His belief was unwavering; his wife with two children would never leave him.
They first met at university in a small town, and their connection felt unbreakable. Eleanor lived with her parents until Oliver, quickly climbing the career ladder, purchased a spacious two-bedroom flat. Just two weeks after they met, Eleanor moved in with him, and before long, they submitted their application for a marriage license. Their lives were filled with dreams, but, over time, this fairy tale transformed into a drama that tore their family apart.
The initial years of their marriage were blissful. They crafted plans and envisioned their future, and a year after tying the knot, their son Arthur was born. He was so calm that Eleanor and Oliver decided not to wait long before having another child. Soon, little Daniel arrived. Eleanor dedicated herself to raising the boys while Oliver became consumed by work. He would return to a tidy flat where a warm dinner awaited and his cheerful sons greeted him. To the outside world, their family appeared perfect, but underneath, cracks were beginning to show.
The couple’s parents were preoccupied with their own lives and rarely lent a hand. Occasionally, they would take the boys for the weekend, allowing Eleanor to catch up on sleep while Oliver either met up with friends or indulged in his hobbies. As time passed, he began to drift further away. He stayed late at work, spent time with colleagues, disregarding Eleanor’s feelings. He started to blame her:
— You only think about the kids! You’ve forgotten that you’re a wife!
Eleanor sighed, convincing herself it was just a phase. “Once the kids grow up, start school, everything will fall into place,” she repeated, swallowing her resentment. But within her, a sense of loneliness was brewing. She was torn between the children’s needs, managing the household, and trying to please a husband who was increasingly distant.
When the boys began nursery, Eleanor sighed in relief. She started to rediscover herself: socialising with friends, taking care of her appearance, and embracing life. However, Oliver disapproved. He resented her newfound happiness, the time she spent on her phone, and her more vibrant wardrobe. “What have you dressed up for?” he would ask suspiciously. Eleanor remained silent, but her patience was dwindling.
Three months later, Oliver uncovered a truth that shattered his world. Eleanor was having an affair. The new man, Ian, didn’t just care for her—he was willing to embrace her sons as well. The boys had already formed a bond with “Uncle Ian” and were reaching out to him. Oliver was devastated. He never expected Eleanor, whom he regarded as his possession, capable of such betrayal. His indifference? His neglect? He brushed it off as trivial. Yet her actions he labelled as infidelity.
— How could you? — he shouted, clenching his fists.
Eleanor looked him in the eye, her voice trembling with anger:
— Do you remember when I begged you to sit with the kids so I could have a shower? When I asked for a gym membership and you laughed it off? You forbade me from meeting friends, never showered me with gifts, and forgot I’m a woman, not your servant! You vanished from my life, Oliver. I’ve learned to live without you.
Her words struck like a whip. Oliver fell silent, unable to object. A month later, Eleanor packed her belongings, took her sons, and moved in with Ian. Oliver remained in his flat, alone, burdens heavy in his heart. He pays child support but is largely absent from the boys’ lives. Occasionally he calls, but the boys respond coldly—they have found the care in Ian that they never experienced with their father.
Eleanor has found the happiness she had long waited for. Ian has become her rock, and for the boys, a true father figure. Yet, a lingering pain remains in her heart from years spent feeling invisible in her own home. She has no regrets about her decision, but sometimes wonders why she tolerated it for so long. Love had made her blind, but now she sees clearly: she deserves better.
This tale serves as a lesson for all who think a woman with children will never go anywhere. Men, if you stop appreciating your wife, don’t be surprised when she finds someone to take care of her. Eleanor proved that even with two children, one can start anew if there is someone who sees her not as a servant but as a woman. Do you agree that love and respect are the foundations of a family, or was Eleanor too harsh in her actions?