When Joey Lawrence embarked on a rumored on-set affair with his co-star Melina Alves, many were quick to assume that was the cause of his legal separation from estranged third wife Samantha Cope, who filed for divorce on August 13 after two years of marriage

Lawrence and Alves met on the set of the upcoming romance film Socked in for Christmas, in which they play love interests. Last week, TMZ obtained divorce documents submitted by Alves’ estranged husband, Edward Rider, alleging that the affair began in late March.

The Brotherly Love podcaster is also facing a custody battle with Cope, who is seeking full physical custody of their 19-month-old daughter, Dylan Rose Lawrence. The source claims that Lawrence is “torn up” about the situation, stating, “It’s going to be difficult to co-parent Dylan with the demands Samantha has made.”

Despite the challenges, the insider insists that Lawrence is a devoted father, saying, “Joey loves his kids. He is a great dad and his daughters adore him. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for those girls, and that includes Dylan too. He prides himself on being very involved with family and putting family first always.”

Lawrence has two teenage daughters, Charleston and Liberty, from his previous marriage to Chandie Yawn-Nelson, which ended in 2020. His first marriage to Michelle Vella ended in 2005.

The source concludes, “He’s relieved the marriage is over because he can breathe. He can be himself. He’s taking the time to make up for all of the lost time that he had with his children.”

An insider claimed to People on Sunday: ‘They had troubles from the beginning of their relationship. Infidelity isn’t the cause – not by a long shot. He had gotten to a point where he had hit his limit with defending his kids, his mom, and his family to Samantha’ (pictured in 2021)

Last Thursday, TMZ obtained divorce documents submitted by the Brazilian beauty’s (R, pictured April 18) estranged husband Edward Rider, who alleged she and the 48-year-old former child star (2-R) began their affair in late March while filming Socked in for Christmas

According to IMDb.com – Melina executive produced, wrote, and starred as Addy in Damian X. Fulton’s upcoming romance, in which Joey portrays Justin (pictured March 30)

Lawrence (born Mignogna) also happened to fall in love with his 37-year-old ex in 2021 while playing love interests on the set of Lifetime thriller A Deadly Deed directed by his younger brother Andrew Lawrence

The Brotherly Love podcaster is evidently ‘torn up’ that Samantha requested full physical custody of their 19-month-old daughter Dylan Rose Lawrence (M, pictured October 31), but offered him two nights of visitation a week once she turns three

Joey is also father to two teenage daughters – Charleston (R, pictured June 19), 18; and Liberty (L), 14 – from his marriage to ex-wife #2 Chandie Yawn-Nelson, which ended in 2020

The insider noted: ‘He’s relieved the marriage is over because he can breathe. He can be himself. He’s taking the time to make up for all of the lost time that he had with his children’ (pictured December 31)

Meanwhile, Cope broke her silence on Saturday with an Instagram video of herself wiping tears away captioned: ‘An amazing friend of mine recently told me “don’t be afraid of the tears. Let them flow”‘

The Utah-born blonde added: ‘Because every tear is God gently squeezing the pain and devastation from your heart to make room for new beautiful feelings to come