When she walked through the door of their Paris flat that Friday evening, Aurélie had no idea the day would turn everything upside down. As usual she called out,
My love, I’m home!
But only a heavy silence answered her.
Strange He should be back by now, she thought, heading toward the bedroom.
She pushed open the door and froze. Théo, her husband, was hurriedly stuffing his belongings into a suitcase.
Théo what are you doing? she whispered, her heart tightening.
I’m leaving, he replied coldly, without even looking at her.
You’re going? Why? What’s happening?
It’s all because of your father, he snapped, irritated.
My father? What does he have to do with this?
Aurélie was baffledby his words and the situation. In an instant, the marriage she had poured love and patience into was collapsing.
They had met when Aurélie was twentyeight. Théo, eight years older, was confident, charismatic, and experienced. At the time she thought she had found the man of her life. Her family and friends kept urging her to marry, reminding her that the biological clock was ticking. Consequently, she began to see every suitor as a future husband, which made them shy away.
With Théo it was different. They crossed paths in a Parisian café through a coworker, and the chemistry was instant. He was attentive and charming. When he learned that Aurélie owned a flat in the 16th arrondissement, drove a new car, held a wellpaid civilservice job, and had an entrepreneurial father, he became even more tender and considerate.
A year later they were planning an extravagant wedding, fully financed by her father. Théo never objected; on the contrary, he gladly accepted a job in one of his fatherinlaws boutiques.
Their life together initially resembled a fairytale: foreign trips, candlelit dinners, gifts. Yet there was one flawThéo never spent a dime. Aurélie always footed the bill. At first she ignored it, then she began to ask, eventually pleading.
Why do I have to carry everything? she complained to her best friend. I want to feel pampered, protected.
But Théo would laugh:
Stop worrying, sweetheart. Everythings fine. Dont make a fuss over trivial things.
At work he did the bare minimum, spent most of his time on his phone, and secretly deposited his earnings into a hidden account. Aurélie remained oblivious.
Then she fell seriously ill. Hospitalized for a month, Théo visited only sporadically, while her parents came daily. When she returned, the flat was in a dreadful state.
You didnt even clean? she exclaimed.
Why? Thats a womans job, isnt it? he shrugged.
But I was in the hospital, Théo! And its always up to me to tidy everything!
Well, youre home now. Do it yourself.
Exhausted, she hired a cleaning service. Doctors warned her that recovery would take at least a year. A pregnancy? Not an option yet.
A year later, after finally receiving the green light from her physicians, she told Théo, trembling with hope.
Can you believe it? We could try We could finally have a baby!
Hmm Not now, Im busy, he muttered, eyes glued to his gaming console, a PlayStation shed bought with her own money.
Weeks passed and he kept avoiding her. Then, one day, he blurted out:
Listen, Aurélie Im leaving. I dont want a child with you.
What?!
I dont love you. I never have. You were just convenient the flat, the money, the car. Im done. Youre useless now.
Théo, you you cant do this. Youve seen everything Ive been through, everything Ive waited for
Those are my problems, not yours. Ill do what I want.
He slammed his suitcase shut, stuffed his console inside, and walked out.
Aurélie collapsed for days, unable to eat or sleep. Three days later her worried parents came to fetch her. Seeing her condition, her father nearly lost his temper.
They took her to their house in Provence. That same evening Théo was fired, and thanks to connections his fatherinlaw had his bank account frozen, wiping out all his savings.
Théo was left penniless, unemployed, homelessbarely enough to rent a tiny room, with no idea what lay ahead.
Months later, Aurélie found a new job. There she met Lucas, a man not in his youth but upright, calm, and immediately respectful and kind to her.
Six months after that, a small miracle appeared: two pink lines on a test. Tears, laughter, a call to her parents, and the overwhelming pride of having finally said enough.
