The man Id always imagined left his wife for me, yet I had no clue what lay ahead.
Id been sighing for him since my school days in a tiny village near Lyona blind, reckless love that makes you lose your mind and forget everything else. When he finally noticed me, all the little sense I had left vanished. Years after university, fate placed us together in the same law firm, sharing the same profession and interests. I took it as more than coincidencea destiny sign, a fairytale about to unfold.
He seemed perfect, a figure straight out of my dreams. His marriage didnt bother me then; I didnt understand what it meant to watch a marriage crumble or the hidden pain behind such stories. I felt no shame when Raphaël abandoned his wife for me. Who could have imagined that this choice would bring so much sorrow? As the old saying goes, you dont build your happiness on someone elses misery.
When he chose me, I felt as if I were walking on clouds, ready to forgive anything. In daily life, however, he was far from a prince. His belongings were scattered all over the flat, he outright refused to wash the dishes, and the whole housework fell on my shoulders like a heavy burden. At the time I turned a blind eyelove had blinded me, made me soft, docile, almost submissive.
He quickly erased his former marriage from his mind, as if it never existed. They had no children, and he admitted the marriage had been forced by his inlaws. With you its different, youre my destiny, he whispered, and I melted. My joy was intense but fleeting, like a flash of lightning. Everything shifted when I discovered I was pregnant.
At first Raphaël beamed with pride: a child, his child! We threw a big family gathering, inviting close friends and relatives. Toasts, wishes for health and happiness for the baby that evening remains etched in my memory as a bright spot in the darkness that followed. I dont regret that night, but after it, my blind love began to dim, like a candle caught in the wind.
As my belly grew, Raphaëls presence at home dwindled. I took maternity leave, and our meetings were reduced to latenight encounters. He worked late, vanished at corporate events. At first I tolerated it, then it became unbearable. Everyday life turned into a nightmare: pregnant and struggling to move, I was surrounded by his socks and shirts strewn everywhere, silent accusations hanging in the air. I wondered whether we had rushed into parenthood. I knew love cools with time, but I never imagined it would evaporate so swiftly.
He still brought flowers and chocolate, but what I needed was his attention, his support, his warmth. The truth finally burst open. A casual coffee chat with colleagues revealed a new recruityoung, energeticwho was already stretching an already overloaded team, made even worse by my absence on maternity leave. Coincidence? I wasnt sure, but it was clear Raphaël had someone else. His world now revolved around work, meetings, and urgencies. One day I found a note in his jacket pocket with unfamiliar initials. My heart clenched, yet I slipped it back, pretending not to see. Fear of being alone in the seventh month of pregnancy paralyzed me.
He complained that I was always on edge, and every argument ended with a weary sigh, as if I were a burden. I dreaded bringing up the core issueI knew it meant the end. And then it happened. The most terrible words I ever heard: Im not ready for a child. I have another woman. I cant recall exactly how he said it; my head was buzzing, my world collapsing. I felt I was going mad with hurt and humiliation.
Still, I found strength within. I filed for divorce, each letter feeling like a punch to the heart. He never expected me to make that move, to throw his belongings out the next day. Fortunately the flat was rented, so we didnt have to share it.
And the child? Think about the child! How will you manage? he shouted as he left.
Ill manage. Ill work from home, and my parents will help. Mom always said you were a womanizer; I should have listened, I replied, closing the door.
Responsibility for my son gave me an inner power I never knew I possessed. Alone, I might never have left, but for him I could. His betrayal was so vile that I erased Raphaël from my life, as if he had never existed. My eyes opened, and I finally saw who he truly was.
The first months after the divorce, including the birth, were hellish. I moved back with my parents in a nearby townthey welcomed me warmly, especially delighted by their new grandson. I missed Raphaël, but I pushed those thoughts away. Deep down I knew I had made the right choice and would give my son everything I could.
When I regained my strength, I returned to work, translating legal texts from home. There were months without income, but my parents supported me until I built a client base. My son grew, the years slipped by unnoticed until I realized he needed his own space. My parents didnt want us to leave, yet I dreamed of independencea office for me, a room for him to study. By then I could afford to rent an apartment.
Life improved. Kindergarten gave way to school, primary to middle school, and for the first time in years I felt freedom and peace. Then he resurfaced. In our small legal community everyone knows each other; Raphaël found my office without trouble. I regretted not having moved farther away. He claimed he had taken a step back, regretted the past, and said he was young and stupid. He asked to meet his son, whom he had never seen.
Legally he has the right to see him, and if he wants, he will get it. The thought sends chills down my spine. A few weeks have passed since that conversation. I said Id think about it, but my mind is in chaosI dont trust him and I refuse to let him get close to my son. Is this my punishment? The price for having taken him away from his first wife? Im seriously considering moving to another city to shield us from this past that keeps knocking on our door.
The Man of My Dreams Left His Wife for Me, but I Had No Idea What Awaited Me
