Two years ago, our son's wife asked him for a divorce. No reason was given except that she no longer loved him. After they separated, we found out she had been having an affair with his best friend.

Our former daughter-in-law showed up and asked us not to say anything that would hurt her reputation. She said she was sorry for what she had done. Reluctantly, we agreed to keep quiet about the affair.

Now she is telling her friends she divorced our son because he was emotionally abusive. She also made it clear that if we don't keep our promise to say nothing about her affair, she will never let us see the grandchildren again.

Annie, what should we do? － Small Town in OregonDear Oregon:

Your former daughter-in-law obviously needs to assuage her guilt by making your son the villain. He needs to speak to his divorce lawyer immediately about this defamation of character. If necessary, he should sue for custody of the children, since being raised by this viper is not in their best interests. In the meantime, you are not breaking your promise by defending your son. Without mentioning her affair, feel free to pass the word that your son was never emotionally abusive and, obviously, the ex-wife still carries a lot of bitterness.

divorce  (n.)   离婚former  (adj.)   前任的；以前的reputation  (n.)   名声；名誉reluctantly  (adv.)   勉强地；不甘愿地to make something clear   清楚表示；澄清to assuage  (v.)   减轻；缓和villain  (n.)   恶徒；坏人necessary  (adj.)   必要的；需要的in the meantime   与此同时