Every Night, My Daughter Asked a Question That Broke My Heart—So I Gave In And Throw Away My Freedom to Do This

I’m not sure if my decision is the right one, but my daughter’s innocent question pierced my heart like a thorn.

Struggles During Marriage

My ex-husband, Mark, and I divorced five months ago because we couldn’t agree on financial matters. Mark earns a high salary—around $2,000 a month—but only gave me $200 for household expenses. He constantly worried that I would send money to my parents.

Meanwhile, I earned a modest income, and our young daughter often fell sick, leaving us short on money every month. Whenever I asked for more, Mark accused me of overspending and wasting money.

Last March, my mother was diagnosed with a severe illness that required urgent surgery. My brother, a farmer, couldn’t cover the cost, and I didn’t have any savings either. Desperate, I asked Mark for help, but he only lent me $400—at an interest rate comparable to a bank loan. Left with no choice, I borrowed the rest from my coworkers.

After my mother recovered and was discharged from the hospital, I filed for divorce. I couldn’t continue living with a man who valued money over my mother’s health and life.

The divorce went smoothly, as I didn’t contest any assets. At the court hearing, I made it clear that I just wanted to be free from him. I asked for no financial support for myself or my daughter, which seemed to shock Mark.

Life After Divorce

After the divorce, I moved in with my parents. With my mother helping care for my daughter, I opened a small food stall near an elementary school to make ends meet. I usually got home late, around 9 PM.

Recently, Mark started reaching out to me, sending frequent messages. He asked about my well-being, whether I needed financial help, and even visited our daughter, bringing gifts and new clothes. Although they hadn’t been close before, my daughter began to bond with her father. Every night before bed, she asked me to video call him so she could wish him goodnight.

Last week, Mark came to my food stall and asked if we could get back together. He told me his family had scolded him harshly after the divorce, accusing him of taking his wife and daughter for granted. They warned him that prioritizing money over family would leave him lonely for the rest of his life.

My Daughter’s Heartbreaking Question

I firmly refused his request. But during his visits, he must have said something to our daughter, because now she keeps asking me:

“Why don’t you live with Dad? He loves us. I want us to be together.”

One night, she said something that shattered my resolve:

“I don’t want to end up like Vi (a classmate whose parents divorced). Vi’s mom and dad both have new families now, and they don’t care about her. Mom, you’re not going to marry someone else and leave me, right? Can’t we just live with Dad again?”

Her words broke my heart. She doesn’t understand the pain I endured or the reasons behind my choices. All she knows is her longing for a complete family.

That night, after she fell asleep, I picked up my phone and texted Mark: “Let’s try again.”