- My wife abandoned me with seven children to enjoy a luxurious life with my wealthy best friend. I never sought revenge, even when she returned ten years later. But when she screamed at our youngest daughter for standing up to her, I knew it was time to teach her a lesson she’d never forget.
- I’m Daniel, 53, and I’ve spent the last ten years raising seven children alone.
- I repaired furniture for a living. We weren’t wealthy, but our seven children had everything they needed.
- My ex-wife Vanessa wanted more.
- “That woman’s handbag costs more than our refrigerator,” she complained.
-
I’ve spent the last ten years raising seven children.
- “Then let’s hope it keeps her groceries cold.”
- “Everything’s a joke to you, Daniel.”
-
“Not everything.”
- “Look at Rob. New car, expensive vacations. Why can’t we live like that?”
- “Rob doesn’t have seven children.”
-
My ex-wife Vanessa wanted more.
- “There’s always an excuse.”
- Rob was my best friend. I’d even given him a spare house key.
- I repaired broken furniture for a living, believing almost anything deserved a second chance.
- I was wrong about some things.
- ***
- Ten years ago, a canceled appointment brought me home early.
-
Rob doesn’t have seven children.
- I heard voices upstairs.
- When I opened our bedroom door, Vanessa and Rob were together.
- “Daniel!” Rob jumped backward.
- My ex-wife barely moved.
- “How long?” I demanded.
-
I was wrong about some things.
- “Don’t make a scene.”
-
“With my best friend? In our bedroom?”
- “Maybe you should ask why I needed someone else.”
- “Daniel, buddy…” Rob began.
- “Don’t call me buddy.”
-
Vanessa and Rob were together.
- Vanessa folded her arms. “I deserved a better life, Daniel. Rob understands what I want.
- “What about our seven children? Sophie just turned two!”
- “I’m tired of changing diapers while you barely pay the bills!”
- She’d already traveled to the Maldives with Rob, pretending to visit her sister.
- “So you’re leaving?”
-
I deserved a better life.
- “Yes.”
-
“And the kids?”
- “You’ll manage.”
- As she packed, I tried once more.
- “Sophie still sleeps holding your sweater.”
-
What about our seven children?
- “Then give her another blanket.”
- She wasn’t just leaving me. She was abandoning our children.
- ***
- The first night, Sophie cried until sunrise.
-
“Daddy, where’s Mommy?”
- “She’s not coming home tonight, sweetheart.”
-
You’ll manage.
- “Tomorrow?”
- I couldn’t answer.
- Our oldest daughter, Rachel, was sixteen then. She found me sitting on the kitchen floor.
-
“Dad, are we going to be okay?”
- “Absolutely.”
-
She was abandoning our children.
