Anne never imagined her life would turn out this way. She had once been married to Matthew, a man she thought would love her forever. But after years of hoping for a son and having five beautiful daughters instead, Matthew changed. He blamed her, as if she controlled such things, and one day, he filed for divorce. The worst part? He still lived in their house, treating it like a bachelor pad while she struggled to raise their children.
One afternoon, while out for a rare break from motherhood, Anne found herself walking down the bustling streets of Seattle. Her five daughters were with her mother, giving her a precious moment of peace. That’s when she heard a familiar voice.
“Oh my God! Harry! It’s so nice to see you!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she saw an old friend from school.
“Anne! Wow, it’s been so long! Hey, would you like to grab some coffee and catch up?” Harry responded with a wide grin.
Without hesitation, Anne nodded. They entered a cozy café, and soon, their conversation flowed as if no time had passed. They reminisced about their school days, laughed about old memories, and then Harry’s expression turned serious.
“So, tell me about your family,” he said gently.
Anne hesitated. “Oh… that’s actually a difficult subject.”
“I can imagine,” Harry said, nodding. “Raising five kids isn’t easy.”
Anne sighed, feeling a lump form in her throat. “It’s not just that. Matthew changed after our twins were born. They’re nine now, but they barely talk to their father. I think they’re scared of him.”
Harry frowned. “Why would they be scared?”
“Because he wanted a son so badly,” she admitted. “We kept trying, hoping for a boy, but we kept having girls. After our fifth daughter was born, Matthew became another person. He was so disappointed that he just… stopped caring. And then he filed for divorce.” She wiped away a tear threatening to fall.
Harry reached out and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “That’s awful, Anne. But you know what? You’re already raising them on your own. You don’t need him. And now that I’m in Seattle permanently, I could help. You could move in with me.”
Anne’s jaw dropped. “Harry… that’s… that’s incredibly kind, but I couldn’t accept that.”
“Just think about it,” he said with a small smile.
She did. And over the next few weeks, her life with Matthew grew unbearable. He was still living in their home, acting like he was single, throwing parties, waking the girls in the middle of the night, and bringing strangers into their home. Then, one night, he brought a woman over. That was the final straw.
Anne called Harry. Within hours, she had packed up her daughters, left the house, and never looked back.
The divorce battle was ugly, but Anne fought for what was right. She wanted full custody, and she wanted their house—her daughters’ home. In court, Matthew’s reckless lifestyle was exposed, and the judge had no trouble granting her requests. He lost everything.
Anne and Harry grew closer, and eventually, love blossomed between them. He adored her girls as if they were his own, and when they moved in together, he bought a bigger home to make space for their growing family. For the first time in years, Anne felt truly happy.
A year after marrying Harry, Anne gave birth to their son, Alan. He was the most beautiful boy in the world, and his five big sisters adored him more than anything. Life felt complete.
Years passed, and one day, Anne found herself at the mall, shopping for Alan’s new shoes. The girls were busy with their activities, so it was just her and her little boy. She never expected to run into Matthew.
Alan, always full of energy, ran ahead to grab a pretzel sample. “Alan, don’t run away from me like that,” Anne scolded gently as she hurried after him. But then, she froze.
“Anne?”
She turned toward the familiar voice. Standing there in a pretzel shop uniform, holding a tray of free samples, was Matthew.
“Matthew? What are you doing here?” she asked, staring at the man who used to be her husband. He looked completely different—his once expensive suits replaced by a cheap uniform, his confident demeanor gone.
“I… I work here,” he admitted, avoiding her gaze. His eyes then flickered to Alan. “Is this your son?”
Anne smiled proudly. “Yes, this is Alan. He’s Harry’s son.”
Matthew’s face twitched. The reality hit him—he had thrown away everything because of his obsession with having a son. And now, Anne had one, but it wasn’t his.
“Listen, Anne,” Matthew started, his voice hesitant. “I didn’t want to ask like this, but I’m desperate. I lost everything because of my… choices. I was wondering if we could sell our old house. I need the money.”
Anne tilted her head, considering his words. She could have easily refused. Legally, the house was hers. But something in her gut told her to be the better person.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally said. “We have to go now. I’ll call you about the house.”
She took Alan’s hand and walked away, never once looking back. In the end, she did sell the house and, out of kindness, gave Matthew half of what it was worth. But their daughters wanted nothing to do with him. They were teenagers now, and the wounds he had left were too deep.
Eventually, Matthew stopped trying to contact them. He faded from their lives, and they never saw him again.
Anne, however, had everything she ever needed—a loving husband, wonderful children, and a future full of happiness.
What can we learn from this story?
- Family is more than just DNA. Matthew abandoned his daughters, but Harry stepped up and became the father they deserved.
- Regret can’t undo the past. Matthew lost everything because of his selfish choices, and by the time he realized it, it was too late.
- True happiness comes from love and kindness. Anne found her happiness not in revenge, but in building a better life for her and her children.
