AceShowbiz - In a candid interview on her podcast "Misspelling," actress Tori Spelling unveiled a transformative moment that redefined her life. It wasn't a new job or a self-help book, but a thought-provoking question from her then 13-year-old daughter, Hattie, that started Spelling on her journey to ultimately end her tumultuous marriage with Dean McDermott.

The 51-year-old "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum shared that her daughter courageously approached her with the question, "Have you ever considered what it would be like to be with someone else and not dad and get treated right?"

Though Hattie was frightened to bring up the subject, she felt compelled to confront her mother about the increasingly toxic environment at home.

Spelling made it clear that Hattie's intentions were not rooted in resentment towards her father. "Hattie loves her dad," Spelling said. However, the constant fighting and McDermott's struggles with addiction had become impossible to conceal from their five children - Liam, 18, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, 7.

Spelling recounted, "It got to the point where it was worse for the kids to see us together. We could no longer hide what was happening, the fights."

McDermott's addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol often manifested in anger that affected Spelling deeply, making her question her own strength as a mother trying to raise "strong humans."

The simmering issues came to a head when their son Finn, then 7, asked if his dad was healing because of his "anger issues."

Spelling admitted her efforts to reconcile had gone as far as getting intimate "in the bathroom in his [hospital] room," a moment she still looks back on with a mix of confusion and regret.

For years, Spelling stayed in the marriage, influenced by her belief in the family unit inspired by her own parents' long marriage. Yet, in retrospect, she acknowledged that staying together "ultimately did a disservice to my kids."

The couple finally separated in June 2023 after a particularly fierce argument. By then, McDermott had already moved on with a new relationship and was celebrating his sobriety. Spelling filed for divorce the same day she recorded an episode of "Misspelling," providing McDermott the news via a phone call.

As both Spelling and McDermott navigate co-parenting post-divorce, Spelling continues to share reflections on her podcast. Although she grapples with the fear of ending up alone, she maintains that the difficult decision to leave was fueled by a desire to create a healthier environment for her children.

In an exclusive interview with Page Six, McDermott owned up to his past struggles, saying, "I finally surrendered and asked for help, and I got it."

As these revelations unfold, Spelling's experience serves as a powerful reminder of the impact our closest relationships have on our well-being - and the unexpected sources of strength that can guide us through life's hardest decisions.