Three days later, Daniel arrived at my parents’ house. He looked exhausted and carried flowers, hoping a familiar gesture would make everything disappear. He asked whether I was really throwing away our family. I reminded him that I hadn’t created this situation. He had made choices, hidden them, and then blamed me when I discovered the truth. He insisted the affair was over, but I told him that ending it didn’t automatically restore the trust he had destroyed.

Mother watched from the doorway without interfering. Later, she told me she had once stood in exactly the same position, listening to my father make promises. She hadn’t wanted me to repeat her life. Daniel eventually left after agreeing that we needed time apart. Before leaving, he asked whether the children could see him. I told him they deserved their father, but visits would need to be arranged responsibly. For the first time, I felt that I could make decisions without being controlled by his emotions.