We fell in love when I was 18. After nearly ten years of dating and getting married, my husband gave me the life of my dreams. But two messages on my phone shattered everything.

I met him when I was 18. He was 4 years older than me. At that immature age when many people did not dare to think about the future, we fell deeply in love and vowed to be together for life.

Two years later, when I was 20 and he was 24, like dreamers, we secretly “got married”. At that time, my family thought he was just my boyfriend and did not know that we had been living together and considered each other as husband and wife.

Since I was a child, I dreamed of studying hard to go to the city to study at university. But my family was poor, my parents did not have the means, raising 3 children to finish high school was too much.

They wanted me to graduate and work in a garment factory as a worker, then get married and raise children like everyone else.

Not wanting to follow my parents’ wishes, I finished high school and went to the city. I worked as a cook and learned to cook.

But he changed everything. One day, he said he would help me make my dream come true. He encouraged me to review and take the university entrance exam. Luckily, I was admitted to a school with a score that met the standard.

He did not make empty promises. He worked hard to earn money and paid my tuition.

We rented a small house in the suburbs, cut down on expenses, and lived as simply as possible. But he never complained, never blamed me for financial difficulties.

Thanks to him, I was able to walk on the path that I once thought was just a dream. I felt extremely grateful to him. But my family was still angry with me about the past, so they were not interested in him. I ignored everything and decided to marry him.

Life was much more stable. We planned to have a baby in 2 years when I was 28, so that we would have more time to prepare financially for the future. Everything seemed to be going well, until one day…

That day, I took his phone to get photos from his birthday. He put his phone on airplane mode and when I turned it off, a series of messages started to appear.

Two messages from a phone number with a man’s name saved but the content was very strange: “Honey, are you home yet?”, “Text me when you’re free”.

I was shocked, I couldn’t believe my eyes. He had an affair, secretly doing shady things behind my back. That same night, I confronted him.

Without hiding anything, he told me everything and started crying, asking for forgiveness. He said this had been going on for about 5 months. The “mistress” was divorced and a new colleague at his office.

He apologized and said he would completely cut off contact with her, even change jobs if I wanted. I mentioned divorce, which made him even more panicked and begged for a chance.

I felt that my trust in him had diminished a lot. Part of me wanted to end this marriage, but another part prevented me from making a decision.

After the argument, he often came home early from work, bought flowers and my favorite snacks. He took the initiative and tried to warm up the relationship. But I still wondered, could trust be restored?

I still love him and appreciate what he has sacrificed for me over the years. I regret the years of our youth together. We tried together, fought together, and worked tirelessly for the future.

I have seen many couples overcome betrayal thanks to marriage counselors. I don’t know if we should try something like that.

I’m still at the crossroads of life, wondering where to go…