My husband has become so full of himself that he thinks he can lay down the law for me.
My husband, Jeremy, has recently decided hes the centre of the universeso much so that he believes he can dictate terms to me. And not just any terms: ones that make my blood run cold. Hes threatened to divorce me if I dont stop seeing my daughter, Emily, from my first marriage. Seriously? Shes my child, my flesh and blood, my life. And he thinks he can bully her out of my heart? I still cant believe the man Ive spent so many years with could sink this low.
It all started a few months ago. Jeremy has always been strong-willed, but I saw it as a strength rather than a flawself-assured, determined, used to things going his way. When we married, I thought Id found a solid partner, someone whod stand by me and accept my family. Emily was still little, barely five. She adored him straight away, calling him Papa Jeremy. It warmed my heart to see them so close. But over time, something shifted.
He pulled away from her. At first, it was small thingshe stopped asking about her day at school, no longer played with her like before. I put it down to exhaustionhis job was demanding, and he often came home late. Then, he grew irritated whenever I mentioned Emily. You give her too much of your time, he snapped one evening at dinner. I was stunned. Shes my daughterhow could I not care for her? She lives with my mum, Margaret, in a nearby town, and I only see her on weekends. Those visits are my lifeline, my way of staying her mum despite the distance.
Then came the ultimatums. A month ago, Jeremy sat across from me at the kitchen table, arms folded, and delivered his verdict coldly: I dont want you visiting Emily every weekend. It disrupts our family. I thought Id misheard. What family? We dont have children together, and Emily is part of my life. I tried to explain that I couldnt abandon herthat shed already suffered through one divorce, that she needed me. But he just shrugged. Shes old enough to manage. If you keep this up, Ill get a solicitor.
I was speechless. Divorce? Because I want to be a mother to my child? It was so absurd, I didnt know how to respond. In that moment, I realised the man Id thought was my support saw me not as his wife, but as someone to control. He didnt just want to limit my bond with Emilyhe wanted to dictate my life.
Other memories returned. His snide remarks about my mum, Margaret, who he accused of spoiling Emily. His scowls when I bought her presents or paid for her activities. That time he said, The past belongs in the past, as if my first marriage and my daughter were mistakes I should erase. Id ignored the signs, but now it all made sense. He couldnt stand Emilys presencehe wanted her gone.
I dont know what to do. Part of me wants to walk out immediately. I cant stay with a man who gives me such outrageous conditions. But another part is afraid. Weve been together seven years, we have a home, plans. Ive invested so much. And how would I explain to Emily that her mum is alone again? She already asks why Papa Jeremy doesnt visit. How do I tell her he wants me to forget her?
My mum, Margaret, says I must protect my daughter, even if it costs me my marriage. Youll never forgive yourself if you choose him over her, she told me on the phone. Shes right. Emily isnt just my pastshes my heart, my responsibility. I remember holding her as a newborn, her first smile, her first steps. I wont betray her for a man who sees her as a problem.
Yet Jeremy wont budge. The other day, he brought it up again, harsher than ever: Its me or your daughter. I wont live with a woman stuck in the past. I stayed silent, knowing any response would only rile him further. But deep down, my choice was already made. Ill never stop seeing Emily. Never. Even if it means losing my marriage.
Now, Im figuring out my next steps. Maybe consulting a solicitor to understand divorce. Finding a better job to stand on my own feet. Ive even started looking for a flat closer to Emily. Its terrifying, but theres hope, too. I want her to know Ill always be there, no matter what.
Jeremy probably thinks his threats will break me. Hes wrong. I wont bow to rules that force me to abandon what matters most. I choose Emily. And if I have to start over, I will. For her. For us.
