"It's the ultimate betrayal," Jess confessed. "You expect a new grandmother to fall in love with the baby - not the father." She had no idea that's exactly what would happen soon after her child was born...
Meet Jess
Jessica Aldridge was just 24 years old when she endured the most painful heartache imaginable. The two people she had loved and trusted the most left her with a broken heart that would never heal.
"I'm heartbroken, and I've lost everything," the young mother later shared with The Sun. But looking back, it seems the red flags were there all along. Let's retrace Jess and Ryan's love story - from its promising start to the devastating betrayal it ended with....
A Close Family
Long before the tragic end to her love story, Jess lived a relatively normal life in Gloucestershire. Her days were filled with happy moments spent with her family and friends - just like any other teenager her age. But soon enough, her entire life would be turned upside down...
But before all that happened, her life at home was pretty ordinary for a teenage girl. Jess was raised by her mother, Georgina, and her father, Eric, who were her rock. She always counted on them being there when things got challenging. As long as they were by her side, it seemed there was nothing she couldn't overcome.
Humble Beginnings
However, as close as the family was, that didn't mean they didn't face their difficulties. In fact, from the time Jess was a young child, her parents taught her the value of a dollar. Pretty soon, she found herself working hard to help her family financially.
While her mom worked at a nursing home, Jess got a job at the Premier Inn in Chipping Norton as a housekeeper. Soon, she found her second year at her job coming to an end. And while she worked hard all this time to support her family, soon, there were other things on her mind as well...
Enter Ryan
Eventually, she met a young man named Ryan Shelton, who was in his twenties. The Witney, Oxfordshire, native worked as a salesman. He was both charming and charismatic enough to get almost anything he wished for. But eventually, these same traits that drew Jess to him would also lead to the end of their relationship.
But before it all turned ugly, let's talk about how these two met. We know that Jess grew up in Gloucestershire county, and Ryan was only a 30-minute drive away. But although the distance between them wasn't that far, these two actually met online - not in person.
They Started Dating
Jess and Ryan clicked almost immediately. They began to have frequent conversations every day, spending a lot of their time chatting online. They soon learned they lived close to one another and realized this could turn into a relationship. And that's exactly what happened...
The months passed, and these two grew closer and closer - and by 2019, they were officially a couple very much in love. At least, that's what it looked like. The two shared romantic Valentine's Day dates as well as PDA-filled adventures. It seemed nothing could tear them apart...
Unexpected Arrival
Sooner than they expected, they learned something that made them realize they'd be connected forever. It was something they hadn't expected to happen - especially not less than a year into their relationship. Jess was pregnant! A mix of emotions overcame them. How would her parents take the news?
However, through their nervousness, the couple was excited beyond words. This baby meant the world to them - in their minds, they were destined to become a family. Although they knew it wouldn't be easy, Jess and Ryan couldn't wait to become parents.
Room For 1 More
Several weeks past, and Jess' baby bump grew larger and larger. With her due date coming up, the expecting parents got to work making a list of adjustments that needed to be made for their new family. They were aware a lot of changes needed to be made, and they knew exactly where to start.
The first thing on their list was moving in together. They got a cozy, 2-bedroom apartment, perfect for them to start their life as a small family together. But there was more to think about than that: how would they manage it financially? With $600/month being spent on rent and a baby around the corner, they needed to save.
Georgiana is Born
But they soon felt all of their worries disappear when they welcomed their baby on August 9th, 2019. Jess gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who the couple named Georgiana Elizabeth Louise Aldridge. And as they held their bundle of joy in their arms, they realized their little family was the only thing that mattered now.
Little Georgiana's grandparents shared Jess and Ryan's excitement over the news. Georgina and Eric now had 5 precious grandchildren, who they couldn't wait to spoil and shower with love. The couple couldn't have asked for a more perfect family. But there was yet another surprise waiting for them...
Baby #2
It was just less than a year later that Jess discovered she was pregnant again! The following summer, she and Ryan realized they'd be making another little addition to their growing family. This time, the already experienced parents were less worried about the new baby, and more worried about something else...
A global pandemic was taking over, and it seemed the end of it was nowhere near. They suddenly realized their second baby would be born into a completely different world than anything they'd ever known. How would they prepare for such a big change in their lives in these unprecedented times?
Moving in With Jess's Parents
Her mother had an idea. "She promised it would be easier with the new baby," Jess later shared about the moment her mother asked her to bring her family to live with them. Jess remembered her mother insisting that she might need help with the new baby, and that Georgina and Eric were more than willing to help.
What could possibly go wrong? Jess thought to herself. So, she and Ryan packed their belongings and headed to her parents' house in Gloucestershire, along with Ryan and her daughter Georgiana. It seemed to her like everything would be alright - if only she knew what she was getting herself into...
Red Flags Emerge
What Jess had thought would be the happiest time of her life turned out to be a complete disaster. She had imagined bonding with the people she loved the most under one roof, but soon, she began to notice some very disturbing behavior going on around her.
"I felt so uncomfortable, it was a horrible experience," Aldridge later confessed. It was only a few weeks after moving back with her parents that she began to realize her mother may have been a little too insistent on helping her with her pregnancy. Why was she so keen on having Jess and her boyfriend move in?
Late-Night Bonding
It wasn't much later that the government announced a total lockdown, and Jess was then officially stuck at her parents' place. But that's not what bothered her the most. "It was so hard… Ryan and mum were always being so flirty," Jess later shared as she recalled being trapped with her family under one roof.
Although it may have seemed innocent at first, Jess quickly noticed there was actually something very inappropriate going on right in front of her. "[Ryan & Georgina] would drink Bacardi and be laughing... joking around in the kitchen every night while my dad and I were on the sofa watching TV," Jess later shared.
His Wandering Eye
Unfortunately, her worst suspicions were finally confirmed one night, when Ryan got handsy with her mother before her very eyes. Suddenly, everything became too real. The 24-year-old knew there was no way she could continue to be silent about what she was witnessing.
"I caught Ryan touching my mum's bum," Jess recalled. There was no denying what she'd seen with her own eyes. At least, that's what she said when she later confronted Ryan about it. But his response made her raise her eyebrows. "He just said he was trying to get her to move out of his way," she later claimed.
Undeniable Tension
But nothing Ryan said could shake off the intense feeling of anxiety that now overwhelmed Jess. The days went by, and the flirty exchanges going on around the house only increased. "It was disgusting," she continued. "[Georgina] would wear these short dresses and be all touchy-feely with him on the sofa."
Every day, Jess felt her fears get the best of her as the strange and unexpected relationship between Ryan and her mother continued to develop. And it wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Ryan had cheated on her "at least 3 times before," she later told The Sun.
A Painful Confrontation
Jess felt so crippled by the anxiety that she decided she couldn't stay quiet any longer. She mustered up her strength and asked her boyfriend and her mother to join her in the living room. It took every atom of courage she had, but she somehow managed to get out the question that had been haunting her all along…
What was going on between them? Their response to her question was truly shocking. "They just shrugged it off… said it was nothing," Jess shared. "They always insisted there wasn't anything between them," she explained. Regardless, "I always suspected they were up to something…"
More Concerns
The situation made her so uncomfortable that it almost made her forget why she and Ryan moved in with her parents in the first place. She looked down at her growing belly and thought of the second child she was about to welcome into the world. But what kind of a world could that be, when the reality around her was so uncertain?
What would happen to her relationship with Ryan? Did they stand a chance of making it work after what she'd seen happening around her parents' home just a few days after she moved in? But this baby wasn't going to wait for her to figure things out: sure enough, in January, Jess' water broke. A new chapter was waiting...
Welcoming Reuben
Her second baby, named Reuben Aldridge, was born on January 28th, 2021. After hours of waiting, doctors performed a successful C-section, and the family of three suddenly became one of four. Along with the arrival of the baby came an unexpected change - it seemed like things were looking up for Jess and Ryan...
Throughout her labor and delivery, Ryan had never left Jess' side. But it wasn't just him that stayed beside the soon-to-be-mother-of-two in the delivery room. Her mother, Georgina, was her birthing partner and made sure to stay with her throughout the delivery.
Good News, Bad News
But just because he was all smiles for a few hours in the delivery room didn't mean Jess was going to get a happy ending to her love story. In fact, Ryan had "seen baby Reuben for only a few minutes after he was born" before deciding to pack his things and leave the house.
To Jess' complete devastation, Ryan wouldn't come back to see her in the hospital room - he had a few things to get done. And he typed everything he needed to say for Jess to read over text. What happened next was something she never saw coming in all their time dating...
Calling It Quits
Ryan broke up with her, telling her he was done with their relationship. He made sure to let her know of the reason: apparently, he was simply tired of Jess's "paranoia" and couldn't deal with it any longer. At least, that's the explanation he offered when he broke Jess' heart via text.
"It was a huge kick in the teeth," Jess later shared of the crushing moment. What was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life quickly had her feeling the most miserable she'd been in a while. She was devastated - but she would discover a lot more in the days to come...
Running Away Together
Jess didn't think she could ever feel more heartbroken than she did after reading Ryan's text message - hours after his child was born. But soon enough, she would find out that she was, unfortunately, mistaken. On January 30th, Jess was discharged from the hospital and made her way back home...
When she finally arrived at the house, what she discovered shocked her completely. It was too much of a coincidence to be a mere accident - not only was her ex-boyfriend gone, but there was also no sign of her mother around the house. Her suspicions were finally confirmed...
The Big Reveal
"When I came home from the hospital all their things had gone," Jess explained. It took so many sleepless nights and endless confrontations for her doubts to finally be met with the truth. She was now very curious as to what her mother and Ryan would say about the situation.
She didn't have to wait long for Ryan and Georgina to finally confess. Jess couldn't see how they could deny it anyway - they had practically thrown one clue after another at her all these months. "They finally admitted to me that they were together a few days after I came out of the hospital," Jess said. But there was more...
“I [Finally] Gave In”
"If you want the truth?" Georgina started, before adding, "Ryan has been trying [with me] for three years." But her confession didn't stop there. She went on to reveal, "I [finally] gave in the last six months." Jess was speechless as she listened to everything her mother revealed.
She had been betrayed, heartbroken, completely crushed by the two people she had trusted the most. "He shows me [your text messages] every day and tells me everything," Georgina continued. "We are so close you wouldn't even know. I know the ins and outs of him."
What About Her Husband?
Everything she had once been sure of was completely turned upside down. Instead of enjoying her time with her precious children, Jess found herself in utter grief over the loss of two people that had meant the world to her. But she wasn't the only one...
Georgina's husband, Eric, was also in complete shock over what he'd recently learned. It was just "a few weeks before I went into the hospital, my mom had told me she wanted to leave my dad," Jess eventually revealed. But that wasn't what shocked her the most. "I never thought she would be shacking up with my fella instead."
Her Dad Was "In Pieces"
Needless to say, Georgina's husband was in disbelief over the whole situation. He was "in pieces, not dealing with it at all well," Jess' sister, Emma, revealed. It hadn't been long since the two of them practically renewed their vows. He didn't know what to believe anymore.
He hadn't had time to process it all and was left with endless questions. "She's always been his rock, and he isn't coping well without her," Emma continued. "I'm really worried about him." They had been together more than a decade; she was the love of his life. And she gave that up - for someone she'd practically just met.
A Family Divided
Eric and Jess were completely crushed. The once closely-knit family had been torn apart entirely. Georgina was "meant to be a Granny" to help her daughter raise two babies. "But instead? She's off… [with] my boyfriend," the heartbroken Jess explained.
"I'm disgusted by what mum has done," Emma added. Georgina and Ryan's secret affair hadn't only devastated Jess and Eric. "It's pulling the whole family apart," Jess' sister continued. "How could she do this? She's betrayed us." But Jess' sister wasn't the only one who had something to say about the situation.
Ryan's Ex Comes Clean
Soon, the story of Ryan and Georgina's affair had spread on the internet. Thousands of people, each expressing their own opinion, quickly became aware of the situation - including one person in particular, whose words carried more weight than anyone else: Ryan's ex-girlfriend.
She didn't shy away from telling the truth the way she saw it. "He's a serial womanizer," Shelton's ex allegedly told The Daily Mail. "He treated me really badly. He is a bloody idiot." She shared that "[Ryan would] drive round to my house and sit outside for hours at night in his car," even after she had broken up with him.
"More to the Story"
The rumors that ensued quickly went viral online. After a while, Ryan decided he needed to clarify a few things about the situation. He didn't like strangers interpreting things about his life their own way and debating online. But after hearing what he had to say, we were left with even more questions…
"There are two sides to every story," Ryan told Mail Online. Apparently, he had a different story to tell about his and Georgina's relationship. "There's more to this story than you think," he said. "Other people's opinions don't bother me at all. I know what's happened." Were we about to discover something new about the affair?
What Now?
But his comments only shrouded the story in even more mystery. People felt there was something missing; something didn't add up. And everyone wanted to know the truth. After following their story closely, people couldn't help but wonder: what happened to Ryan and Georgina? Where are they today?
"I can't help who I fall in love with," Georgina later explained. Today, the two appear to be more in love than ever. They live just 30 miles away from their family, under her sister's roof - on the sofa, to be more exact. But it didn't stay that way for long...
A Cautionary Tale
As the Daily Mail puts it, Ryan and Georgina are planning to move into their own home pretty soon. But although they see a bright future ahead for themselves, it seems not everybody agrees. As a matter of fact, there was a lot Jess still had to say to her mother, and she didn't hold back...
"It's hilarious that they think they've got this strong relationship," Jess shared with The Sun. She and Ryan had been on quite a roller-coaster together. After having two kids together in just two short years, the heartbroken mother seems ready to move on with her life. "She's welcome to him."
Moving On
In just a few short months, Jessica's life went from rainbows and butterflies to utter heartbreak. And while she now seems to be done patching up her broken heart, she still has one more worrying thought in her mind: Her children. "How am I supposed to explain… that the kids' dad & their gran are in a relationship?"
Unfortunately, there might never come a time when Jess will have the right answer ready. But she knows one thing for certain: "I'm not looking for a boyfriend any time soon." For now, she's happy with her two little ones, who fill her heart with joy. And we're hoping it only gets better from here!