The man Id always dreamed of left his wife for me, but I had no clue what lay ahead.
Id been sighing for him since my student days, living in a tiny village near Lyon. It was a blind, reckless lovethe kind 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. Same profession, shared interests. I thought it wasnt a coincidence but a sign, a fairytale about to become real.
He seemed perfect, a figure straight out of my fantasies. His marriage didnt bother me in my youthI 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 spouse for me. Who could have guessed that choice would bring me so much sorrow? As the proverb goes, you cant build your happiness on someone elses misery.
When he chose me, I felt like I was floating on a cloud, ready to forgive anything. In everyday life, however, he was far from a prince. His belongings littered the apartment, he stubbornly refused to wash dishes, and all the housework fell on my shoulders like a heavy load. Back then I turned a blind eyelove had blinded me, made me soft, compliant, almost submissive.
He quickly erased his previous marriage from his mind, as if it never existed. They had no children, and he confessed the union had been imposed 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 celebration, invited relatives and friends. Toasts, wishes for health and happiness for the baby that night remains a warm glow amid the darkness that followed. I dont regret the party, but after that evening my blind love began to wane, 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. At first I tolerated it, but soon it became unbearable. Daily life turned into a nightmare: I, heavily pregnant, struggled to move while his socks and shirts were strewn everywhere, silent accusations hanging in the air. I wondered if we had rushed into parenthood. I knew love cools over time, but I never imagined it would evaporate so quickly.
He still brought flowers and chocolate, but that wasnt what I neededI craved his company, his support, his warmth. Then the truth exploded. A casual coffee chat with colleagues revealed a new recruit in our department, young and energetic. The team was already overwhelmed, and my maternity leave had made the situation critical. Coincidence? I couldnt tell, 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 tucked it back, pretending not to see. Fear of being alone at seven months pregnant froze me.
He complained that I was always on edge, and every argument ended with a weary sigh, as if I were a burden. I was terrified to raise the core issueI knew it signaled the end. And then it happened. The most terrible words I ever heard: Im not ready for a child. I have another woman. How he said it escapes me; my head was buzzing, my world collapsing. I thought I would go mad from pain and humiliation.
But I found strength inside. I filed for divorce, each letter feeling like a blow to the heart. He didnt expect me to act, didnt anticipate that I would toss his belongings out the next day. Fortunately the flat was rentedwe 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 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 returned to my parents in a nearby townthey welcomed me with open arms, especially thrilled about their grandson. I missed Raphaël, but I chased those thoughts away. Deep down I knew Id made the right choice and would give my son everything I could.
Once I regained my strength, I went back to worktranslating 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. 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 elementary school, then to fifth grade, and for the first time in years I felt freedom and peace. Then he resurfaced. Our small town is so tightknit that everyone in the legal circle knows each other. Raphaël tracked down my office without trouble. How I wish Id fled farther! He claimed hed taken a step back, regretted the past, and called himself young and stupid. He asked to meet his son, a child he had never seen.
Legally he has the right to see him, and if he wants, hell get that right. The thought sends chills down my spine. Weeks have passed since that conversation. I said Id think about it, but chaos reigns in my mindI dont trust him, and I dont want him near my child. Is this my punishment? The price for steering him away from his first wife? Im seriously considering moving to another city, to protect us from a past thats once again knocking at my door.
The Man of My Dreams Left His Wife for Me, But I Had No Idea What Was Coming Next
