My wife left me and our daughters, devastating our lives and leaving me with questions I couldn’t answer. What I thought was a happy ten-year marriage ended abruptly.

In her final months with us, Anna grew distant, spending more time on her phone and social media than with the family. She eventually told me she wanted out of the marriage. Despite my pleas and offers to work on our issues, she was resolute.

“We have two daughters,” I reminded her, but she insisted, “I’ve found myself. I want something different.” Then, she packed her bags and left.

Juggling work, the household, and caring for Sophie and Emily was overwhelming. Family demanded answers I didn’t have, and my daughters’ questions about their mother shattered me.

Weeks later, I discovered the truth: Anna had left us for another man, Marco. Through his Instagram, I saw them dining at luxury restaurants and traveling to Paris, while my daughters left blank spaces in their crayon drawings, hoping for her return.

The pain was immense, but over time, we adjusted to life without Anna. Two years later, I ran into her by chance. She looked fragile, her confident demeanor replaced by regret. Marco, it turned out, was a fraud who left her penniless.

Anna begged to reconnect with our daughters, but I stood firm. “They’ve moved on and are thriving,” I said. Despite feeling a twinge of pity for her, I knew we deserved better. Her choices had hurt us deeply, and there was no going back.