I MARRIED A SERIAL CHEAT

Anne Williams* shares the heartbreak of betrayal and rejection by the man she loved

It should have been the perfect summer day as we enjoyed the sunshine in the conservatory, but something wasn't right. My husband. Nick*, had gone quiet and was staring out across the garden. I tried to get him to open up. Was he ill? Worried about work? Finally he turned to face me and said he didn't love me any more. I felt numb, as if the ground beneath my feet had fallen away. It was 2017, I was 58 and we had been married for 27 years. He was my world, my best friend and a fabulous father to our sons. He was also the man I had forgiven for a series of affairs, but this time he was leaving me for good.

We met when I was 29 and HIDE A I fell headlong in love. Nick moved into my tiny rented cottage, and we married two years later. His young son, Jeremy*, often stayed with us, and when our son, Peter*, was born in 1991, our family was complete. I worked part time as a teacher, while Nick built up our business.

BREAKING THE TRUST

After years of scrimping, we could afford nice cars and clothes, foreign holidays and our own home. We were so happy. But there was a cloud over my happiness.

When Peter was five, Nick started 'working late' and his phone bill had lots of calls to one number. I turned into Miss Marple and the clues only pointed one way.

When I confronted him, he admitted seeing a woman at work. I wanted to know more about her - why he'd wanted her and not me - but he wouldn't discuss it and got angry if I raised it. He promised to end it and I forgave him - I didn't want our family to fall apart. However, when Peter was 12, the nightmare started again. He met this one on a work trip. I found her number on the flip side of a business card. Another showdown, another patch on our marriage.