After enduring sexual assault, teenage pregnancy, and the tragic death of her first love, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley tearfully revealed that it was her unborn son, Hudson, whose tiny heartbeat gave her the strength to survive and rebuild her life through love, motherhood, and hope.

SLOMW's Mayci Neeley Cries Over Son Saving Her From Suicide After His Dad's  Death (Exclusive)

It was supposed to be just another interview — but within minutes, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley broke down in tears.

Sitting across from Entertainment Tonight’s Deidre Behar, the 29-year-old reality TV star opened up about a pain she’s carried for more than a decade — one that nearly took her life, and one that only her son could save her from.

Mayci’s emotional confession comes as she promotes her upcoming memoir, Told You So, set for release on October 7.

The book is a raw, unfiltered look at the trauma, heartbreak, and unexpected redemption that have shaped her journey — from surviving an abusive relationship in college to losing the love of her life, and finally finding hope again through motherhood.

“I was young, I was naive, and I trusted the wrong person,” Mayci shared, recalling her college years when she says she was drugged and raped, losing her virginity in one of the most horrifying ways imaginable.

The trauma, she explained, left deep scars that made her question her worth and her faith.

“It changed how I saw myself.

For years, I felt broken.”

After escaping that nightmare, Mayci met Arik Mack — the man she described as “funny, goofy, and full of light.

” Their romance was whirlwind and pure, offering her the sense of safety she thought she’d never feel again.

“Arik made me laugh when I didn’t even remember how to smile,” she said softly, smiling through tears.

At just 19, Mayci discovered she was pregnant.

Though terrified, she was also filled with hope.

 

SLOMW's Mayci Neeley Cries Over Son Saving Her From Suicide After His Dad's  Death (Exclusive) - YouTube

 

“We were scared, but we were excited,” she recalled.

“It felt like a new beginning.

” But that joy was brutally cut short when Arik was killed in a car accident, only 13 weeks into her pregnancy.

“One moment, we were planning our future,” she said, her voice breaking, “and the next, I was alone — holding an ultrasound photo and wondering how I was supposed to keep living.”

The grief was unbearable.

Mayci admits that during her darkest moments, she considered ending her life.

“I didn’t want to be here,” she said quietly.

“But then, I’d feel him move — my baby.Hudson.

And I realized… he’s the reason I have to stay.”

That moment became the turning point.

“He saved me,” Mayci said firmly.

“My son saved me before he was even born.

Every time I wanted to give up, I’d think about the little heartbeat inside me — and I couldn’t do it.

I had to live for him.”

Hudson, now 10, remains the heart of her story — the living reminder of both the love she lost and the strength she found.

“He doesn’t even realize how much he’s done for me,” she said.

“He gave me a reason to believe in life again.”

 

‘SLOMW’ star Mayci Neeley opens up to ‘Virtual Reali-Tea’ about her new  memoir ‘Told You So’

 

In the years that followed, Mayci found love once more — this time with Jacob Neeley, the man she calls her “anchor.

” Jacob stepped in as a father figure to Hudson when the boy was just an infant.

“He never tried to replace Arik,” Mayci explained.

“He just loved Hudson like his own.

That’s all I ever wanted.

” Together, Mayci and Jacob built a new life, welcoming two daughters, Harlow and Charli.

The couple now plans to try for a fourth child.

But behind the smiles and curated family photos, Mayci admits her healing is still a work in progress.

“There are days when I still cry,” she said.

“When I still miss Arik.

But I’ve learned that grief doesn’t mean weakness — it just means love that never left.”

Her memoir Told You So promises to explore those raw emotions in depth — the pain, the shame, the guilt, and the resilience that comes with surviving.

It’s not just a celebrity tell-all, but a deeply human story about motherhood, loss, and the power of choosing life when everything seems lost.

As Mayci wiped away tears at the end of the interview, she smiled faintly and said, “I thought my story ended the day Arik died.

But really, that was just the beginning — because that’s when Hudson saved me.”

It’s a haunting confession — one that’s not just about tragedy, but the quiet, miraculous strength of a mother who refused to give up.

And when her memoir hits shelves next week, readers will finally see the truth behind the tears of the woman who, for years, smiled for the camera while carrying the weight of her own survival.