By chance, Tatiana discovered her husband’s infidelity
Daphnée stumbled upon her husband’s affair quite unexpectedly
As often happens, wives are the last to find out. Only afterward did Daphnée grasp why her coworkers gave her odd looks and whispered behind her back. Everyone at the hospital knew that her dear friend Claire was seeing her husband, Nicolas. Yet none of Nicolas’s behavior had ever raised Daphnes suspicions.
She learned the truth that evening, when she returned home unexpectedly. Daphnée had been a physician at a Paris hospital for several years. That night she was scheduled for the night shift, but toward the end of the day her young colleague Pauline asked for a swap:
Daphnée, could you trade shifts with me? Ill work tonight and youll cover Saturday, unless you have other plans. My sisters wedding is Saturday.
Daphnée agreed. Pauline was pleasant and helpful, and a wedding was a reasonable excuse.
Later that night, Daphnée arrived home, eager to surprise her husband. Instead, she got a surprise herself. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard voices from the bedroomNicolass voice and another she recognized, but certainly not expecting to hear then. It was Claires voice. What Daphnée heard left no doubt about the nature of their relationship.
She slipped out of the apartment as quietly as she had entered. She spent the night at the hospital, unable to sleep. How could she face her colleagues, who already knew everything while she had been blinded by love for Nicolas, trusting him completely? He had become the center of her existence, to the point that she abandoned her own dream of having children whenever he said he wasnt ready, that they should wait and enjoy life. Now Daphnée understood that he saw no future for a family.
That night she took what seemed the only possible step. She drafted a leave request followed by a resignation, went home, gathered her belongings while Nicolas was at work, and hurried to the train station. She had inherited a small country house from her grandmother and guessed no one would think to look for her there.
At the station she bought a new SIM card and tossed the old one away. Daphnée cut all ties with her former life and embraced the new one.
Twentyfour hours later she stepped off the train at a familiar stop. The last time she had been there was ten years ago, at her grandmothers funeral. Everything seemed unchangedquiet and deserted. Exactly what I need right now, she thought. After a short carshare ride and a twentyminute walk, she reached the cottage. The garden was overgrown with bushes, making the front door hard to spot.
It took her several weeks to tidy the house and clear the garden. She would never have managed alone, but the neighborswho remembered her grandmother Adeline, a teacher of more than forty yearsoffered invaluable help. Daphnée was stunned by their warm welcome and felt deeply grateful.
Word spread quickly that a doctor had arrived in the village. One day a neighbor, Marie, rushed to Daphnée, looking frantic:
Daphnée, Im sorry, but I cant help you today. My little girl ate something bad and is suffering from indigestion.
Lets take a look, Daphnée replied, grabbing her medical kit.
Little Mathilde was suffering from food poisoning. Daphnée provided the necessary care and explained the precautions to Marie.
Thank you so much, Daphnée, Marie said, emotional. Youre now our doctor. The nearest hospital is 60km away. We used to have a nurse, but she left and was never replaced.
From then on the villagers turned to Daphnée for medical needs. She couldnt refuse, given the kindness and assistance she had received from her new neighbors.
The local authorities caught wind of her activity and offered her a position at the district health centre.
No, Ill stay here, Daphnée replied firmly. But if you assign me the dispensary, Ill gladly accept.
Officials were flattered that a Parisian physician with her experience wanted to work in a modest dispensary, yet Daphnée held her ground. A few months later the dispensary reopened, and she resumed consultations.
One night someone knocked on her door late, which didnt surprise herillness respects no schedule. She opened to a man she didnt know.
Mrs. Daphnée, he said, Im from Villefranche, 15km away. My daughter is very ill. At first I thought it was a cold, but her fever hasnt broken for three days. Please, examine her.
Daphnée hurried to gather her supplies while the man described his daughters symptoms. Upon arrival she found a pale, bedridden girl struggling to breathe. After the exam she declared:
Her condition is serious. She needs hospitalization.
The man shook his head:
I live alone with her. Her mother died shortly after birth. Shes everything I have I cant lose her.
The hospital has the equipment a sick child needs. I dont have the medicines here.
Tell me whats required, Ill get it. But please dont take her to the hospital. Theres an oncall pharmacy in the district I can reach. I have no one to watch her while Im gone.
Seeing the mans panic and desperation, Daphnée looked at him more closely for the first time; he was roughly my age, tall, slender, with fine chestnut hair, and dark green eyes shining with determination.
Ill stay with your daughter, she said. Whats her name?
Juliette, he answered softly. And Im Antoine. Thank you, doctor.
Antoine left to fetch the medication, armed with Daphnées prescription.
Juliettes fever persisted; she was restless, crying, calling for her father. Daphnée held her, rocked her, and hummed a lullaby until the girl calmed slightly.
Hours later Antoine returned with everything needed. Daphnée administered the treatment and, weary, said:
Now we just have to wait.
Both stayed up through the night. At dawn Juliettes temperature finally began to fall, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
Thats a good sign, Daphnée noted. Exhausted, she felt a surge of satisfaction from having altered the course of the illness.
You saved my daughter, Antoine repeated, unable to stop thanking her.
A year passed. Daphnée kept working at the dispensary, caring for villagers and nearby residents. She now lived in Antoines lovely, spacious house; they had married six months after that harrowing night when Juliettes life hung by a thread.
It took several more weeks for the girl to fully recover. She grew attached to Daphnée, who loved her deeply, though Daphnée sometimes reflected on the dreams she had postponed by putting her own desire for a child on hold.
One evening, tired but fulfilled, Daphnne returned home to find two cherished people waiting. Antoine greeted her at the door with a bright smile and asked:
So, did you get your leave? Ive planned everything; well go on vacation, the three of us.
Daphnée gave a mysterious smile and replied:
My leave is approved, but we wont be three; well be four.
Antoine stood stunned for a moment, then lifted his wife into his arms, joyfully embracing her.
Tatiana Stumbles Upon Her Husband’s Infidelity by Chance
