The Man of My Dreams Left His Wife for Me, but I Had No Idea What Awaited Me

The man Id always dreamed of left his wife for me, yet I had no clue what lay ahead.
Id been sighing for him since my university days, growing up in a tiny village near Lyon. It was that reckless, blind love that makes you lose your mind and forget everything else. When he finally noticed me, I abandoned the last scraps of common sense I had left. It happened years after graduation: fate put us in the same law firm, sharing the same profession and interests. I convinced myself it wasnt a coincidence but a sign, a fairytale about to become real.
He seemed perfecta figure straight out of my fantasies. His marriage didnt bother my younger self; I didnt understand what it meant to watch a union crumble or the hidden pain behind such stories. I felt no shame when Raphaël dumped his wife for me. Who could have imagined that choice would bring me so much sorrow? As the old proverb says, you cant build your happiness on someone elses misery.
When he chose me, I floated on a cloud, ready to forgive anything. In everyday life, however, he was far from a prince. His belongings littered the flat, he flatout refused to wash dishes, and the whole housework fell on my shoulders like a heavy load. At the time I turned a blind eyelove had blinded me, made me soft, compliant, almost submissive.
He erased his previous marriage quickly, as if it never existed. They had no children, and he admitted 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 pride: a child, his child! We threw a big family gathering, invited close friends, raised glasses and shared wishes of health and happiness for the baby. That evening is etched in my memory as a warm glow against the darkness that would follow. I dont regret the party, but after that night my blind love began to fade, like a candle flickering in the wind.
As my belly grew, Raphaëls presence at home dwindled. I went on maternity leave, and our meetings were reduced to latenight encounters. He worked late, disappeared for corporate events. Initially 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 fast.
He still brought flowers and chocolate, but that wasnt what I neededI craved his company, his support, his warmth. Then the truth burst open. A casual coffee chat with colleagues revealed a new, young, energetic recruit in our department. The team was already stretched thin, and my maternity break had left a critical gap. Coincidence? I couldnt be sure, but it was clear Raphaël had someone else. His world now revolved around work, meetings, and urgent matters. 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 notice, terrified of ending up alone in my seventh month.
He complained that I was always on edge, and every argument ended with a weary sigh, as if I were a burden. I feared bringing up the main issueI knew it meant the end. And then it happened. The most terrible words I ever heard: Im not ready for a child. I have another woman. I cant recall exactly how he said it; my head was buzzing, my world collapsing. I felt I was going insane from the pain and humiliation.
Nevertheless, a strength rose inside me. I filed for divorce, even though each letter felt like a dagger to the heart. He didnt expect me to make that move, let alone toss his belongings 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 philanderer; 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 would never have left, but for him I found the courage. 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 first months after the divorce, including the birth, were hellish. I moved back with my parents in a nearby townthey welcomed me warmly, especially delighted by their new grandson. I missed Raphaël, but I chased those thoughts away. Deep down I knew I had made the right choice and would give my son everything I could.
Once 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. I realized he needed his own space. My parents didnt want us to leave, yet I dreamed of independencea office for myself, a room for him to study. At that point I could finally afford my own apartment.
Life improved. Nursery gave way to school, first grade to fifth, and for the first time in years I felt free and at peace. Then he resurfaced. Our small town is tightknit; everyone in the legal circle knows each other. Raphaël found my office without difficulty. I regretted not having moved farther away! He claimed he had taken a step back, regretted the past, and said hed been young and foolish. He begged to meet his son, whom he had never seen.
Legally he has the right to see him, and if he wants, he will get that right. The thought sends chills down my spine. A few weeks have passed since that conversation. I told him Id think about it, but my mind is a stormI dont trust him and I refuse to let him get close to 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 keeps knocking on our door.