I thought my daughter lived in a happy household until I visited them.
When Aurélie told us she was marrying a man eight years older, we raised no objections. He made an excellent first impressioncultured, courteous, considerate. Grégoire knew how to win people over. He showered our daughter with tender gestures: flowers, trips, presents. And when he announced he would cover every wedding expensethe venue, the dress, the videographers, the décorI almost wept. We were convinced our little girl was in good hands.
Mom, he runs his own business, dont worry, Aurélie reassured me. Hes comfortable, he has everything under control.
Six months after the ceremony, Grégoire arrived at our home with Aurélie. He inspected the flat without a word. The next day, technicians came to take measurements. A week later, workers followed. Soon our aging Rouen apartment boasted luxurious quintupleglazed, soundproof windows. Then the balcony was renovated, a climatecontrol system installed, even the tiles were replaced.
My husband and I thanked him, bewildered, but he brushed our gratitude away with a wave: Just small things. For my wifes parents, nothing is too fine. Of course, it pleased us. How could we not be happy seeing our daughter living comfortably, loved, with such a caring husband?
Soon their first child was born. It felt like a scene from a film: the hospital exit with balloons, a cute onesie, lacetrimmed swaddles, a photographereverything was lavish. My husband and I smiled, touched: There they are, a happy family.
Two years later a second baby arrived. More gifts, more visitors, yet Aurélie seemed drained. Her gaze was weary, her smile forced. At first I blamed postpartum fatiguetwo children are a lot to handle. But each phone call hinted she was hiding something.
I decided to pay them a visit and warned them in advance. I arrived one evening; Grégoire was absent. Aurélie greeted me without enthusiasm, the children played in their room, I embraced them. My heart liftedgrandchildren at last. When the kids settled in front of cartoons, I gently asked my daughter:
Aurélie, darling, whats wrong?
She flinched, stared into the distance, then offered a tight smile:
Everythings fine, Mom. Im just tired.
Its more than fatigue. You seem shut down. You no longer laugh, your eyes are sad. I know you, Aurélie. Tell me the truth.
She hesitated. At that moment the front door slammedGrégoire had returned. Upon seeing me, his expression flickered almost imperceptibly. He smiled, greeted me, yet his eyes were cold, as if my presence annoyed him. Thats when I noticed the overly sweet, feminine perfume he woresomething French, unmistakably womans.
When he removed his jacket, a pink lipstick mark appeared on his collar. I couldnt help but say, clearly:
Grégoire were you really at the office?
He froze for a beat, then straightened, looked at me with an icy, almost brutal calm, and replied:
Jacqueline, with all due respect, stay out of our marriage. Yes, there is another woman, but that means nothing. For a man of my stature, its common. Aurélie knows. It doesnt change our family. We wont divorce. The children, my wifeeverything is under control. Im providing, Im here. So dont bother with details like lipstick.
I clenched my teeth. Aurélie got up, slipped into the childrens room with her head down. He went to shower as if nothing had happened. My heart broke with helplessness. I moved to my daughter, held her close, and whispered:
Aurélie do you think this is normal? He sleeps with another woman and you endure it? Is this what a family looks like?
She shrugged and began to sob, silently, as if the tears fell on their own. I stroked her back, speechless. I had so much to say, but it was useless. The choice was hers: stay with a man who believes money excuses betrayal, or choose herself.
She was trapped in a *golden cage* where, on the surface, everything seemed perfect. Everythingexcept respect. And true love, the kind that isnt built on lies or contempt.
I left into the night. Back home, sleep eluded me. My heart was torn. I wanted to take her and the children and run away, but I knew that until she decided, nothing would change. All I could do was be there, wait, and hope that someday Aurélie would choose herself.
