My 20-year-old son, Eric, asked to bring his new girlfriend, Jessica, on our family vacation. I agreed, curious to meet her.

Her flawless looks and charm instantly won over my husband, but as a mom, I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

After three months of dating, Jessica didn’t seem to know Eric at all. When I asked if she’d seen him play basketball—his lifelong passion—she blinked and said, “Basketball? We’ve never talked about that.”

She didn’t even know his major and brushed off every activity he suggested. Then, while looking for sunscreen in his suitcase, I found a velvet box with a diamond necklace. It was far too expensive for Eric to afford. My stomach churned, but I stayed quiet.

On the last day, while Eric and Jessica were at the pool, his phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen and froze: “+$500 to our deal.”

I stared at the message in disbelief, feeling a mix of shock and anger boiling inside me. My mind raced with questions—what deal? Who was on the other end of that message? Was Jessica not who she seemed?

Determined to get to the bottom of things, I waited for Eric to return. When they came back, I pulled Eric aside under the guise of wanting to talk about the trip. “Eric, can we chat a moment? Something’s bothering me,” I said, trying to keep my tone even.

“Sure, Mom, what’s up?” he asked, looking puzzled.

I took a deep breath. “I accidentally saw a text on your phone. It mentioned money and a deal. Eric, what’s going on? Is everything okay with you and Jessica?”

Eric’s face turned pale. After a moment of silence, he sighed and looked away. “I didn’t want you to find out this way. Jessica… she’s not really my girlfriend. She’s actually a paid actress.”

“A paid actress?” I repeated, my voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah, Mom. I’ve been feeling so pressured lately, with Dad always talking about how proud he is of my previous relationships and how they’ve all been so successful. I didn’t want to disappoint him again, so I hired Jessica to come along and… just make things look good.”

I was speechless. The idea that my son felt he needed to hire someone to impress us was heartbreaking. “Oh, Eric,” I murmured, reaching out to embrace him. “You don’t need to do this. Your dad and I, we love you for who you are, not for who you’re with. We want you to be happy, not put on a show for us.”

Eric nodded, tears brimming in his eyes. “I know, Mom. I’m sorry. It just got out of hand.”

“We’ll talk to your dad together about this, okay? We’ll sort it out as a family,” I reassured him, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow. The trip had taken an unexpected turn, but it opened up a necessary conversation about expectations and honesty within our family.

As the sun set on the final day of our vacation, I realized that this trip had uncovered more than just a beautiful destination; it had revealed the vulnerabilities and pressures my son was facing. Now, more than ever, I was determined to help him through them, with nothing but unconditional love and understanding.