Growing up, my father was the kind of man who believed in the power of a handshake. He believed that a man’s word was his bond, and trust was something earned, not given lightly. Dad drove the local bus for years and was known around town for being fair, kind, and hardworking. He taught me that integrity and honesty were the most important things in life, and that’s how I grew up—believing in people, trusting their word, and hoping for the best.
When I met my husband, Mark, I thought he was cut from the same cloth as my father. He came from a modest background, talked a lot about how much he respected people who worked hard, and always presented himself as someone you could rely on. In the early years of our marriage, I believed that we shared those same values—honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness. But I soon learned that not everything is as it seems.
About three years into our marriage, Mark started talking about wanting to open his own business. He had always worked in various odd jobs, but he said his dream was to run something of his own—specifically, a small construction company. I supported him fully, but there was a problem: we didn’t have the money to get it off the ground. We had savings, but it wasn’t nearly enough to cover the startup costs.
Mark seemed stressed for weeks. He would stay up late at night going over business plans, researching equipment, and figuring out how to make his dream come true. Then one night, he came up with what he thought was the perfect solution: he suggested asking my father for a loan.
At first, I was hesitant. My dad had worked his whole life, saved up his money for retirement, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about asking him to lend such a large amount. But Mark insisted. He said he just needed $30,000 to get started, and he promised he would pay it back as soon as the business became profitable.
I still wasn’t convinced, but Mark assured me this was his big break. He said, “Look, I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t believe in myself. I know I can make this business work, and I’ll pay your dad back, no problem.”
So, I agreed, and together we approached my dad. I explained that Mark had a solid business plan, and although my father was hesitant at first, he eventually agreed to loan us the $30,000. He didn’t even ask for a contract—just a handshake and a promise that Mark would repay him within two years. My dad trusted us, trusted me, and believed that Mark would keep his word. That was the kind of man he was, always putting faith in people.
The loan was made, and Mark dove headfirst into starting his business. He bought equipment, hired a small crew, and began taking on jobs. For a while, things seemed to be going well. The business started bringing in money, and Mark was proud of what he had built. He was busy, but I was happy that he was living his dream.
But as the months went by, something started to change. The business wasn’t growing as fast as Mark had hoped, and the profits weren’t as high as he’d projected. He started working longer hours, becoming more distant, and growing more irritable. Whenever I brought up the loan from my father and asked when we would start repaying him, Mark would brush me off with vague responses like, “Soon, don’t worry about it,” or “I’ve got it under control.”
Two years passed, and not a single dollar had been repaid to my father. I was starting to get anxious, especially since my dad had never once brought it up. I knew he trusted us to do the right thing, but it was becoming increasingly clear to me that Mark had no intention of paying back the loan anytime soon.
One evening, I decided to confront Mark directly about it. I told him we couldn’t ignore the loan any longer, that it was time to start paying my father back. But to my shock, Mark responded with something I never expected: “What loan?”
I froze. I thought I had misheard him.
“The loan,” I repeated. “The $30,000 my dad gave us for the business. It’s been two years, Mark. We need to start paying him back.”
But Mark just shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “There was no loan,” he said. “Your dad gave us the money as a gift. He never expected it back.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I knew that wasn’t true. My father had made it clear that it was a loan, not a gift. We had all agreed on that. But here was my husband, denying the deal ever happened. I felt like the ground had shifted beneath me.
I tried to reason with him, reminding him of the conversations we’d had with my dad, the promises he made. But Mark just dug in deeper, insisting that I was mistaken, that my father had never expected the money to be repaid. I knew he was lying, but I didn’t understand why. What had happened to the man I thought I knew?
Days turned into weeks, and Mark continued to deny the existence of the loan. I was stuck in the middle, torn between loyalty to my husband and the knowledge that my father had been wronged. I couldn’t stand the thought of my dad, who had worked so hard his whole life, losing $30,000 because of my husband’s betrayal.
Finally, I decided to confront my father. I sat down with him, heart pounding, and told him what had been happening. I expected him to be angry or disappointed, but to my surprise, he just smiled sadly and said, “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t want to pressure you. I trusted Mark, but I also trust you. You’ll do what’s right.”
His quiet faith in me broke my heart. I knew then that I couldn’t let this go. I couldn’t let Mark get away with betraying my father’s trust, and I couldn’t let my dad lose that money without a fight. So, I came up with a plan.
I knew Mark’s biggest weakness was his pride. He loved the idea of being seen as successful, and he hated the thought of anyone knowing that he wasn’t doing as well as he pretended. So, I told him I was pregnant. It wasn’t true, of course, but I needed to push him into action. I told him we needed to start saving for the baby, that we couldn’t afford to keep delaying our financial obligations.
Mark panicked. Suddenly, he was scrambling to find money, selling off parts of his business, even borrowing from friends. He managed to come up with $50,000, thinking it was for our future child. But when he proudly showed me the money, I told him the truth.
I wasn’t pregnant. The money was going to my father to repay the loan, and the rest would be mine for the trouble he had caused.
Mark was furious, but there was nothing he could do. I handed the $30,000 to my father, and the remaining $20,000 I kept as compensation for the stress and heartache I had endured. I left Mark shortly after that, realizing that the man I had married wasn’t the person I thought he was.
In the end, my father got his money back, and I walked away from the marriage, wiser and stronger. The experience taught me a valuable lesson: trust is something that should never be taken for granted, and when someone breaks it, there are consequences. Mark may have thought he could lie his way out of the deal, but in the end, I made sure he paid the price.
Janet Jackson’s boy has outgrown his baby years.
Eissa, the seven-year-old son of Janet Jackson, is beginning to display his musical abilities, suggesting he may be following in the footsteps of his famous mother.
Here’s a closer look into the young boy’s life:
As the youngest of ten Jackson siblings, Eissa is a descendant of a musical legacy. Janet, now 57, began her career on the variety show The Jacksons, which showcased her eight siblings. Tragically, her twin brother Brandon died at birth in 1957, leaving Janet and her siblings to navigate the world of music together.
Janet’s brothers—Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Michael—rose to fame as the Jackson 5 after signing with Motown Records in 1968, while her sisters Rebbie and LaToya also forged their paths in the music industry.
Path to Fame
After the family show ended in 1977, 10-year-old Janet landed a leading role in the hit TV series Good Times, followed by parts in Diff’rent Strokes and Fame. However, it was her music that propelled her to fame. Known for hits like “Together Again,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Nasty,” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” Janet has earned numerous accolades and has several multi-platinum albums, including Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Janet. Her 1982 debut album, Janet Jackson, marked the beginning of her success, but it was her third album, Control (1986), that established her as a major artist in her own right, separate from her brother Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop.” Control earned her three Grammy nominations and nine American Music Award nominations, winning two.
Eissa Jackson Today
Born on January 3, 2017, Eissa Al Mana is inheriting the musical gifts of his mother, who was 50 at the time of his birth with then-husband Wissam Al Mana. Although the challenges of giving birth at that age were daunting, Janet’s delivery was healthy and without complications.
“Janet Jackson and husband Wissam Al Mana are overjoyed with the arrival of their son Eissa Al Mana. Janet had a smooth delivery and is resting comfortably,” a representative stated.
However, just three months after Eissa’s birth, the couple ended their five-year marriage, marking Janet’s third divorce.
According to her brother Randy, Janet faced “verbal abuse” from Al Mana and felt “trapped in her own home.” Randy mentioned, “Enough is enough. There’s a lot of pain. Janet’s been through a lot with her divorce… It was quite an abusive situation that escalated over time.”
In June 2018, Janet called the police for a welfare check while Eissa was with his father, fearing he might be exposed to drugs. Fortunately, Eissa was found safe, and the situation was clarified as a misunderstanding. Neither Janet nor Wissam has commented on the incident.
After the separation, the “When I Think of You” singer expressed her commitment to being an active mother. “Being a working mom is tough. I don’t have a nanny. I handle everything myself. If my mother managed with nine kids, I can too,” Janet reflected, referring to their matriarch, Katherine, who turned 93 in May.
First Photo of Eissa
Janet adeptly juggles her demanding career and motherhood. “I’m in a wonderful place,” she shared. “I have a beautiful son.”
Her friends even call her Superwoman, though Janet humbly disagrees, crediting her newfound energy to Eissa’s inspiration.
The superstar is protective of her son’s privacy, but occasionally shares glimpses of their life. She posted the first photo of Eissa when he was just 14 weeks old, shortly after her separation from Al Mana. She also shared pictures with Eissa and his classmates enjoying gifts from the show Paw Patrol.
In an Instagram clip, Janet excitedly updates fans about her tour when she is interrupted by Eissa seeking her attention.
During her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech in 2019, Janet fondly acknowledged Eissa. “I want to thank my beautiful son. He wakes me up every morning singing his own melodies. You are my heart and my life, and you’ve shown me what true, unconditional love is. Mama loves you, Eissa.”
While appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2020, she shared that Eissa has a passion for music. “He loves classical music. He’s incredibly talented,” she noted. “On his first day of school, he brought a violin. By the third day, he asked to take a cello. I told him we didn’t have a cello, but he insisted I should turn his violin into one.”
Despite Eissa’s evident musical potential, Janet has stated she wouldn’t pressure her children into the entertainment industry unless it was their genuine desire. “They need to understand the challenges they would face,” she explained.
Above all, Janet feels immensely grateful for the love of her son. Eissa is currently being raised in London, where Janet shares parenting responsibilities with her ex-husband.
“Eissa has shown me that love can go deeper than you ever thought possible. It’s limitless,” Janet expressed. “Having been raised in showbiz, where self-interest often prevails, I’m fortunate to prioritize someone else’s welfare above all else.”
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