I always thought that the happiest day of my life was the day I married Michael. But then we found out that I was pregnant, and I figured that the day I gave birth to our baby was going to be the happiest

Little did I know that it would be the beginning of a nightmare. Michael had promised me that he would be there, holding my hand as we welcomed our first child into the world.

We had planned every detail together, from the music that would play in the delivery room to the tiny hat he would place on our baby’s head.

When my labor began, Michael wasn’t there. I called him for hours, but there was no response. With my mother by my side, I welcomed our daughter, Emily, but his absence loomed heavily. Returning home, I found the nursery almost empty and a note: “I love you and our baby, but I have to leave forever. Ask your mom why she did this.”

Confronting my mother, she confessed she’d discovered Michael’s affair with his wealthy boss. She had confronted him, demanding he tell me or leave. He chose to leave. Devastated, I felt betrayed by both Michael and my mother for not letting me decide how to handle the situation.

Days later, Michael accidentally answered my call. He admitted the affair and said he had fallen for Gretchen, his boss, and was starting a new life with her. He promised to transfer the house to me but made it clear he wouldn’t return.

Heartbroken, I resolved to focus on Emily. Though Michael vanished from our lives, I took solace in protecting her from his betrayal. My mother tried to support me, but I needed space. Alone, I began adjusting to my new life as a single mother, determined to rebuild for Emily’s sake.