I hope for your sake and your kids sake and your ex’s sake that you can salvage something from what seems a real mess. When people go down the road of mail order brides or marriages for convenience it brings a whole different aspect to the Union. A deep emotional bond and respect and trust just aren’t in the equation , and whether that gets built over time I think is by no means assured. Thinking that keeping the kids passports nicely hidden away seems to be a sign of total fracture and no trust, which is not a marriage . There’s usually only one reason why men import a wife from Europe via agencies etc and that’s ego, as the women are usually young and attractive. That will come with a price . Hopefully your kids cope with the turmoil and ride it out with minimal damage . A life lesson for all .
