The crayon drawing trembled in my hands as I stared at my granddaughter’s artwork, which revealed the secret my son and his wife had been hiding for years. After years of excuses, Mia’s innocent drawing showed their house with a stick figure labeled “Grandpa Jack,” living in their basement. Jack, my ex-husband, who abandoned us twenty years ago, was here—living secretly in their home. My life had been full of highs and lows, but raising my son, Peter, was the best part. He grew up into a wonderful man with a beautiful wife, Betty, and their daughter, Mia. However, about three years ago, the invitations to their home stopped. They still visited me and attended family events, but their house became off-limits, with vague excuses like renovations or plumbing issues. I never questioned it, thinking they just needed their space. One day, I decided to surprise them with a gift I found at a flea market. When I arrived unannounced, Peter’s forced smile and Betty’s stiff greeting raised suspicions. During dinner, Betty quickly left to get more wine, but when I offered to fetch it from the basement, she abruptly declined. The tension in their home was palpable. A few days later, Peter and Betty asked me to watch Mia. As we sat drawing together, Mia showed me a folder of her artwork. One drawing stood out: their house with a stick figure of a man, “Grandpa Jack,” standing alone in the basement. My heart raced. Jack, the man who had abandoned us, was living there. Mia explained that it was a secret, told to protect me from sadness. That evening, when Peter and Betty were in their room, I went straight to the basement door. It was locked, but when I knocked, Jack answered. He looked older, weaker, and apologized for abandoning us years ago. He explained that after losing everything, he sought forgiveness from Peter, who had reluctantly allowed him back into his life. Eventually, Jack had moved into their basement after a fire destroyed his apartment. Peter had kept this secret, not wanting to hurt me. Peter admitted he hadn’t told me because he feared I would make him choose between his family and his father. He had lived through the pain of growing up without a father, and despite everything Jack had done, he still longed for a connection. Jack had tried to make amends, but he knew he didn’t deserve forgiveness. As I confronted Peter, my anger and hurt were overwhelming. Jack, now in failing health, didn’t expect forgiveness, only understanding. The doctors gave him a year to live. While Peter defended his relationship with his father, I couldn’t shake the betrayal I felt. I walked out of their house, unsure of how to process this revelation or what to do next. It’s been two days since, and I’m still struggling. Should I accept Jack back into my life? Should I forgive him for abandoning us? What would you have done in my place?