In collaboration with PASSIONS, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in PASSIONS Volume 47 in 2013, we present this story on MVD International and its Think Pink Venus Team, where women investigators help their fellow women uncover the truth behind their doubts.
It is often said that the trust is the foundation of marriage, and without it, a relationship cannot last. Unfortunately, there are times when the trust is compromised – when the seeds of doubt are planted in the mind regarding the fidelity of one’s spouse. While it is a fact that cheating is not exclusive to one gender, it is equally true that more often than not, the husbands are the ones who stray.
Many women who suspect that their husbands are unfaithful often find themselves in a quandary. They might be embarrassed to talk about their marital problems to strangers, perhaps even afraid to confirm the truth of their suspicions, and unsure of what to do if their worst fears are realized. This is where MVD International – the largest security and private investigation agency in Southeast Asia – makes the difference through its Think Pink subdivision, which caters to female clients, and through the Venus team – an all-women team of field investigators.
Understanding Women
According to Rebecca C., the head of the Venus Team, many women are reluctant to speak of their personal problems to men. As she told PASSIONS, “It doesn’t matter if they are housewives of high-fliers in the corporate world, when it comes to crisis moments, women feel more comfortable seeking advice and help from another woman.
”One might call it ‘female solidarity’, but the fact of the matter is such, and it was one of the main reasons why Rebecca – who has 10 plus years of experience in the legal and private investigation field – set up the Venus team. Speaking on the type of clients who approach them, she explained that there are basically two categories.
The first are those who suspect their husbands may be having affairs, and would like MVD International to help confirm their suspicions. Then there are those who are already in the midst of divorce proceedings, and would like to have evidence of infidelity in order to strengthen their case, which is important when it comes to issues such as alimony payment and/or child custody.
More Than Just Investigators
The Venus Team however does not only conduct investigations. As Rebecca explained, one of the important points to bear in mind in such cases is that the women who approach them are usually at the lowest ebb of their lives.
“They are often very emotional, and are not sure what to do,” she explained. “Most of the time, they are afraid of what people might think of them if their husbands are having an affair. So they need a lot of reassurance and confidence to start on the next stage of their lives.
”Furthermore, there are times when clients are unsure of what to do next, once they have evidence of infidelity. These usually occur because they (the clients) are entirely dependent on their husbands for housing, maintenance and child support.
Thus, legal counseling is also one of the other services that MVD International offers through its Think Pink sub-division. She also revealed that clients have 24/7 access to her, and some actually call her in the wee hours of the morning, especially when they are gripped by a sudden attack of doubt and uncertainty. This is where the personal touch of the Venus Team comes into play and as Rebecca explained with succinctness, “A little bit of compassion goes a long way in building confidence.
”Rebecca makes it a point to tell her clients that the purpose of gathering evidence of an affair is not necessarily to seek a divorce. However, if the client does choose to file for divorce based on the evidence gathered, then they would be advised on how to proceed to the next step.
This includes being told to create a property profile so that they will know how much assets their husbands hold – either with them or individually. This, Rebecca explained, will help the clients prepare a better case in court. Thus, as we can see, MVD International provides an important value-added service to their clients in this respect.
One aspect she is clear about is that the Venus Team, and MVD International as a whole, do not violate any laws when conducting their investigations. This means that they are fully compliant with legal restrictions against acts such as invading private spaces and phone tapping. This reinforces MVD International’s reputation as an ethical company with integrity.
Clearing Doubts
Not all of the team’s investigative work ends with them gathering evidence of a husband’s extra-marital affairs, and there are times when they (the Venus Team) help to clear doubts and suspicions, which in turn help save a marriage.
“Some women have a very suspicious nature,” Rebecca opined, “and so when their husbands start acting outside the norm, they will get worried and start thinking that he is having an affair. That’s not necessarily true, of course. Maybe he’s stressed out from work. Maybe he’s having a mid-life crisis.
”The importance of clearing or confirming any doubts cannot be over-emphasised. This is because lingering doubts usually cause greater damage than finding out the truth. If the husband is having an affair, then not confirming it will only leave the wife in a state of limbo without being able to move to the next phase. But if he is not, then the doubts will only lead to a build-up of suspicion which in turn leads to resentment, and eventually the marriage falls apart.
Ultimately, as Rebecca puts it, “In a divorce there are no winners,” as it means the end of a life together. Therefore, she has told clients that if they can live with their husbands’ infidelities, then they can try to continue with their marriage. If not, then she can also help them prepare for a divorce. The most important thing though is that they (the clients) need to move on, and helping them do this is perhaps the most important service that the Venus Team of MVD International provides.
