Tatiana stumbled upon her husbands infidelity purely by accident
Often, wives are the last to catch wind of such betrayals. Only later did Daphnée realize why her coworkers kept giving her odd looks and whispering behind her back. At the hospital, everyone knew that her dear friend Claire was having an affair with her husband, Nicolas. Yet nothing in Nicolass behavior had ever raised Daphnées suspicions.
She learned the truth that evening when she came home unexpectedly. Daphnée had been a physician at a Parisian hospital for several years and was scheduled for a night shift that day. Before the end of her shift, a younger colleague, Pauline, asked for a favor:
Daphnée, could we swap watches? Ill work tonight and you cover for me on Saturday, unless you have other plans. My sister is getting married, and the ceremony is Saturday.
Daphnée agreed. Pauline was pleasant and helpful, and a wedding was a reasonable excuse.
That night Daphnée returned home, eager to surprise her husband. The surprise, however, was on her. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard voices from the bedroomNicolass and another she recognised but never expected to hear in that setting. It was Claires voice. What Daphnée overheard left no doubt about the nature of their relationship.
She slipped out of the apartment as silently as she had entered and spent the rest of the night on duty at the hospital, unable to sleep. How could she face her colleagues? They already knew everything, while she had been blinded by love for Nicolas, trusting him completely. He had become the centre of her world, to the point that she abandoned her own dream of having a child whenever he claimed he wasnt ready, insisting they should wait and enjoy life. Now Daphnée understood that he saw no future for a family at all.
That same night she took what seemed the only viable step. She wrote a leave request followed by a resignation letter, returned home, packed her belongings while Nicolas was at work, and hurried to the train station. She had inherited a modest countryside cottage from her grandmother and thought no one would look for her there.
At the station she bought a new SIM card and discarded the old one, cutting every tie to her former life and embracing the new one.
Twentyfour hours later she stepped off the train at a familiar stop. The last time Daphne had been there was ten years earlier, at her grandmothers funeral. The station was still quiet and desertedjust what she needed now. After a brief carshare ride and a twentyminute walk, she reached the cottage. Overgrown shrubs made the front door hard to find.
It took several weeks to tidy the house and clear the garden. She couldnt have done it alone, but the neighbourswho remembered her grandmother, Adeline, a teacher of more than four decadesoffered generous help. Daphnée was surprised by their warm reception and felt deeply grateful.
News of a doctor living in the village spread quickly. One day a neighbour, Marie, rushed to Daphnée, looking panicked:
Daphnée, Im sorry, I cant help you today. My little girl ate something bad and is suffering from indigestion.
Lets have a look, Daphnée replied, fetching her medical kit.
The child, Mathilde, was experiencing food poisoning. Daphnée treated her and instructed Marie on preventive measures.
Thank you so much, Daphnée, said an emotional Marie. Youre our doctor now. The nearest hospital is sixty kilometres away. We used to have a nurse, but she left and was never replaced.
From then on the villagers turned to Daphnée for medical care. She couldnt refuse, having been welcomed so kindly by her new community.
Local authorities learned of her practice and offered her a position at the district medical centre.
No, Ill stay here, Daphnée declared firmly. But if you assign me the local dispensary, Ill gladly accept.
The officials were pleased that a Paristrained physician wanted to work in a modest dispensary, yet Daphnée held her ground. A few months later the dispensary reopened and she resumed seeing patients.
One night someone knocked late at her door, which didnt surprise her; illness respects no schedule. She opened for a stranger.
Mrs. Daphnée, he said, Im from Villefranche, fifteen kilometres away. My daughter is very ill. I first thought it was a cold, but the fever hasnt broken for three days. Please, examine her.
She hurried to gather her supplies while the man described his daughters symptoms. Upon arrival she found a pale, bedridden little girl struggling to breathe. After the exam she announced:
Her condition is serious. She needs to be hospitalized.
The man shook his head:
I live alone with her. Her mother died shortly after she was born. Shes everything to me I cant lose her.
The hospital has the equipment a sick child needs. I dont have the medicines here.
Tell me what to give, and Ill get it. But please dont take her to the hospital. Theres an oncall pharmacy in the district I can reach. I have no one to look after her while Im gone.
Daphnée sensed his panic and desperation. She studied him more closely for the first time: tall, slender, darkbrown hair, deep green eyes full of determination.
Ill stay with your daughter, she said. Whats her name?
Juliette, he replied softly. And Im Antoine. Thank you so much, doctor.
Antoine left to fetch the prescribed medication.
Juliettes fever persisted; she was restless, crying, calling for her father. Daphnée held her, rocking her gently and humming a lullaby until the child calmed a little.
Hours later Antoine returned with the supplies. Daphnée administered the treatment and, weary, said:
Now we just have to wait.
Both kept watch through the night. At dawn Juliettes temperature finally began to fall and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Thats a good sign, observed Daphnée. Though exhausted, the relief of turning the tide of the illness gave her strength.
You saved my daughter, Antoine kept repeating his thanks.
A year passed. Daphnée continued her work at the dispensary, caring for villagers and nearby residents. She now lived in the spacious house she shared with Antoine; they had married six months after that critical night when Juliettes life hung by a thread.
It took several more weeks for the little girl to fully recover. She grew attached to Daphnée, who loved her deeply, while occasionally reflecting on the sacrifices she had made by postponing her own desire for a child.
One evening, tired yet fulfilled, Daphnée returned home to two beloved people waiting for her. Antoine greeted her at the doorway with a smile and asked:
So, did you get your leave? Ive planned everything; the three of us will go on vacation.
Daphnée answered with a mysterious smile:
My leave is approved, but we wont travel as a trio; well go as a quartet.
Antoine stood stunned for a moment, then lifted his wife into his arms, delighted.
Tatiana Stumbles Upon Her Husband’s Infidelity by Chance
