In each family, members have at least a few secrets from each other, some small and insignificant and some so reputable that they could separate the family. When Sarah begins to suspect more and more of what her husband, Mark is doing behind her back, she crosses losses all the previously set boundaries to find the evidence she needs to prove her suspicions.
But when she finally finds a photo that gives her all the answers she needs, she’s shocked by the unbelievable reality of the situation and sees no other option but to file for divorce immediately. Sarah takes a crumpled piece of paper Mark used to write his computer password. She wished it hadn’t come to this, but she had no option.
She has to view these photos and Sarah locates the desired folder. After some searching, she inhales deeply and opens it. She’s taken him back and puzzled. She wasn’t expecting that. She clicks on one of the photographs and she’s stunned.
She had no idea Mark could do this. How could he do it to them? Her eyes are welling up with tears, but first, a little backstory. Mark, Sarah, and their two young children appear to be a typical American family. While the family seems typical now, it wasn’t always.
Nobody knew what happened beneath the surface. Sarah has been with Marks since she was 15 years old. Thus, they grew up together. They approached swiftly after meeting for a cause. Sarah met Mark in an abandoned warehouse full of young people cowering.
The restaurant was popular in the small town since it frequently hosted parties that eluded the cops. Mark had only been in the warehouse for a few weeks when Sarah and her friend came. He was the first silent and avoided eye contact. He spent most of the night alone outside the building. Other invaders who had been in the warehouse for a long time informed Sarah and her friends that they didn’t like this antisocial behaviour, but they couldn’t throw a 16-year-old out.
Sarah grew more interested in Mark as she spent more time in the warehouse and remained overnight. His intriguing appearance and demeanour drew her in. She couldn’t look away from him and moved. Sarah decided to isolate Mark from the group to see if he would be more communicative alone. The warehouse was large enough for them to wander around and converse, and Sarah was sorry she did it.
When they were alone, Mark rapidly lost his shyness and seemed interested in Sarah. They had a nice chat, and although Mark didn’t share anything about himself, he told Sarah something. Mark moved to this town from elsewhere in the country and had no plans to return, but he refused to explain why or where he originated from. Sarah didn’t ask any more questions, although she should have. Sarah returned home thinking of Mark.
He was on her mind for days and she longed to see him again. They started meeting regularly and fell in love this was no perfect connection. Sarah brought Mark home to meet her family, who loved the shy but courteous young man. When Mark recounted his dilemma, they realized they had to hate him. No way did Sarah’s parents want her daughter, 16, crouched in an old warehouse with strangers.
After much thought and Sarah persuading them to love Mark, they took a significant decision that would save Mark’s life. They invited Mark to their home, and their connection blossomed when Mark moved in with Sarah’s parents. Mark got a second job soon after moving and paid for photography school. It’s something he’s always wanted. After graduating in photography roughly three years later, he was given a great camera by Sarah’s parents and rapidly found work as a freelance photographer, earning a strong reputation.
He started earning good money, and soon enough the two of them could afford a little apartment where they could start constructing their life together. The young couple thought it was all great, but was it true? While the couple slowly built their lives together over the years, Sarah had some concerns. Sarah had issues from the minute she met Mark till now. Even after years of being together, Mark was still very secretive about his history, which worried Sarah.
What was he trying to hide from her and what was he afraid to say? Sarah had begged him to elaborate on countless occasions, but he’d always declined. Mark state he has no relatives and that talking about everything hurts. He only wants to forget. After around seven years of dating, having their first kid together, and expecting their second, they felt they were ready to marry.
Sarah intended to meet Mark’s family at the wedding, but to Sarah’s dismay, Mark only invited his pales to the wedding, and it was just his friends when she met him. Nobody knew Mark before he came to the city. At 16, Mark’s professional career was booming, but there were other aspects of Mark’s work with which Sarah grew increasingly uneasy. They had a wonderful marriage, but she missed him a lot. When he was away from home, Mark got many assignments when he photographed images from magazines that were a little spicy.
Sarah had seen some of these images and was uneasy with Mark taking them. Sarah felt jealous and insecure about it all. She’s heard horror stories about photographers and their models. She knew Mark was not, but she couldn’t shake the concept of potential. Sarah’s fears weren’t going away, but she didn’t think they were serious enough to complain to Mark.
The benefits typically exceed the drawbacks for her. She also trusted Mark because she has two kids and can’t work because she needs to care for them. She can’t just refuse tasks because she doesn’t like the photo. And after a day, something awful happens. Sarah’s credit card was denied at the cashier because she didn’t have enough cash for her spending account had been drained overnight.
She discovered that Mark withdrew all the money for investment quickly getting the money required by taking it out from their spending account. He had requested a money transfer from his savings account, but it hadn’t been processed. Good answer, but Sarah found it odd. Mark had never been interested in investing, but Mark didn’t want to be continuously busy with it, and Sarah didn’t know how she could manage it. Also, this investment was odder than usual.
Mark could only tell Sarah that it was a new startup with little public information. According to Mark, there was no information about the company online or elsewhere. This alarmed Sarah. Sarah became warier than Mark told her. After that.
A series of odd occurrences and revelations led Sarah to become sceptical of Mark’s actions. Sarah saw Mark’s travel stories didn’t match, and he told her he flew all over the country, rarely landing. But when Sarah accidentally looked into Mark’s flying history, she noticed a pattern. Why would he lie? Is Mark hiding a customer from Sarah?
But what makes that client unique? Or is there more going on? Maybe not photography related. Also, while Mark was at home, he seemed less interested in being amorous and doing other things with Sarah. Well, this used to be one of his first thoughts upon returning from a long trip.
Sarah first assumed this was a long-term connection, but when she told her pales, they were worried, and the only explanation they had was Sarah’s biggest nightmare. Sarah became almost entirely engrossed in her anxieties and doubts. Then something happened to test her, something that ties up all those loose ends and leaves her with only one answer. The home phone rang late at night when Mark was away. When Sarah answered and said her name, the caller unplugged the connection.
Sarah was puzzled and noted the mysterious number. Sarah went to Google with the phone number to see if she could find out more about who was phoning her at this time of night and made a stunning finding. But when she saw the area code match the city he frequented, it was too late. Sarah discovered that her husband’s computer password is saved on a piece of paper on the floor months after he gave it to her. She knows where to start looking for him, how to access his hard drive, and find out more about him in Paris.
Sarah couldn’t find any photos from the past or present. Sarah knew Mark would post the fresh images on the computer as soon as he got home from work, so he didn’t go on those trips to snap photos. Then Sarah finds the folder she was looking for. It was dated after Mark’s most recent visit. Sarah opened the folder, her hands quivering.
She was open to anything, but not that Mark took all these photos in the folder. Then there’s Mark with another family. Another family. Sarah had never seen these people and couldn’t believe her luck. Not true.
She suspected Mark was up to something, but she had no idea he had another family. When? How? Why did her family know? Could it all possibly be all?
Sarah terrified. Sarah only wants to confront Mark. She wants to scream at him and tell him everything, but she can’t. This day cannot be done over the phone. Therefore, Sarah has to wait until the next day.
Sarah didn’t sleep all night. She can only imagine her life falling apart. Her long-term partner was living a parallel life. She knows she must divorce Mark. Sarah is waiting for Mark the next day in the late afternoon.
She made sure the kids were with a friend that day. She didn’t want them there. Their parents shouldn’t be like that. Mark, unaware of Sarah’s discovery, is confronted with it, and the instant he enters the house, he attempts to persuade Sarah that she’s incorrect and that he can explain. Her rage blinds her.
Her kid’s luggage is packed. Sarah will file for divorce in the morning, Mark is told. Mark pauses briefly as Sarah marches toward the main door, but suddenly screams, something that utterly interrupts Sarah. Then Mark stopped. Sarah turns around and raged that Mark could offer such a foolish explanation.
But then he claims he can verify it and it pulls up a picture of the man’s hand on his phone. Mark has a twin brother named Eric who lost a finger when he was quite young due to a lawnmower accident. Mark hadn’t told Sarah previously and there was a reason Eric, unlike Mark, grew up disliking the straight and narrow. He was always getting into trouble, so he and his brother clashed a lot, but Eric wasn’t the only one. Mark’s parents were also heavily involved in several practices that should be kept secret.
Mark felt he had to leave his family to prevent becoming like them. He departed at 16 with only a backpack, seeking a new life. Eric’s position deteriorated after Mark cut off contact with his family and he was recently sentenced to prison. He was sentenced to five years in jail for recidivism. Eric took this as a sign to improve his life.
