I had admired him ever since our days at Manchester University. It was the sort of naïve, blind devotion that feels like destiny, even if its rooted in teenage fantasy. A few years after we both graduated, we ended up at the same London fintech firm our specialisms matched, which wasnt unusual, but to me it felt like fate had finally taken hold.
He seemed like the man Id always dreamed of, and I didnt mind that he was already married. Id never been wed myself, so I had no real sense of what a broken marriage looked like. Thats why I felt no shame when Edward decided to leave his wife for me. No one could have guessed the pain that would follow. As the saying goes, you cant build your happiness on someone elses misery.
When he chose me, I thought I was on cloud nine and ready to forgive any flaw. In everyday life, however, he wasnt the charming gentleman he pretended to be in public. His belongings littered the flat, and he refused outright to wash any dishes. All the household chores fell on my shoulders, but at the time I didnt mind a thing.
He quickly brushed aside his previous marriage. There were no children, and it turned out his parents had pushed him into that union. With me, he kept promising that things would be different.
My bliss was shortlived. Everything changed when I discovered I was pregnant. Edward was over the moon at the prospect of a baby; we even threw a big family gathering at my aunts house to celebrate. Neighbours and relatives showered us with wellwishes for love and health for our unborn child. That evening remains one of my fondest memories, and I dont regret it. Yet from that moment, my blind love began to dim.
As my belly grew, Edwards appearances grew rarer. I was on maternity leave, so we only saw each other late at night. He stayed late at the office and attended endless company afterhours events. At first I brushed it off, but the exhaustion set in quickly. Simple chores became a struggle when I could no longer bend easily to pick up his stray socks.
I started wondering whether we had rushed into having a child. I knew feelings could fade over time, but I hadnt expected it to happen so fast. He still brought me flowers and chocolates, yet all I wanted was his presence.
Soon it became clear his frequent outings werent innocent. A coworker mentioned, in passing, that a new young employee had joined our department. The team was already shortstaffed, and when I went on maternity leave the workload became critical. The irony was not lost on me.
I wasnt sure it was her, but Edward certainly had someone else, because he never found a free minute. Work, meetings, or another corporate dinner always seemed to take priority. One day I found a scrap of paper in his jacket pocket with initials I didnt recognise. I cant say why I put it back, but I pretended not to notice.
Being alone in my seventh month of pregnancy was terrifying, and Edward kept complaining that I was too nervous. Every argument ended with a sigh of disappointment from him. I realised that if I raised the issue, I would likely be left on my own. The fear of losing him grew so strong that it clouded my judgementtheres a saying that fear can become a selffulfilling prophecy.
No matter how smoothly Edward had courted me, he was never a true gentleman. The worst words I ever heard were, Im not ready to have a child, and, Ive got someone else. I cant even recall exactly how he said them, but at that point I felt I was going mad.
I never imagined I could summon the courage to ask for a divorce. He, too, seemed shocked that I would no longer tolerate his behaviour, and even more surprised when, the next morning, I threw all his belongings out of the flat. I was grateful we were renting; at least we didnt have to split up a house we owned.
And the baby? What will you do? he asked.
Ill manage. Ill work from home, and my parents have always offered help. Mum warned me he was a bit of a philanderer I should have listened.
It was probably the responsibility I felt toward my unborn son that gave me strength. Alone, I would never have found the resolve to leave. I also realised I didnt want to raise a child with a father like him. His betrayal was so cowardly that I cut all ties. It was as if a veil lifted from my eyes.
The first months after the divorce, including the birth, were incredibly hard. I moved back in with my parents, which delighted my grandparents, who were thrilled to have a grandson. I cant say I never missed Edward, but I tried not to think about him. Deep down I was convinced I had made the right choice and that I could give my son everything he needed.
Then, unexpectedly, he resurfaced. Edward claimed he deeply regretted his actions and wanted to meet his son. But do I want that? Perhaps its time to move to another city entirely and start fresh.
Through all of this I learned that true happiness never rests on another persons decisions. It grows from knowing your own worth and protecting the people you love, even when it means walking away.
