Sophia, 40, had always prided herself on being a good partner. She and her husband, David, had been married for 15 years, and while their relationship wasn’t perfect, she believed they had a strong foundation of love and trust. She worked hard to balance her demanding career with keeping their home life intact, even going out of her way to plan date nights to keep the romance alive.

But all of that came crashing down when Sophia received a late-night call from a mutual friend. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” the friend hesitated, “but I saw David out with another woman last week. They weren’t just talking.”

At first, Sophia refused to believe it. But when she confronted David, his reaction was a mix of defensiveness and anger. He admitted to the affair but then, to her utter disbelief, turned the blame on her. “Well, what did you expect?” he snapped. “You’re always so busy with work, and half the time, you’re too tired to even talk to me. I needed someone who made me feel wanted.”

Sophia was stunned. How could he twist his betrayal into an accusation against her? She had spent years supporting his ambitions and making sacrifices to keep their marriage afloat, only to be rewarded with this?

The pain of his infidelity was devastating, but his refusal to take responsibility made it worse. That night, Sophia made a decision: she would no longer stay in a relationship where her love and efforts were met with betrayal and blame. It was time to choose herself.