For years, I have been caught in a marriage filled with tears, unable to fulfill my family’s deep-rooted desire for grandchildren. With the weight of my inability to conceive, I find myself at a crossroads, torn between staying in my marriage or leaving for a chance at happiness with someone from my past.

I once loved a man named D. But when it came time to marry, I chose my current husband, who was wealthy and able to provide a comfortable life. Being married into a well-off family made my life easier, and my husband treated me with care and attention. Yet, despite all that, I could never forget D. Each time I was with my husband, I couldn’t stop thinking of him.

I knew it was wrong, and each day I tried to force myself to forget my past and focus on my husband. But no matter how much I tried, I could never give him the love he deserved. My actions became a mere routine, something I did out of obligation rather than from the heart.

As time passed, my husband began to notice the distance between us. He realized that my affection was superficial, not genuine. Despite this, he never expressed anger or jealousy; instead, he continued to shower me with love, hoping that his sincerity would eventually win me over.

The situation only worsened when my husband, eager to start a family, believed that having a child would strengthen our bond. However, I struggled to feel comfortable with him, and despite our efforts, there was no joy of pregnancy. As time went on, my in-laws began pressuring us, especially because my husband is the only son, and they were fixated on the idea of him having a child, particularly a son.

The pressure from my in-laws grew unbearable. They sent me all kinds of supplements and medications and pushed me to see doctors. After several visits, the painful truth was revealed: I was infertile. Holding the results in my hand, I was devastated, overwhelmed with despair.

Out of love and concern, my husband decided to hide the news from his parents. However, the truth eventually came out, and when my in-laws discovered I couldn’t have children, their disappointment was apparent. My mother-in-law scolded my husband for marrying someone she thought would be able to bear children, and my father-in-law became withdrawn, blaming my husband for the lack of an heir.

While my husband never outright blamed me, I could feel his disillusionment and frustration. His disappointment, coupled with my in-laws’ coldness, cut deeply into my soul. The emotional strain started to take a toll on our marriage, and I found myself in constant conflict with my mother-in-law, who cruelly referred to me as “barren.”

As the tension within our family grew, my husband stopped defending me. I felt isolated, dealing with the pain on my own. In these moments of loneliness, my mind would wander back to D. He was the person I turned to when I needed comfort, the one who had always been my safe haven.

One day, I could no longer bear the weight of my emotions and called D. I needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand. We met at our old café, the place where we had once shared so many special moments. Seeing him again, I was overwhelmed with emotion, and when I learned that he had never been able to move on after me, it stirred something deep inside me.

He told me that he had never loved anyone else since me and that if we had another chance, he wouldn’t let me go. His words brought tears to my eyes. I confessed all my pain, my struggles, and how my marriage had become unbearable. D. listened with compassion, saying that I didn’t deserve the way I was being treated and that I deserved to be happy.

He encouraged me to leave my marriage, telling me I should live for myself. He didn’t care that I was married or that I couldn’t give him the family he desired. His love for me had never faded, and he wanted to be with me, regardless of the past.

I still loved him. With him, I felt peace and happiness I hadn’t felt in years. In his embrace, I felt like I could finally live the life I had always dreamed of.

Now, I find myself at a crossroads: should I divorce my husband and pursue a life with D.? I am torn between my current obligations and the chance to be with the person who truly understands me and makes me feel alive.

I am reaching out for advice and hope someone can offer me a sincere perspective on what I should do. Should I stay in a marriage that has become a source of pain, or should I follow my heart and seek happiness with the one I truly love?