When she walked through the door of their Paris flat that Friday night, Aurélie never imagined the day would end up reshaping her entire life. As usual she called out,
My love, Im home!
Only silence answered her, a heavy, uneasy quiet filling the apartment.
Odd He should already be back, she thought, heading toward the bedroom.
She opened the door and froze. Her husband, Théo, was hurriedly packing a suitcase.
Théo what are you doing? she whispered, her heart tightening.
Im leaving, he replied curtly, not even looking at her.
Youre leaving? Why? Whats happening?
All of this is because of your father, he spat, irritated.
My father? What does he have to do with this?
Aurélie was bewilderedby his words, by the situation. In an instant, the marriage she had nurtured with love and patience began to crumble.
They had met when Aurélie was twentyeight. Théo, eight years older, was confident, charismatic, and seasoned. At the time she thought she had found the man of her life. Her family, friends, everyone kept urging her to marry, reminding her that the biological clock was ticking. Consequently, she started seeing every suitor as a potential husband, which only made them retreat.
With Théo, however, things felt different. A colleague introduced them in a Parisian café, and the chemistry was instant. He was attentive, charming. When he learned that Aurélie owned an apartment 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 organized an elaborate wedding, fully financed by her father. Théo never objected; on the contrary, he eagerly accepted a position in one of his fatherinlaws boutiques.
Their shared life initially resembled a fairytale: foreign trips, candlelit dinners, gifts. Yet one detail spoiled everything: Théo never spent a cent. It was always Aurélie who footed the bills. At first she ignored it, then she began to ask, finally to beg.
Why do I have to carry everything? she complained to her best friend. Id like to feel cherished, protected.
But Théo laughed:
Stop worrying, sweetheart. Everythings fine. Dont sweat the small stuff.
At work he did the bare minimum, spent most of his time on his phone, and secretly saved his earnings in a hidden account. Aurélie remained oblivious.
Then she fell seriously ill. Hospitalized for a month, Théo barely visited, while her parents came daily. When she returned, the flat was in a dismal state.
You didnt even clean? she exclaimed.
Why? Thats a womens job, isnt it? he shrugged.
I was in the hospital, Théo! And its always me who has to tidy up?
Well, youre home now. Do it yourself.
Exhausted, she hired a cleaning service. Doctors warned that recovery would take at least a year. Pregnancy? Out of the question for the time being.
A year later, when doctors finally gave her the green light, she told Théo, eyes shining with hope.
Can you believe it? We could try we could finally have a baby!
Meh Not now, Im busy, he growled, eyes glued to his gaming console, a PlayStation she had bought with her own money.
Weeks passed. He avoided her. Then one day he snapped:
Listen, Aurélie Im leaving. I dont want a child with you.
What?!
I dont love you. I never did. You were just convenientthe apartment, the money, the car. Im done. Youre useless now.
Théo, you you cant do this. Youve seen everything Ive gone through, everything Ive waited for
Your problems, not mine. 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 arrived to take her away. Seeing her condition, her father was on the brink of fury.
They brought her to their house in Provence. That same evening Théo was fired, and thanks to connections his fatherinlaw managed to freeze his bank account. All his savings vanished.
Théo was left penniless, jobless, homelessbarely enough to rent a tiny room, with no clue about his next move.
Months later Aurélie found a new job. There she met Lucas. He wasnt a spring chicken, but he was upright, calm, and treated her with immediate respect and kindness.
Six months after that, a small miracle appeared: two pink lines on a pregnancy test. Tears, laughter, a call to her parents and a profound pride in finally having had the courage to say enough.
When He Left: The Husband Who Abandoned His Wife on the Eve of Motherhood
