My husband left me and our six children for a fitness coach – I didn’t even have time to think of revenge before fate caught up with him.

We need to talk.

‘We’ll do that,’ I said. ‘Through lawyers. You’ve made a choice, and I’m done with the mess it leaves behind. Don’t come back.’

He stood there speechless. Alyssa stared at him as if she realized too late that she had tied her future to a man who couldn’t make it work.

I walked away.

I’m going home.

**

The children were waiting for me at home. I squatted down and hugged them all one by one. Rose clung to me a little longer.

Is Dad coming home?

‘No, sweetie,’ I said softly. ‘Not today.’

She frowned. “Tomorrow?”

I took a deep breath. “Maybe not just yet,” I said. “But I am here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Now I finally chose myself and my children.