head tell your boss I don't give a damn about him if he wants to keep his Secrets he better leave me alone the man turned pale clearly not expecting me to be armed I considered following them but realized it wouldn't help

their vehicle wouldn't be traceable to Conrad I needed to regroup I had clearly stirred something up but wasn't sure what I picked up my groceries and headed home poured a drink and tried to calm my nerves sitting at the kitchen table I started listing what I knew to formulate a plan Conrad Miller was definitely the man Melissa ran off with but why his wife Diane was beautiful and seemed kind why would a billionaire choose my wife over her maybe Diane wasn't as perfect as she seemed but the media hadn't hinted at any issues it finally

dawned on me that it was probably my daughter Katie's mention of Conrad Miller and my call to Diane that had provoked this reaction from the billionaire at one point I wondered if Melissa had gone into witness protection which could explain her sudden departure and leaving everything behind but if that were true why wouldn't she have taken the girls after tonight I dismissed that idea those men weren't federal agents they were too sloppy and I shouldn't have been able to overpower one of them even with my martial arts training the more I thought about it the

more convinced I was that these men worked for Conrad Miller this led me to two big questions why did Conrad want to keep me away from Melissa and why did Melissa leave without discussing it with me these questions made me think about Melissa before we got together she was 26 When we married and had worked as a bookkeeper she lived with her parents then had her own apartment before we got together her parents died in a house fire before we started dating and most of her momentos were lost it hit me that I didn't know

much about Melissa's life before we met then there was her cell phone she insisted on keeping it separate from mine and the girls even though it would have been cheaper on a family plan she also had the bill sent directly to her and I never saw any of the statements this Arrangement bothered me more after she left around the time I learned about Conrad Miller and that the divorce hadn't gone through I came up with the plan to get copies of her cell phone bills I arranged a meeting with Melissa's divorce lawyer pretending to discuss

the final settlement I told him I was skeptical and wanted to see all the paperwork first he agreed and I reviewed everything on the conference table I discreetly took photos of the general power of attorney Melissa had given her lawyer then told him I needed time to think at home I downloaded the photos and altered the document to make it look like I had the power of attorney it wouldn't hold up to close scrutiny but I was confident would work when I presented it at the cell phone provider store they asked for Melissa's password luckily

I remembered seeing her enter it once it was a combination of our daughter's birth dates I used it and it worked I learned that Melissa's phone had been canceled shortly after she left but I also got the last year of statements back home I analyzed the statements and ruled out most of the calls as routine but once a month Melissa had called a number in Nashville until about 4 months before she left the calls were always on the same day and at the same time each month then in the months leading up to her departure

the calls increased and the day before she left there were five calls to this number the idea that Melissa had been phoning her lover all this time infuriated me but another thought quickly followed if the affair started recently why had she been making one call a month for 8 months before it supposedly began and why were the calls on the same day each month the sudden increase in calls didn't make sense I tried calling the number but it had been disconnected I had High Hopes but the phone bills turned out to be another dead end

it was so frustrating that I thought about just signing the divorce papers and moving on but deep down I knew I wouldn't have any peace without knowing why after my encounter in the parking lot I realized the one lead I hadn't fully explored was the estate in tuxedo New York so I packed my car and made the 13-hour drive to New York though I had only a vague plan which worried me I was also concerned about bringing my weapon knowing New York didn't recognize my concealed carry permit it's ironic how New York has strict weapon

laws yet one of the highest liquidation rates when I arrived in tuxedo I checked into a motel I wanted to pay cash but they insisted on a credit card we compromised by running my card but agreeing not to process it unless necessary I told them I was hiding from my wife until our divorce was Final and they seemed sympathetic next I scouted the estate it was mad massive with a high wall surrounding it to keep out prying eyes the front gate was guarded though the men were well hidden with my camera's telephoto lens I took

several pictures of each guard and noticed that one of them was the same man I had taken down in the parking lot I knew I was in the right place I just needed a way to get inside or at least see inside then two moving trucks arrived which made me nervous they might be preparing to leave but after one of the guards spoke to the drivers the trucks left though I was sure they'd be back I was desperate to get into that house but I'm no secret agent with special gadgets I kept brainstorming ways to

get inside but each idea seemed ridiculous the estate covered an entire block so I made several slow passes around it avoiding the front gate by cutting down side streets on my third pass I noticed a large tree with a couple of Limbs extending slightly over the wall in the northwest corner it was a crazy idea but it was all I had I found a nearby hardware store bought a collapsible ladder and some rope and headed back once back I stopped by the tree making sure no one was around I unloaded the ladder and rope hid

them in the bushes and parked my car a block away in case I needed to make a quick getaway I returned to the tree set up the ladder and climbed into the tree with the Rope around my neck I kicked the ladder over to avoid drawing attention if I needed to escape I'd use the rope ironically 7 months ago I wouldn't have been able to pull myself up into that tree but now after all my exercise it was easy I climbed higher until I had a clear view of the backyard it was large and beautifully

landscaped with a patio an expensive Grill outdoor furniture and a TV the main feature was a large oval-shaped pool with a waterfall and slide but what really caught my attention was Diane lingren lounging by the pool with a book she looked even more beautiful in person then I saw the sliding glass door open and a man stepped out he stayed in the shade of the porch for several minutes so I couldn't see who who it was finally he walked over to Diane and kissed her I was shocked it was Conrad Miller this was a mess

he had stolen my wife and was still with his own suddenly there was a commotion inside the house two men with weapons and silencers ordered the couple back inside I had no idea what was happening but it was clearly bad I pulled out my phone and called emergency telling the operator there had been a shooting I wasn't sure if there had been but I figured it would get the police there faster I'd already tied off the rope and quickly threw it down it only took me seconds to descend and then I sprinted toward the house

expecting someone to shoot me at any moment but no shots were fired when I reached the sliding glass door it was still open I quietly slipped inside and crept toward the voices peeking into a spacious living room I saw seven people four Were Strangers but I immediately recognized the other three my heart sank when I saw Melissa among them Melissa was sitting on the couch with Diane and her husband please Gino Conrad begged let the women go I'm the one who took the money I can get it back for you and more it's not about

the money anymore said a short heavy set man with a nasty smile it's about honor you stole from us and that woman got my brother Johnny sent to prison for 20 years I was horrified when Gino pointed his weapon at my wife Gino she didn't do it I did Diane said defiantly I used her computer to send all the information to the government she had nothing to do with it but she cooperated all the information Gino sneered it doesn't matter she knows too much and I'm not leaving any Loose Ends since you're going to eliminate

us anyway Conrad interrupted can I ask a few questions why not Gino smirked I've got a few minutes I sent one of my men to confirm something what is that Conrad asked Gino chuckled I was surprised when you and your bookkeeper showed up last night we've been watching this place for weeks figuring your wife would lead us to you but you came back here there must be something here you wanted that your wife couldn't get for you just then another man entered the room you were right Gino he said smiling I found his safe hidden

in the floor I thought so Gino's smile widened as he turned to Conrad your mistake was loving your wife too much you should have trusted her with the combination but it wouldn't have mattered we planned to follow her anyway and she would have led us to you Conrad sighed looking sadly at his wife before turning back to Gino but why go after Melissa she was just a bookkeeper she was your personal bookkeeper Gino corrected you treated her more like a daughter than an employee I figured she knew where your money was and how to access

it I also thought she'd know every property you owned giving us places to search for you but how did you find out we informed on your brother Diane asked you were clever in how you fed information to the government Gino admitted even your husband didn't know you were the informant at first it took years and a lot of money for our hackers to trace it back to you I have to hand it to you Gino chuckled what do you call yourself now Conrad Miller that was smart you and your wife had plastic surgery and reappeared

as a new billionaires but most of that wealth is a facade isn't it it was clever because I knew you hadn't stolen a billion dollars what did you take 40 or 50 million 78 million Conrad corrected that much Gino nodded I'm impressed but you were always the smart one Jacob that's why my brother brought you in you took our legal money and turned it into legitimate businesses but you got greedy and skimmed too much hiding it in places we didn't know about Johnny finally caught on and he was about to eliminate you when your wife

ratted him out to the feds it threw me off for a long time but I eventually found your bookkeeper I planned to grab her and her family torturing and liquidating them one by one until she gave you up but then she disappeared Without a Trace that's when I knew there was a mole in my organization it didn't take long to figure out it was Kelly and we eliminated her Kelly's dead Conrad asked shocked and saddened yes but I didn't eliminate her she jumped from a secondstory window trying to escape unfortunately she died on impact so

we didn't get any information from her after she bolted it didn't make sense to grab her family without knowing where she was so we tapped their phones it took months but that's how we discovered your real name in this location if you knew we were here why didn't you take us last night Conrad asked Gino shook shook his head I outsmarted myself while watching this house I figured you'd need new IDs so I blocked them from being delivered my plan was to replace the moving van drivers with my men but when you didn't get the

new IDs you sent the Vans away that's when I decided to strike now here we are enough talk you can make this easy or hard I need the combination to the safe if you don't give it to me I'll eliminate your bookkeeper first then your wife and finally you worst case I'll just cut open the safe as I stood just out of sight everything clicked I had one option Gino I used to think your brother was the lowest prick Conrad snarled but you've proved me wrong I'll take that as a compliment Gino laughed but don't

worry I'll pass your regards to Johnny now let's finish this months of anger depression and hopelessness faded away I was still scared but I knew I had to act I quickly reviewed all my firearms training checked my ruger's safety and aimed at Gino my instruct had taught me to eliminate the most immediate threat first I knew I had only seconds to make each shot count I took a small breath and squeezed the trigger I knocked Gino in the back and he fell forward I then shot the man aiming at Melissa taking him down I fired

again striking a third man before they started shooting back a bullet shot my left side but I kept shooting the fourth and fifth men went down but I was shot again feeling a bullet slam into my left shoulder blood was running down my face likely from a graze on my forehead I stood there staring at Melissa unable to speak her eyes widened and she started toward me I remember hearing the whale of police cars before everything went dark when I woke up I knew I was in a hospital and remembered everything it was dark and

the room was filled with medical equipment I noticed I was handcuffed to the bed in pain I pressed the button for a nurse to my surprise Melissa entered the room with a policeman Mark she said in a panicked voice are you all right I just hurt I replied weakly I was hoping someone could give me something for the pain a nurse arrived moments later with a syringe and administered the pain medication the pain began to ease Melissa moved to my side and the policeman stood at the foot of my bed oh Mark Melissa cried I'm

so sorry for putting you through all this I didn't know what else to do I knew what Johnny and Gino were capable of and was terrified of what they do to you and the girls I wanted to protect all of you Conrad convinced me that the only way to keep you safe was to make you believe I'd found a lover and divorce you I almost crumbled when I saw the hurt in your eyes Melissa sobbed harder I reached out and took her hand you did it to protect us and yes it hurt a lot I

spent months trying to understand why you abandoned us I needed to know why and I'm sorry I think I led Gino and his men to you and Conrad no it wasn't your fault Mark Melissa choked out between sobs it's all my fault I was so lonely and missed my family so much that I called each of you even though Conrad warned me not to when I found out how much the girls hated me I wanted to die but I couldn't tell you where I was or what was happening Conrad was working desperately to get us

new identities and find a new hiding place the moving trucks arrived but we still didn't have our IDs I'd resign myself to getting eliminated but at least my family would be safe the pain medication kicked in and I lost track of time when I woke the Sun was shining Melissa was asleep in the chair next to my bed holding my hand my arm was bandaged and it achd but my side hurt more still the pain wasn't too bad so I tried to pull myself up in bed if you've ever spent time in a hospital bed

you know how uncomfortable they are plus it's hard to move when your handcuffed to the bed my attempt to sit up startled Melissa awake alarm in her eyes what are you doing she asked just trying to get comfortable I replied with a weak smile she adjusted my position until I was more at ease then surprised me with a kiss I never thought I'd feel her lips on mine again I love you with all my heart she whispered can you ever forgive me Melissa it's clear I still love you I said I thought about signing the

divorce papers but after 22 years of marriage I couldn't do it without knowing why I suspected you might have taken a lover but it never made sense I couldn't give up until I was sure you didn't love me anymore oh God what did I ever do to deserve you she said crying again after she calmed down I told her to take the key to my motel room and get some rest she looked exhausted so I insisted convincing the policeman on duty to let her have my motel key was another challenge but a call to his

superiors finally did the trick I then learned the district attorney was debating whether to charge me for having an illegal weapon ridiculous considering I'd just helped take down a major crime organization and they were worried about a concealed carry permit after Melissa left I asked the nurse to get myself phone but the police had taken it they eventually let me use the hospital phone and I called both my daughters Katie and Carla and told them the whole story leaving out the fact that I was in the hospital until the end they were upset and insisted

on coming to see me both girls were distraught when they learned what their mother had been through and regretted how they had treated her I told them not to knock themselves up I would have said worse if I'd had the chance 10 hours later Katie arrived at the hospital after catching a flight to LaGuardia and renting a car she looked pale as she entered my room and Melissa had stepped out for coffee Oh Daddy are you going to be all right she asked hugging Me Gently the doctor sayun be fine I assured her they're discharging

me tomorrow by then the da decided not to press charges but we had to agree to be available if they needed us to testify a few minutes later Melissa returned I hadn't told her the girls were coming afraid she might run away again after what they'd said to her when she saw Katie they stared at each other for a moment before Katie ran to her mother and they hugged crying and apologizing 4 hours later Carla arrived and the scene repeated soon all three women were clustered around my bed fussing over me finally the nurse got

me up to walk around and my wife and daughters refused to leave my side tears filled my eyes it took over 6 months but my marriage had gone from the brink of Ruin to being stronger and more loving than ever in the weeks after the shootout I learned that Gino and two of his men died at the scene the other two survived surgery and now face liquidation and hijack charges likely spending the rest of their lives in prison Gino's brother Johnny was also indicted for liquidation and all three of Conrad's guards died thankfully my name

an melissas were not released to the media though the FBI assured me the criminal organization was destroyed I insisted on having our names redacted and obtained a court order to seal the records Conrad and Diane turned States evidence exposing parts of the Criminal Network the feds hadn't uncovered they were sentenced to community service contingent on turning over their illegally gained wealth much of it in Bitcoins locked in the safe they must have had valuable information to get such a light sentence I also learned that their two children were staying with a nanny in Florida after

finishing their community service Conrad and Diane left the US likely not surrendering all the money a year later we received a postcard from Spain that simply said we're sorry for everything thank you having Melissa back home took some adjustment I still felt some resentment for her leaving even though I understood why she did it meanwhile Melissa struggled with night terrors waking up screaming counseling really helped us coming home was a shock for Melissa the house had changed a lot while she was gone I'd taken care of all the repairs repainted and completely redone our bedroom

Melissa also had to adjust to my new work life I no longer wanted a traditional job and now work from home making day trades which lets us take spontaneous vacations together something she loves she was impressed by how fit I'd become and started going to the gym with me although she wasn't interested in karate now we go to the gym three times a week and I practice karate twice a week our Z life reignited with a new intensity as we both realized we couldn't take anything for granted Carla is getting married in 3 months and

Melissa is deeply involved in the wedding planning Katie is pregnant with a boy and both girls call us almost daily Carla even moved in for a few weeks after I got home to help but I was relieved when she went back to her apartment I didn't need another wife Melissa and I still worry about each other a lot when we started sleeping together again I'd wake up when she reached out to make sure I was still there and I'd do the same at the start of all this I was desperate to understand why she had

left me [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]