In those days, my husband Edward had grown so full of himself that he began dictating terms to me—not just any terms, but ones that chilled me to the bone. He declared he would divorce me unless I cut ties with my daughter, Emily, from my first marriage. Can you imagine? My own flesh and blood, my very life. And he believed his threats could simply erase her from my heart? Even now, I struggle to fathom how the man I’d shared years with could sink so low.
It began a few months prior. Edward had always been strong-willed, but I’d once mistaken that for strength rather than a flaw. He was decisive, accustomed to getting his way. When we married, I thought I’d found a steadfast partner, someone who’d stand by me and embrace my family. Emily was just five then—bright-eyed, trusting, calling him “Dad Eddie.” It warmed my heart to see them bond. Yet, as time passed, something shifted.
He grew distant. At first, it was small things: no longer asking about her day, losing interest in her schoolwork, avoiding the games they once played together. I blamed his gruelling work schedule—late nights, exhaustion. But then came the irritation. “You spend too much time on her,” he snapped one evening over supper. I was stunned. Emily is my daughter—how could I not? She lives with my mother, Margaret, in the next town over, and weekends are all we have. Those visits are my solace, my way of being her mother despite the distance.
Then came the ultimatums. A month ago, Edward sat across from me at the kitchen table, arms folded, his face like stone. “I won’t have you visiting Emily every weekend. It’s tearing our family apart.” I nearly laughed. What family? It’s just the two of us—no children of our own—and Emily is part of me. I pleaded with him: she’d already endured her parents’ divorce, she needed me. But he waved me off. “She’s old enough to manage. If you won’t stop, I’ll file for divorce.”
I sat there, dumbstruck. Divorce? Because I refused to abandon my child? The absurdity left me speechless. In that moment, I saw the truth: the man I’d leaned on didn’t see me as a wife, but as someone to mould to his will. This wasn’t about limiting time with Emily—it was about controlling my life.
Other memories surfaced. How Edward scoffed at my mother for “spoiling” Emily. How he scowled when I bought her gifts or paid for her dance lessons. How he’d once muttered, “The past should stay in the past,” as if my first marriage—and my daughter—were mistakes to erase. Back then, I’d brushed it off. Now, the pattern was clear. He didn’t just resent Emily—he wanted her gone.
I’m torn. Part of me wants to pack my bags this instant. How can I stay with a man who makes such demands? But another part hesitates. Seven years together, a shared home, shared dreams—I’ve poured so much into this. And how would I explain it to Emily? She already asks why Dad Eddie never calls or visits. How could I tell her he wants me to forget her?
My mother, Margaret, says I must choose my daughter, even if it costs me my marriage. “You’ll never forgive yourself if you pick him over Emily,” she told me over the telephone. She’s right. Emily isn’t just my past—she’s my heart, my duty. I remember holding her as a newborn, her first giggle, her wobbly first steps. I won’t betray her for a man who sees her as a burden.
Yet Edward won’t relent. Days ago, he doubled down, his words harsher: “Choose—me or your daughter. I won’t share my wife with her past.” I stayed silent, knowing any reply would fuel his anger. But inside, my choice was made. I’ll never turn my back on Emily. Not even for this marriage.
Now, I plan my next steps. Perhaps a solicitor’s advice, to know what divorce entails. Maybe a better job, so I needn’t rely on him. I’ve even eyed flats nearer to Emily’s town, despite the fear it stirs. It’s daunting, yet there’s hope in it too. I want her to know: her mother will always fight for her, no matter the cost.
Edward may think his threats will bend me. But he’s wrong. I won’t live by anyone’s rules—least of all those that force me to forsake what matters most. I choose Emily. And if that means starting anew, so be it. For her. For us.
