I thought buying our dream home would bring Louis and me closer, but it became the place where everything unraveled. We had built our life from nothing—saving every penny, dreaming of a house with a big yard and a future full of promise. When we finally moved in, it felt like we had made it.

Then came Ruth, the sweet elderly neighbor who seemed friendly—until Louis started spending more and more time at her house. I grew suspicious, especially when I noticed how often he “helped” her. One morning, I followed him—and what I saw shattered everything: Louis in the garden, being kissed by a much younger woman, with Ruth proudly serving lemonade to them both.

It turned out the girl was Ruth’s granddaughter, and the affair wasn’t a secret to her. When I confronted them, Louis tried to deny it, but the truth was clear. Ruth even blamed me, saying if I had been a better wife, he wouldn’t have strayed. That was the moment I knew: this wasn’t love. This was betrayal.

I ended it. Packed his things, filed for divorce, and sold the house. Ruth later showed up at his mom’s, furious he’d lied to them too. I almost pitied her granddaughter. But I was done with all of it. Losing that house gave me something better: the freedom to start again, on my own terms.