Left in a Wheelchair, I Fought to Keep My Daughter After My Husband Chose His Mistress

My Husband Left Me for His Mistress When I Ended Up in a Wheelchair But I Refused to Let Him Take Our Daughter Too — Story of the Day
I believed that my husband would always be there for me. But my world fell apart the night I caught him and my best friend together. Tears blinded me as I ran into the rain, never noticing the abrupt bend ahead.

I had always thought of myself as content. I had a best friend I totally trusted, a daughter I loved, and a lovely husband. Cozy dinners, laughter at the table, and kisses before bed made my life seem like the ideal scenario.

My rock was Mark. Even on my lowest days, he could always make me laugh.

“Don’t worry, Kate. What could possibly go wrong? Does dinner burn? We place a pizza order. The issue has been resolved.

Our six-year-old daughter, Sophie, was a delight. She enjoyed our impromptu dance parties, caramel ice cream, and bedtime stories.

“Twirl me, Mom! “Higher!” She spun around in my arms while giggling.

When I joked, “Okay, but if I fall, you’re carrying me to bed,” she laughed even more.

In the past, Mark would shake his head. “Two agitators. In this house, I have no chance.”

We were the ideal trio, a cohesive one. Or so I believed.

Then there was Sarah. My closest companion. The person I put all my trust in.

I assumed she was just feeling moody when she informed me she didn’t want to celebrate her birthday. However, a birthday without a party? It didn’t feel right.

So, I decided to surprise her. Grinning, I purchased her favorite chocolate cherry cake.

“Kate, you’re ridiculous,” she will say, rolling her eyes.

Something didn’t feel right when I pulled in front of her house. The door stood open.

“Sarah?” I went inside and called.

Quiet. I walked a few more steps and came to a standstill.

Mark was sitting on her sofa. He put his hand on her lower back. They entwined their fingers. His face was so similar to hers. Too near. I exhaled the air.

“Kate…” Mark jumped up, looking pale.

Sarah’s eyes got bigger. “Just wait a minute…”

Their sounds were muted and hazy. In my ears, my heartbeat screamed. With a gentle thump, the cake fell out of my grasp.

I spun around and took off running. I fumbled with my keys outside while the rain beat down on my flesh. I could hardly squeeze my trembling hands into the ignition.

“Kate, take a breath. Simply take a breath.

The engine came to life with a roar. I felt my chest heave. My vision became hazy.

I stepped on the gas pedal. Gold streaks smeared across streetlights.

sharp turn signal. It’s too late. The tires skidded. A crushing, forceful force.

Darkness.

I was in a hospital bed when I woke up. My body felt unresponsive, fractured, and alien. When I attempted to move, something went wrong.

“Kate,” the doctor said in a composed tone. “You need to know…”

His words burnt like fire. Paralysis of the lower body. A wheelchair. The prospect of recovery, but no assurances.

I couldn’t comprehend how this was possible. How was I unable to walk?

My throat tightened with panic. Then I caught sight of her.

Sophie was standing close to the door. Her eyes were enormous and brimming with pain and terror. She rushed over to me, buried her face in my shoulder, and threw her arms around me.

“Mommy…”

As firmly as I could, I held her.

Mark was standing there. His expression was aloof, icy, and regretless. For the first time, I was truly afraid as I looked at him.

I said, “We’ll get through this,” because I had to believe it. I was forced to.

He let out a long, heavy breath. “Kate…”

I asked Sophie to go into the hallway and play with her teddy bear. A good-natured nurse volunteered to spend a few minutes with her.

At last, Mark went on. “I can’t do this anymore.”

The world came to a stop.

“What?”

“I’m leaving.”

I’m not sorry. No regret. Without hesitation. Just a straightforward factual statement.

My fingers went white as I grasped the sheets. “For her?”

He didn’t answer.

“I’ll take Sophie for now,” he added, his tone dry. “We’ll decide the rest later.”

Then he simply turned and walked away. I was left alone. Tears flowed softly down my face.

I had to get back on my feet. For Sophie.

Rehabilitation was awful. That was when Alex entered my life.

He taught me how to move and came every day to serve as my physical therapist. I resembled a youngster who was learning to walk. Despite his kindness and patience, he never gave up on me.

“Kate, once more. You are capable of doing this.

However, I was unable to.

I was upset. at myself. at my spouse. When I was thinking about betrayal and how much I wanted to drown in self-pity, Alex insisted that I concentrate on my legs.

Therapy failed for a week. Then Sophie returned.

She was radiant, not simply joyful. Her voice was full of excitement as she leaped on the bed and ran about the room, her long hair cascading over her shoulders.

“You won’t believe it, Mom! We visited an amusement park. Her eyes were shining when she sat down in front of me. “Dad let me ride the biggest roller coaster, and Aunt Sarah bought me the biggest cotton candy!”

She struck me like a hammer with her words. Sarah, Aunt.

Despite the lump in my throat, I pushed myself to grin.

“That sounds wonderful, sweetheart.”

“Mom, can we go together next time?” She excitedly took hold of my hand.

I wanted to say “yes.”

But I had barely learned how to get in and out of my wheelchair by myself. Doing basic household tasks was an exhausting challenge. The thought of traveling anyplace in this chair was awful, unthinkable.

I wanted to promise her that I would run beside her, laugh with her, hold her hand as she yelled with excitement on the rides. However, I was unable to. My legs remained motionless. In the universe she lived in, my legs didn’t exist.

Sophie waited. The hope in her large eyes as she gazed up at me was more intense than words could possibly express.

I turned my head away. “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

Her eyes fluttered with disappointment. Her shoulders dropped as she released my hand softly.

She mumbled, “Oh… well, maybe some other time,”

Mark called that night.

His voice was calm and confident, as though he had already made up his mind about us. “Sophie’s doing great with me,” he said. “I think she should live here.”

I held onto the phone. “You didn’t even ask me.”

“Be truthful, Kate. You find it difficult. Sophie is entitled to a typical upbringing.

I nearly let out a yell. “And you think I can’t give that to her?”

Mark let out a sigh, as though he were addressing a young child who was refusing to comprehend a simple concept.

“You witness it for yourself. She has a dentist appointment and a birthday celebration tomorrow, so I’ll come get her. Or would you prefer to go with her yourself?

I tightened my jaw. He didn’t hold off until I answered. He ended the call.

Sophie left the following morning. I gave Alex a chilly look when he came.

“I’m done.”

He was taken aback but unfazed.

“Kate, feeling worn out is natural. Not just now, though. You’ve gone a long way.

“And for what?” Hysteria was beginning to seep into my voice. “For what purpose? To see how much fun my daughter is having with my ex and his mistress? to understand that she prefers them to me? To continue gazing at my legs in the hopes that they may miraculously begin functioning once more?”

Alex’s lips were squeezed together. “You are loved by Sophie. However, you require time.

“She needs a mother who can walk.”

He gave a deep sigh. “She needs a mother who doesn’t give up.”

I muttered, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Alex gave me a long look, his eyes brimming with comprehension.

“Okay.”

I scowled. “Okay?”

“If you want to give up, I can’t stop you.”

He got to his feet. “But if you ever need my help again, you know where to find me.”

Then he went away. As the rain started to pour, I sat by the window and observed.

My mother showed up the following day. She wasn’t invited by me. I hadn’t even explained the situation to her. I thought Alex might have located her number and given her a call.

Without asking, she entered the room and took a seat next to me.

“My sweet girl,” she said, taking my hand tenderly, just as she had done when I was a tiny child and afraid. “Everything will be alright.”

I didn’t respond.

“The doctors say you need to believe in yourself.”

I laughed a little dryly. “I don’t believe in anything anymore, Mom.”

With a sigh, she caressed my hand before opening her laptop without saying anything more.

I recognized myself as a child on the TV. I remember giggling while racing on a beach, falling into the sand, rising back up, and sprinting in the direction of my mother, who threw me into the air and whirled me around.

Astonished, I gazed at the screen. “What is this?”

Mom grinned.

“Your early years. I didn’t have the strength to lift you at this moment. I had cancer. I was recuperating from chemotherapy.

I shuddered.

“I recall that moment… However, I was unaware of your illness. You seemed so strong all the time. You simply began to wear that scarf everywhere you went. However, I was unaware.

Her eyes were steady but gentle as she gazed at me.

“I became ill when your father passed away. According to the physicians, I had a fifty-fifty chance.

“But you recovered.”

She clasped my hand and said, “Because I saw your eyes,” “I didn’t want to betray your happiness.”

I had no idea. She moved a lock of hair away from my face.

Whispering, “And Sophie… he wants to take her from me,”

“I’ll look after Sophie, honey. Until you’re able to stand again. And it will happen shortly. I think so.

She gave a wink. “And Alex… I believe he also has faith in you.

Suddenly, I had a whole new perspective on my mother, and I knew that if she could do it, I could, too. I gave him a call that evening.

“I’m coming back to rehab.”

He remarked, “I knew you would,”

The next few days were cruel. However, the presence of Sophie and my mother gave me the willpower to continue.

I went down. I was caught by Alex. I made an effort to move. Again and again.

“I can assist you with Sophie if you need me outside of this. Sometimes, your mother too deserves a break.

Something unexpected and warm stirred inside me as I glanced up at him.

“Is this your way of asking me out?”

He laughed. Then I took my first stride. Next, my second.

I hosted Sophie’s birthday celebration a month later. I was standing next to her. Not in a wheelchair.

Alex grasped my hand. Mark saw from afar. However, I never turned around.

Share this story with your friends and let us know what you think. It could give them motivation and make their day.