The man I had always imagined left his wife for me, yet I had no clue what lay ahead. I had been dreaming of him since my student days in a tiny village near Lyon. It was a blind, reckless lovethe sort that makes you lose your mind and forget everything else. When he finally noticed me, I abandoned the last shred of common sense I possessed. It happened 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 sign, a fairytale about to become real.
He seemed perfect, the very figure from my fantasies. His marital status didnt bother my youthful self; 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 choice would bring so much sorrow? As the proverb goes, you cannot build your happiness on someone elses misery.
When he chose me, I floated on air, ready to forgive anything. In daily life, however, he was far from a prince. His belongings littered the flat, he flatly refused to wash dishes, and all the housework fell on my shoulders like a heavy burden. At the time I turned a blind eyelove had blinded me, made me gentle, docile, almost submissive.
He quickly erased his previous marriage from his mind, as if it never existed. They had no children, and he confessed the marriage had been forced by his inlaws. With you its different, youre my destiny, he whispered, and I melted. My joy burned bright but fleeting, like a flash of lightning. Everything shifted when I discovered I was pregnant.
At first Raphaël beamed with delight: a child, his child! We threw a big family gathering, invited close friends, raised glasses and wished health and happiness for the baby. That evening remains etched in my memory as a warm glow amid the darkness that followed. I dont regret that night, but after it, my blind love began to fade, like a candle 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 for corporate events. Initially I endured it, but soon it became unbearable. Everyday life turned into a nightmare: I, heavily pregnant, struggled to move, while his socks and shirts lay everywhere, a silent accusation. I wondered whether we had rushed into parenthood. I knew love cools over time, yet I never imagined it would evaporate so quickly.
He still brought flowers and chocolate, but that wasnt what I neededI craved his presence, his support, his warmth. Then the truth burst open. A casual coffee chat with colleagues revealed a new, young, energetic recruit joining our department. The team was already stretched thin, and my maternity leave had pushed it over the edge. Coincidence? I couldnt be sure, but it was clear Raphaël had someone else. His life now revolved around work, meetings, and urgencies. One day I found a note with unfamiliar initials tucked in his jacket pocket. My heart clenched, yet I slipped it back, pretending not to see. Fear of being alone in my seventh month froze me.
He complained that I was always on edge, and each argument ended with a weary sigh, as if I were a burden. I dreaded addressing the core issueI knew it signaled the end. And then it came. The worst words I ever heard: Im not ready for a child. I have another woman. I cant recall how he said it; my head was buzzing, my world collapsing. I felt I was going mad with pain and humiliation.
Still, I found strength within. I filed for divorce, each letter feeling like a stab to the heart. He didnt expect me to act, nor that I would toss his things 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. 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 months after the divorce, including the birth, were hellish. I moved back with my parents in a nearby townthey welcomed me with open arms, especially delighted by their grandson. I missed Raphaël, but I banished those thoughts. 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, 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 myself and a room for him to study. By then I could afford to rent my own apartment.
Life improved. Kindergarten turned into school, primary became fifth grade, and for the first time in years I felt free and calm. Then he resurfaced. Our small town is tightknit, especially among lawyers. Raphaël tracked down my office without difficulty. I regretted not having moved farther away! He claimed to have taken a step back, regretted the past, and said he had been young and foolish. He asked to meet his son, a child he had never seen.
Legally he has the right to see him, and if he wants, he will get that right. The thought chills my blood. Weeks have passed since that conversation. I said I would think about it, but chaos swirls in my mindI dont trust him and I dont want him near my child. Is this my punishment? The price for having taken him away from his first wife? I am seriously considering moving to another city to protect us from a past that has knocked on our door once more.
The Man of My Dreams Left His Wife for Me, But I Had No Idea What Awaits
