[Music] growing up I always admired my family's resilience and the strength of our bond my parents Sally and Edward built a life rooted in hard work and family values they taught my brother Eric and me the importance of loyalty and carrying forward the legacy of our family business even as a child I knew Tindle manufacturing was more than just a company it was the Cornerstone of our Identity after college I took on my role in the company with pride eager to contribute to its success Eric my younger brother joined the team too though our approaches
to work were as different as night and day while I focused on precision and strategy Eric excelled at charm and persuasion despite the occasional Clash I always believed our shared commitment to the company and family would Prevail over any rivalry Friday had arrived and I dropped off my Volvo at the service center for maintenance instead of returning to the office I asked the mechanic to drop me off at home since he would deliver the car later that evening it was a sunny spring day the kind of weather that invites you to tackle outdoor chores so
the decision was an easy one as I busied myself clearing leaves near the edge of the backyard I noticed the unmistakable red gleam of my brother's Corvette pulling into the driveway great I Thought the only time he comes over is when he needs something he never returns as I got closer I heard my son Sam call out hey Dad what's up in the land of chickens dad why was he calling my brother dad and why was this the land of chickens my brother said I'm dropping off Uncle Joe's saw I cut the cord by mistake
and he needs to fix it so I can finish my project is clueless Joe here he added clueless Joe I thought my name's Joe and I certainly don't think I'm clueless at least I didn't until now maybe I should stay outside and just listen of course I turned on my phone to record the conversation Sam answered clueless is isn't home he's usually not here before 5:00 I don't spend much time with him then Sam asked so when can I visit you now that school's out it's way more fun there than here I'd love for you
to come but your mom wants to spend as much time with you as she can you're her only Child and when you leave she'll be lonely cut her some slack on this my brother explained Sam replied she promised to spend time with me Thursday afternoon so I can ask about staying with you this summer that's when Sam asked why doesn't mom divorce clueless and move in with you I had no idea she spent afternoons at my brother's house everything started falling into place in a way I hated maybe I was clueless Eric bragged ever since
I got her pregnant With you I've asked her about leaving Joe she says you're great in bed but you'd be a terrible husband I love my husband every moment with him is the best but with you the Ze is amazing that's why she won't divorce Joe but still sleeps with me anyway I've got to go I'll see you tomorrow at the family party ER said casually like it was no big deal I felt like I was going to collapse my world was falling apart my son wasn't really mine and my wife had Been involved with
my brother in ways I never imagined I stumbled back to the yard and sat on the rope swing I had pushed Sam on that swing countless times now I sat there crying the tears mixing with the mud at my feet what was I supposed to do I needed to figure this out before taking any action then it hit me the DNA test years ago we all did the 23 in me test how could it be wrong unless Carol swapped my sample with Erics hiding the truth about Sam's Parentage could she have done something that cruel
to me as that thought faded I took stock of my life I'm Joe Tindle 43 and I haven't gained much weight since College 175 lbs I wasn't a jock but I was a good distance Runner now between family and work I run a few times a week I work as the CFO and CEO of of Tindle machine company a family business my grandfather started as a blacksmith and now we make Precision Aerospace Parts my dad Edward is the president and my Brother Eric is the CMO I have degrees in industrial engineering and accounting which is
why I handle the finances and operations Eric my younger brother is everything I'm not at 6 3 he Towers Over Me by 5 in and weighs 50 lb more a classic jock big loud arrogant and often a bully Eric was a star running back in high school a small college scholarship got him through school while I worked and took out loans he barely graduated with professors passing him just to keep Him eligible for football with a degree in physical education Eric struggled to find a job so he joined tindles as a junior mechanic our work
demands Precision which wasn't his strength but he used his name to land new clients while he couldn't discuss the technical side he was great at talking his way through things don't get me wrong Eric was good at his job and valuable to the company but we often clashed one time Eric wanted a Commission for new sales it wasn't unreasonable but he was already drawing a salary equal to mine I used that moment to ask to keep all the income from my patents dad quickly gave in to Eric but I had to fight for what I
earned I first noticed Carol during a 5k charity run she wore loose shorts and a t-shirt and her shape particularly her backside caught my eye as a runner I was faster than her but I preferred staying behind her by the end of the race I was The only one focused on her after she stumbled avoiding a dropped water bottle I helped steady her thanks she said smiling I didn't want to fall I'm Joe I introduced myself I'm Carol can I run with you just to make sure you don't fall again I asked she grinned sure
that was the start of our relationship Carol had a degree in secondary education and worked as an English teacher a year year after we met we got married in her home church after two wonderful years we Decided to start a family despite our best efforts countless nights and weekends focused on getting pregnant Carol couldn't conceive we tried everything changing diets different positions tracking ovulation but nothing worked neither of us wanted to get fertility tests yet maybe in a year we thought then Carol missed her period She didn't tell me right away worried about jinxing it
when she missed the second one I was overjoyed I had always wanted A family and Tindle Legacy was something I deeply valued but the pregnancy wasn't easy Carol was bedridden for the final 2 months and the delivery almost cost both her and our son Sam who grew too large for her pelvis was delivered by cesarian section the doctor warned us against trying for another child due to the high risk to Carol's Health that was it for us Sam became our one and only Sam was an energetic boy full of life he loved rough housing with
me much to Carol's Dismiss we spent hours tossing a ball around his grades weren't Stellar but average for his age however after his 15th birthday our relationship began to change I figured it was just typical teenage rebellion he used to enjoy spending time with me but now he was too busy with his phone and Game Boy when I tried to talk to him he became Surly and distant often mocking my career as an accountant especially as he grew taller and more Muscular than I was over the years Carol continued to be the ideal wife smart
dedicated and now the principal of McKinley School which specialized in helping students with academic and behavioral struggles but I started noticing tension at home her stress from work seemed to spill over and she'd make sharp comments about things I did or didn't do despite this she remained affectionate at bedtime our bed life was fulfilling and frequent so when I Overheard my brother Eric telling Sam that he was his father and had been sleeping with Carol for over 17 years I was stunned but what did I really know know the most troubling thing was that Sam's
body frame resembled Eric's and my father's but not mine something felt off but I wasn't sure what that evening I watched Carol closely there were no obvious signs of an affair dinner was Lively and after Sam went out with friends Carol and I Cleaned the kitchen together she asked me to load the dishwasher while she went to the bathroom then returned wearing only a lace apron telling me to hurry up because she had plans for me we laughed touched and finished cleaning before heading to bed where I had some of the best sex I'd ever
had she was passionate and responsive no signs of Faking the next morning we drove to my parents house for my father's 70th birthday Carol didn't want to ride in my Volvo And Sam wanted to drive himself so we all went in her Lexus at my parents house the greetings were routine Carol Sam than me but when Eric hugged Carol it was warm and enthusiastic on his part but her response was flat even bored this wasn't how a lover should behave after 17 years of Affair I was beginning to piece things together but I didn't want
to seem suspicious so I casually tested the waters I asked Eric if he'd cover for me at the office on Thursday Knowing he had no clue about accounting he said he'd be out for a big project Carol sitting across from him made a strange noise as she blew bubbles in her ice te her way of signaling I was on the right track I pressed further joking will you get all sweaty from this big project he responded nah I've worked with this person before and always come out on top Carol's reaction was so intense I could
feel the tension rise the room went silent no one moved no Forks clinked no ice rattled in glasses it was like a graveyard I realized they all knew I was still playing the role of Clueless Joe but I was starting to understand what was really going on Breaking the silence Dad announced I'm retiring from being president of Tindle Eric will take over as president Joe's Sal will be 75% of Eric's but with his patent income you'll both make about the same it was clear now the family business my father's Legacy was being Passed down to
Eric and I had been kept in the dark all this time Carol squeezed my arm giving me a warm smile so I report directly to Eric I asked trying to clarify Eric the guy who can't tell a CNC machine from a popcorn popper that's a disaster waiting to happen Carol replied with a shake of her head before I could could respond she continued listen little brother I've always been the one in charge while you've been busy counting beans it takes an alpha not a Chicken like you to lead deal with it Joe once again I
win you lose that's enough boys dad cut in his voice firm he turned to Eric who had been quiet up until now Eric you won't be the boss I'm still the chairman of the board and I own all the stock you'll run this business the way I tell you this company has been in the family for over a hundred years and I won't let it fall apart we're tindles and the legacy is in our hands just like the men on the wall Dad pointed to the framed photos of three generations of tindles that lined the
living room wall by the way Dad I asked curious which picture is your grandfather dad paused for a moment before answering he's on the left next to my father I'm on the far end thought you'd know that I was just confirming I said because I have a question I glanced at the pictures I don't look like any Tindle alive or dead different body type hair color facial expression Eric and Sam look like tindles but not me what's going on my mother's shoulders sagged and Dad's face went red the room went silent and everyone exchanged uncomfortable
looks i' Dropped a Bomb and now they had to deal with it Joe it's time you knew the Family secret dad said his voice heavy your mother and I were planning to marry but she got pregnant after a drunken night at her Bachelorette party we were already sleeping together so she thought the Baby was mine when you were born you were small and sickly but we thought it was because of your mother's complications we didn't know until you were about 10 that you weren't my biological son your mother had kept it hidden she'd slept with
someone else before we were married and you looked like him when DNA tests became available we confirmed you weren't my son but Eric was that explained a lot about how I'd been treated differently from meric but It wasn't the bombshell I was expecting I've been trying to find out about Sam's biological father and got this instead still I had more questions okay Dad that explains my body type but why doesn't Sam look like me why does he resemble you and Eric dad's voice softened Joe you and Carol were desperate to have a child it was
stressful for Carol and she came to your mother for advice after a lot of thought we realized you were likely sterile from your severe case of MPS we knew for the Tindle Legacy to continue Eric needed to help Carol was reluctant at first but she agreed because we all wanted the family to continue we hoped this wouldn't come out but with DNA tests and the differences in body types it was bound to be discovered I felt overwhelmed like a storm was raging inside my head no words came to me both Carol and my mom held
me tears in their eyes knowing how much pain I was in my mom whispered my son my Son I'm so proud of you Carol said softly my husband my husband I love you so much Dad added we hoped you'd understand Joe and embrace the love we all have for you gee Edward I muttered bitterly can I call you Edward now that I know you're not my father why would you think I wouldn't mind being humiliated by my own family Sam sneered now you know what it's like to be humiliated I had to grow up thinking
you were my father when I knew the truth About Eric everyone turned to in shock and Carol snapped back Joe's been the best father anyone could ask for he gave everything for you you should be Greatful he raised you sarcastically I shot back why wait so long to show concern for my feelings why not tell me the truth right away instead of lying all these years I bet you had a good laugh behind my back while I proudly talked about my great son instead you called me clueless Joe once again the Room was silent we
couldn't tell you Joe dad said his voice heavy it would have hurt too much and we hoped no one would find out we needed you at the plant you're the brains behind everything we'd be lost without you plus we couldn't afford anyone as good as you a head hunter told us the salary for CFO and coo was more than double what we pay you I felt my anger rise so you encouraged my brother to father my child not mine just to keep the Tindle bloodline going You kept me working for peanuts to boost your profits
you made me think I'd be running the show one day but I I guess Tindle blood is more important than competence I can't believe you did this to me what's next are you going to tell me Carol's still sleeping with Eric the room went still I waited for an answer bracing myself Carol finally spoke in a small trembling voice I'm sorry Joe I didn't love him I hate him for what he is but I Needed him to keep my sanity she collapsed to the floor sobbing my instinct was to comfort her but my anger held
me back she had done this to herself she had to face the consequences dad spoke but his voice was shaky I'm sorry son but weak son I interrupted my voice sharp don't call me that you destroyed my whole life gave me nothing but the bare minimum of affection compared to Eric encourage my wife to cheat on me all while I had no Idea I was just a fool now you're telling me I'm not even your son you've all been laughing behind my back while I played the clueless idiot I'm done with all of you you've
been screwing me over for your own gain and none of it benefited me I'm nothing but a sucker I'm like a Lost Child abandoned with no one to help me with that I stormed toward the door but just as I reached it Eric grabbed my arm I'm sorry Joe he said smirking since this means so much To you I'll stop screwing your wife she's all stretched out from me anyway so I'll give her back to you the arrogance of that man hit me like a slap I turned toward him seething but as I spun I
landed a punch aimed at his face only to miss and strike him in the throat instead his eyes bulged and he gasped for air collapsing to his knees I didn't hesitate I stepped back and kicked him in the groin watching him scream and crumple in pain Carol and Sam Rushed to him but their reactions were different Sam tried to comfort his mother's lover while Carol began kicking Eric in Rage shouting you deserve this I left the chaos behind and got into Carol's car I backed it into Eric's precious Corvette before speeding away clipping Edward's new
pickup on the way out my mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anger and I could barely keep the car on the road I found a deserted gas station to stop and let my emotions run Wild first I cried until I thought I might pass out then the anger exploded and I pounded the car's dashboard finally exhaustion set in and I was too drained to move as I sat there my phone buzzed repeatedly texts and calls from Carol I sighed deeply what could I do now they'd shattered everything Not only was I a betrayed but
my mother had also kept the truth about my real father hidden From Me 3 days ago I was on top of the World now my life felt like a total mess the only good thing I could focus on was that I had options I could stay clueless Joe keep my low pay and report to Eric or Edward but seeing them every day would gut me especially after what they'd done I couldn't do it option one was out option two was to quietly leave and let the Tindle family carry on without me but they wouldn't care
I was already invisible to them that wasn't an option either option three was the one I Liked stay in the family but on my terms I'd make them regret every lie cheat and betrayal I'd make them feel the same pain they caused me yeah that felt right I was 20 mi from home and it was time to go Carol's car was in the yard not the driveway and I'd packed up everything I needed into my Volvo important papers clothes and all anything I didn't need immediately when went into Sam's Acura bullet Sam's annoying dog whined
at me as I left but I was glad to be rid of The hassle he left me a Parting Gift a big pile of crap next to the house I scooped it up walked into the master bedroom and placed it on the wedding ring quilt my mother and grandmother made for us topped off with my wedding ring Carol would get the message I stacked all the photos of her and Eric's kid on the dining table and hammered a nail through them shattering the glass then I was done I drove my pack Volvo to a hotel
across town unloaded it and went To the airport after renting a car I picked up Sam's car put it in storage and began setting up my new life I didn't want to be found so I stayed out of sight eating pizza and drinking beer in my hotel room while I hid I moved all my personal funds closed joint credit cards and took the money I emptied Sam's college fund which I'd save for him and left him with nothing he'd have to ask Eric for that now that night it took some effort to sleep I kept
thinking About the good times with my family but the truth hit they never cared about me so why should I care about them I shifted from Clueless Joe to fearsome Joe tomorrow fearsome Joe would hit Tindle manufacturing I parked a little distance from the office not wanting to be noticed and broke into the building as CFO I had full access to the company's accounts I moved all the money into the main account leaving just enough for two payrolls I maxed out the Credit line and transferred everything to our Cayman Islands account I changed all the
login details so no one could access anything I even updated the address to a fake one cut off utilities and made sure everything was set up to be untraceable I laughed to myself as I finished the Tindle man had always kept every business record but now everything was in the cloud and I was the only one who could change anything I had them exactly where I wanted them I changed All the passwords and login details locking everyone out of the accounts and machines Eric's computer was next I copied files videos of him with staff local
wives and of course Carol onto a thumb drive I didn't mess with his computer saving this for later the utility room was my final stop it wasn't just a utility room it was a fortress the main power line entered here and the room was secured the only people with access were the electrician and me I Turned off the power and added new locks by the time they figured out the problem the power company would shut off the supply the keys to the building and everything else were soaked in cleaning fluid to erase any trace of
ownership walking out of the building that had been my life's work felt strange I had always dreamed of running the company but those dreams had turned into nightmares Eric partied with his buddies while I worked to build the Business my family's texts and emails were all the same we love you we're sorry please talk to us but I was done my mother begged for forgiveness asking me to make things work with Carol and Sam but the number 17 kept coming to mind 17 years of Carol betraying me with him my whole world had crumbled and
I was ready to move on I called my lawyer Bob Carson and scheduled a meeting for Tuesday afternoon I gathered the documents I needed and planned my attack I wanted to file for divorce on grounds of infidelity but doubted Carol would agree to move to another state for that I also didn't want to pay child support but was okay with splitting everything 50 50ths Tindle stock wasn't an option as I didn't own any Carol's salary was close to mine so Bob thought the divorce could be quick unless she fought it we'd serve her papers at
her school time to make her feel the shame she'd put me through at the meeting I also mentioned Rearranging Tindle funds as CFO I had authorization to move money but Bob warned me it could lead to a lawsuit if it caused Tindle any loss I didn't care they'd have to spend a fortune to sue me and I was ready to air all their dirty laundry in court if it came to that Bob mentioned a $3,000 retainer for any future work I quickly scheduled meetings with three companies that wanted my services and access to my patents
there was no reason to stay in town anymore I Had friends who could help but I didn't want to burden them my only option now was to fight my way up start over and leave this mess behind at 43 with nothing but a new chance ahead a week later Bob Carson called Joe I just got back from the county attorney's office Edwards demanding your arrest for embezzlement wire fraud and Grand Theft Bob explained to the county attorney and Edward that all the funds were in a Tindle account that had been active for Years the money
still belongs to the company nothing's been withdrawn Edward just needs to arrange for a new signer on the account I knew this would force Edward to fly to the Cayman a trip he hated especially overwat a month after Carol was served divorce papers my lawyer called to ask if I'd responded to her calls I laughed of course not no calls texts emails or letters the divorce was stalled because Carol was fighting over Sam's college fund in the Car even my lawyer thought it'd be tough to get those past the judge I told him I'd agree
to split the college fund if she doesn't like that I'll sue for fraud I've paid for Sam's expenses for 16 years believing I was his father I'll sue Carol Eric Sally and Edward I might not win but the media would have a field day with Tindle Dirty Laundry a week later my lawyer called again Carol was willing to sign the papers if I met with her for an hour she Wanted to explain her actions I didn't care to see or talk to her her but I agreed I needed to wrap up everything legally and be
done with her and anyone named Tindle under the condition it was just the two of us I also insisted on recording the meeting to ensure I wasn't trapped or comatosed it might sound paranoid but after 17 years of being clueless I wasn't taking any chances at 300 p.m. the next week I backed my rental car into my old Driveway seeing no suspicious cars I walked to the door which opened as if she'd been waiting for me no fan dress no special dinner just two stacks of papers to finalize our divorce the marriage had already ended
emotionally the paperwork was just the final step she offered a drink but I declined I didn't care how she was instead I said you got me here go ahead start for the next 15 minutes I listened to Carol repeat the same tired script the Cheaters apology word for word nothing new I tried to keep track of how many I'm sores and can we work this out she threw at me but her words were St stting to bore me she even went so far as to quote the family history mentioning how Edward had forgiven my mother
using the bolded letters I'd written the numbers were clear once a year for 17 years 24 times each year adding up to 408 times on her envelope it wasn't that many times Joe Carol said okay show me the Math how many times I shot back in a small shaky voice she murmured too many there was no anger on my face just a complete lack of emotion when she saw my my disinterest she changed her approach do you want to ask me any questions she asked her voice softening I met her gaze and asked why after
a heavy sigh Carol began you know I was pressured into having a child with Eric's prostatic fluid your dad oh sorry I muttered Edward really wanted that Tindle Bloodline to continue he was worried that any woman Eric Knocked Up wouldn't be good enough to carry the family name even when I was trying to get pregnant with Sam I still slept with you hoping you'd be the one to get me pregnant I really wanted to have your baby and be a family but I screwed that up the urge to call her the same Floy name Edward
hated was tempting but I resisted I let her stew in her own words for a moment before responding I don't Agree with your conclusion Carol I've heard that excuse enough times to be disgusted by the idea of Eric's baby being some bond in our family carol shook her head a defensive Edge creeping back into her tone so was keeping up the affair with Eric while pregnant your way of holding our family together was it that enjoyable humiliating me in secret no Joe it had nothing to do with you she said her voice softer now nonsense
I retorted it had everything to do with me I was your husband you promised not to sleep with anyone else least of all my brother what the hell made you think it was okay to sleep with other people that it didn't matter as long as I didn't find out I'm sorry I misspoke Joe she corrected herself quickly what I meant was it was more about me than you when I chose to get pregnant with Eric I realized he wasn't nearly as good a lover as you he was selfish all about his own needs not mine
I couldn't wait For him to stop I hated the way he made me feel sweaty dirty uncomfortable after I got pregnant I stopped seeing him from then on all my love was for you because you cared about me and made me feel good which you did I responded flatly after being with him I appreciated how you treated me both in and out of the bedroom she continued so you went back to him because I was too good of a lover I asked incredulous that's ridiculous she said shaking her head in frustration This may sound awful
I started yeah the whole Eric thing sounds pretty awful she interrupted let's just get on with this sad sad story about how you had to screw the big bad man who didn't please you I said a bitter Edge in my voice please Joe I only have an hour left to talk to you I still love you but I know I've ruined my chances with you I just want to convince you that what I did had nothing to do with our relationship you were the best husband I could have asked For but I have a flaw
I've been successful in life and sometimes that makes me think I'm smarter or better than others I lose sight of my compassion and act arrogantly I needed someone to treat me harshly and Eric fit that role this flaw came out when your parents pushed me into having Eric's baby instead of yours you mean when you were treated like a farm animal I interrupted my voice Rising I suppose that's one way to put it there was no Love involved we undressed had Zex and I left no cuddling no kissing afterward I liked the Zex but not
the loving kind we had it was about his rough passion his Big Tool hitting me hard pulling my hair no emotional connection afterward there was nothing no affection no promises no plans just rough Zex when I needed it sometimes twice a month sometimes not for months Eric didn't care about frequency the bottom line is Joe I went back to him because I needed that Humiliation I needed something to keep me grounded to stop feeling so Superior it wasn't because you were a bad lover you were tender loving and treated me like a queen but I
used Eric to fix my superiority complex looking back I see I made a huge mistake and I'm sorry I hurt the best man I've ever known I hope that someday when all this is behind us you'll remember the good times we had that's a pretty far-fetched story I said Skeptical at least I know most of the facts or do I I asked narrowing my eyes she replied quietly yes you know all the facts now do I really let's see what I don't know when was the last time he slept with you the last time I
saw him was when I kicked him in the kidneys after that awful day at your parents house I assume he didn't use a rubber I pressed she shook her head confirming my suspicion did you ever think Eric's Magic Johnson could give you an STD I Asked my voice harsh she only Shrugged did we ever have Zex on the same day you slept with Eric I asked watching her face pale I always douched afterward and again at home she responded but the answer didn't settle my question that didn't answer my question how many times Carol I
pressed again not many Joe but there were times you really wanted to make love and I hated turning you away I told you I'd rather give you head and that you didn't need to go down on me Now that we've danced around the issue let's get to the truth did you ever give me sloppy seconds I asked the words tasting bitter in my mouth she hesitated I didn't keep track of that I didn't want to do that to you but yeah there were probably times when it happened I can't give you an exact number but
it probably did the lasagna I had for lunch at Mama Ana's restorante was now boiling in my stomach like the lava of an empty vvus the thought that I had sloppy Seconds pushed me to the edge just like the volcano the hot lava erupted from my mouth in a full-blown projectile vomit suddenly the table and Carol were covered in the remnants of my previous meal I stumbled toward the door leaving a trail of small chunks of meat and pasta behind Carol's sobs echoed in my ears guess she didn't appreciate having puke on her carpet and
dress too bad my attorney had to redo the paperwork because no one at the courthouse would Touch it 2 weeks later the divorce was finalized with me getting half of the college fund and car proceeds Carol keeps the house until scum sucker Sam finishes High School I'm sure he was pissed but since he didn't want me in his life anymore I took my money and left since I didn't father that ungrateful kid I refused to pay child support if the court demanded it I changed the filing to infidelity and Sue all the tindles for fraud
no one wanted That kind of Shame hell I was already ashamed to be a Tindle during my self-imposed Exile I was torn about whether to watch the video files I downloaded from Eric's office I was still struggling to process Carol's betrayal let alone be calm enough to watch two people I hated having X each file was named and when I saw the name syndra on a relatively small file a chill ran down my spine cindra was the wife of one of my best friends John Brown John was two years ahead of me in high school
but we barely spoke back then he was a jock I was a nerd but this nerd helped the jock pass his English class JN excelled in science and math but struggled with English over the semester we became friends and after he left for a small college on a football scholarship we lost touch when he came back to town after graduation to be near his aging parents he asked me about work I was happy to see that his skills lined Up with what we needed in the shop I recommended him for a job and we picked
up our friendship where we left off a couple of years ago John and cindra hit a rough patch from what I heard cindra had gone out for a girl's night and either got coma toast or drank too much somehow she ended up sleeping with some guy a shame she told John as soon as she got home but by then the damage was done they had two young kids and a divorce would have been disastrous the cnra Video file was the smallest and it started with her stumbling into a hotel room it was clear someone had
set up a phone camera on the dresser she walked like a zombie staring at the king-size bed Eric walked into the frame and undressed the disoriented cnra at first I thought there was no audio but soon realized it was because there was no talking I'd always been impressed by cindra in a bikini at the lake but seeing her without clothes left me Breathless I could understand why Jon didn't want to lose her I watched the video of Eric and cnra and it was disturbing Eric treated her with complete indifference showing no regard for her as
a person just a cold detached interaction that left no doubt about how little he cared afterward he grabbed a drink from the mini fridge and lit a cigarette cnra shuffled to the bathroom cleaned herself up got dressed and left no words just a cold encounter John had Always wondered what happened that night but now I had the evidence if he ever wanted Revenge I invited him over to my apartment to talk after a couple of beers he asked what the top secret conversation was about unbeknownst to you John I came across a video of your
wife having ZX with another guy I said it looks like she was either coma toast drunk or both I can tell you who it was show you the video or both which one would hurt the least it took Jon a while To compose himself tears welled up in his eyes and his breaths screw deeper I placed my hand on his shoulder but stayed Sil silent who was it he finally asked brother Eric I replied but she can't stand him thinks heun's an idiot why would she sleep with Eric JK's voice was full of disbelief as
I said JN she looked out of it I'll show you the video so you can see for yourself she wasn't the one making the moves after watching the video Jon's face fell he now knew The truth his wife had no idea who the man was and couldn't explain why they had ZX she cried uncontrollably as she confessed everything to him why would he screw an employees wife like this Jon asked trying to stay calm but clearly struggling it was a one-time thing and he never contacted her again she explained her voice trembling with guilt my
guess JN is that he didn't even know her last name he probably comatosed the most attractive woman in the room and Went for it he didn't care about her name just her body I added my tone blunt Jon stood up and wiped his eyes thanks Joe surprisingly this helps I'm glad I forgave her before because she was so upset and sorry but now I know the facts I'm not sure if I'll tell cnra though I'll have to play it by ear can I have this video Joe he asked his voice calmer now of course I
think it's the only copy I said JN hesitated for a moment then looked at me with a rise smile would you Be upset if your brother had a few accidents in the next few months be my guest I replied with a shrug it works in my favor too I already kicked his nuts once so I'll be the prime suspect just let me know when so I can have my alibi ready thanks Joe you're like a brother to me yeah and you're a way better brother than I ever had we hugged and as he left he
called over his shoulder keep in touch I didn't spend much time going over the videos of Carol and Eric it Just wasn't worth it the thought of it messed with my mind too much eventually I decided to delete all the videos with Carol's name on them I didn't want to see those two ever again but as I was erasing the files fate stepped in and I accidentally hit play instead of delete when I accidentally played one of the videos of Carol and Eric I saw enough to confirm what I already suspected Carol appeared fully engaged
in the situation with no signs of hesitation and it was Clear she was complicit in what was happening she wasn't lying when she said that with Eric her husband family and friends all disappeared from her mind of course she barked like the witch she was the woman I had once loved and dreamed dreed of was now humiliating herself like this and it hit me hard that moment wiped away every good memory I had of her two weeks later Jon came over for a beer to thank me for answering some awful questions that had haunted him
for Years he also thanked me for showing him that cindra had been sexually attacked not cheating he had an idea to use the remaining recordings to expose cheating wives and help husbands devastated by Eric's actions I gladly handed over the rest of the disgusting videos to him Meanwhile my job search was progressing one of Tindle main competitors reached out and asked me to come for an interview in their City it was the first glimpse of Happiness I'd felt in a while I made myself available at any time they wanted to meet the Donan Corporation led
by CEO Tim Donan offered me an attractive employment package the only catch was that I had to meet with the head of Reynolds resources for a personality evaluation after everything I'd been through in the past few months I worried about what they might find wrong with me the person I was supposed to meet the next morning at 10 was Mickey D Reynolds the owner Reynolds Resources did more than just personality evaluations they handled HR duties employee recruitment corporate governance and reporting for Donan manufacturing timid said it took a load off his mind as he was
more of a Hands-On engineer than someone who enjoyed paperwork the office was sleek and modern a stark contrast to donin's more utilitarian setup after giving the receptionist my name I was offered coffee and a seat on the couch while Mickey was getting ready to see me no Mr Reynolds it's Mickey D she said with a smile to my surprise Mickey D was actually Mickey D she was an attractive woman probably in her early 30s she wasn't phased when I stumbled over my words as we shook hands she gave me a firm yet feminine grip that
I found pleasing for the next couple of hours we discussed my traits preferences and my approach to engineering our conversation was polite and pleasant she subtly asked Why I was leaving Tindle she knew it was wasn't appropriate to ask personal questions but gave me the space to share if I wanted I was passed over for president and underpaid for the work I was doing I told her oh gosh Joe it's already 11:45 I bet you're ready for lunch I'll send my report to Tim and he'll be in touch with more details would it be against
company policy if I took you out to lunch you know like a new employee tour she asked with a Sly Grin I'd love to do that I replied and so we went out for the first of many lunches which turned into dinner and more over the next few months I was slow to jump into a relationship but I was eager to spend time with her I really enjoyed her company from her reaction she seemed happy with the pace and the development of our friendship during this time Tindle manufacturing was struggling financially even though they had
the cash to pay the bills the money Just wasn't available Edward had to act fast as vendors and suppliers needed to be paid he had to dip into his emergency assets to keep the company afloat the 60 Acres of prime Land close to town were worth millions but the thought of mortgaging it sent a chill through the tindles who had owned the property for over a century they used the mortgage funds to keep things running until Edward went to the Cayman to gain control of the money unfortunately the Damage to their reputation was severe suppliers
who used to allow 14-day credit terms now demanded cash upfront this severely hurt their working capital and the mortgage wasn't paid off when the money from the Cayman finally made it back to the States As Time passed Mickey D learned the details of the explosion in my personal and professional life she was understanding as her world had exploded too two years ago a UPS truck had run over and Eliminated her husband the founder and driving force behind Reynolds resources after his end of life she had worked tirelessly to keep the business afloat meanwhile Jon told
me that someone attacked Eric in a dark bar parking lot Eric had taken several blows from a steel pipe lying on the ground he begged for mercy reaching up with his right hand the attacker grabbed Eric's middle finger and bent it back until he heard it snap after a shriek of pain Eric Passed out missing the admonition from his attacker that's for sticking your finger in my wife my job at Donan brought much needed happiness into my life I settled in quickly and since I didn't have a non-compete Clause with Tindle I started poaching their
best customers they knew I had left the company and were happy to hear from me I wasn't the salesman Eric had been but I knew what the customers needed and how to produce it better faster and cheaper Than Tindle Eric on the other hand knew little about our products he just knew they had to be paid for he wasn't out calling on customers much as he kept getting hurt usually after leaving a bar 6 months after the divorce was finalized my relationship with Mickey D was fantastic in addition to being beautiful loving smart and caring
she was a lot of fun to be with after many dates and growing closer our evenings became more intimate not rough but full of touching Kissing and rubbing one night it became clear that Mickey was acting as though she wanted to be in bed with me after dancing a bit closer than usual she picked up on my sexual interest as her leg brushed against mine she looked up with those stunning eyes and asked shall we leave now absolutely I replied then I kissed her with more passion than I ever had before we couldn't keep our
hands off each other on the way home things almost got out of control but when Endorphins flowing how could we stop it wasn't a wild shirt ripping contest just slow deliberate undressing in her bedroom both of us exploring unfamiliar territory our breathing quickened heart rates Rose then as we paused she whispered in my ear did you bring protection no I replied I'm sterile that's why Carol had Eric's baby what did the doctor say about being sterile no doctor my mom told me I had the MS as a kid and that's why I couldn't get Carol
pregnant the same mother who lied to you about your father and encouraged your wife to sleep with your brother if I were you I wouldn't believe a word she says you need a real doctor's opinion she paused now let's have some amazing Zach by morning we'd had Zack at least four times and I believed Mickey had probably quadrupled that number after we'd both exhausted our Sexual Energy the topic of my fertility came up I promised to see a fertility specialist And get my prostatic fluid tested of course I'd have to wait a week until my
body recovers covered anything close to the prostatic fluid count I produced that weekend should be fine after an awkward visit to the doctor's office for the prostatic fluid test I was told to return in a week for the results since Mickey was curious I asked her to come with me to the doctor's appointment the doctor didn't take long to inform us that I wasn't infertile my prostatic Fluid count was 25 million which was lower than average but not alarmingly so the normal range is between 50 and 100 million the mobility of my static fluid was
also within the average range the doctor reassured us that unless we were trying to conceive immediately there was no reason to worry he suggested i' take some vitamins and avoid excessive drinking as that might help his best advice the best way to get pregnant is not to try too hard it's a bit like Roulette your prostatic fluid just needs to meet the egg with my lower prostatic fluid count the odds were slim but not impossible Mickey D went back on birth control and I used a rubber for a couple couple of months we decided it
was best to wait until after the New Year to think about moving in together but first she wanted me to meet her parents she told them she was dating a great guy and they were eager to meet me I was a little nervous as we drove up to a large But unassuming house as soon as the door opened Mickey D stepped in front of me and hugged a man in Gray slacks and a red Christmas sweater she turned slightly to the right and said Daddy I want you to meet the man I love Joe Tindle
Joe meet my father I inter interrupted saying Mr Donan oops I said Tim I didn't know you were her father wow I don't know what to say just say nice to see you Tim and come on inside Tim said why didn't you tell me Tim was Your father don't you think that would have been something I'd be interested in yes Joe Mickey answered and that's why we didn't want you to know we wanted to see if you were interested in me or my inheritance plus we didn't want you to take heat from the employ EMP
es for dating the boss's daughter and only heir to the company like me I had a younger brother but he died when he was 16 so what does being invited to Christmas dinner with your parents mean for me I Asked does it change our relationship Joe it means I love you and want you to meet my family business is separate since you've told me you have no family I'm asking you to spend Christmas with mine okay now I get it about Mickey D the D is for Donan I said I really am clueless aren't I
she giggled and replied maybe you should have a D in your name for duh we all laughed and the tension eased we had a wonderful afternoon and evening I genuinely Enjoyed spending time with Tim and Mickey's mother Barbara although I was a bit clueless I got the sense that my request for Mickey's hand in marriage would be met with approval from her parents I was pretty sure Mickey would say yes but after everything I'd been through I didn't want to take anything for granted my instinct proved right 3 months later when I went down on
one knee with a blue velvet box in my hand Mickey jumped off the couch and into my Arms she kissed me passionately then pulled back just long enough to pant yes yes yes then she returned to kissing me as if her life depended on it not that I minded her enthusiasm 3 months after Mickey and I got married we had a small private wedding there were no guests from my side of the family just John cnra and a few new friends after a relaxing honeymoon in the Caribbean we returned to my apartment and started our
new life together the First thing we did was decide it was time for Mickey to stop taking her birth control pills we figured it might take a while for us to conceive so we were in no rush we also went to the county courthouse to change our names Mickey decided to return to her maiden name Mickey Donan and I followed suit changing my name to Joseph Timothy Donan we felt it was the right move for us both when we asked him for his Blessing he was touched with tears in his eyes he Whispered thank you
son which meant a lot to me meanwhile JN had found a video of Carol and Eric together one of the many from their Affair and determined to get some revenge for both of us he sent copies to several Junior and senior boys at the school where Carol worked the video was titled principal screwing class 101 a week later Carol was walking down the hallway at school when she began hearing barking sounds At first she Thought it was some kind of strange coincidence but the Barking continued coming from groups of boys in the hallways when she
stepped into the office it stopped only to start up again as soon as she left after the video of Carol and Eric spread the students at her school began mocking her in the most humiliating ways their disruptive behavior like making barking noises was relentless and it completely destroyed her credibility and respect among the Staff and students at first she tried to ignore it but as the noise followed her everywhere she became more and more uncomfortable The Barking grew louder as she walked across the school grounds the next morning and she quickly realized that someone had
spread the video of her and Eric it was a humiliation she wasn't prepared for after a tense encounter with Eric at his office where she demanded to know if he had leaked the video he claimed he hadn't saying the Video had been hacked and gone viral but Carol knew the damage was done her reputation her career and her dignity were on the line she tried to push through the day but it was clear that her professional life was unraveling she bolted from her office and ran home to liquor wounds the next day she went back
to work but the damage was beyond repair the boys at school continued to mock her and she eventually lost all credibility with the staff students and the school Board [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]