My husband and I have been married for nine years. In 2021, we discovered that he was being sued for child support.

It turns out my husband had an affair shortly after we got married. This revelation nearly ended our marriage, but after attending counseling together, I agreed to stay on the condition that I would never have any relationship with the child from the affair. If my husband wanted to pursue one, that was fine, but I had absolutely zero interest in this child.

Imagine my disbelief when, recently, I opened the door to find a woman and a boy standing there. She told me that the boy was my husband’s son and that they were going to live with us from now on. I wanted to shut the door in her face, but she blindsided me by saying that in the near future, I would be legally responsible for supporting the child.

Feeling a whirlwind of emotions—anger, betrayal, and disbelief—I struggled to comprehend the situation. How could my husband have kept this from me? And now, I was expected to accept his illegitimate child into our home as if nothing had happened.

In that moment, I felt like my whole world was crumbling around me. I had worked so hard to maintain our marriage, to forgive my husband for his infidelity, and now it seemed like everything was falling apart once again.

With a heavy heart and a mind clouded by conflicting emotions, I made a decision that I knew would have far-reaching consequences. I told the woman and her son to leave, that they were not welcome in our home, and that I wanted nothing to do with them.

As the door closed behind them, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made the right choice. Was I being too harsh? Should I have at least listened to what the woman had to say? But then I remembered the promises my husband had broken, the trust he had betrayed, and I knew that I had to prioritize my own well-being.

In the days that followed, I grappled with feelings of guilt and uncertainty. Was I a good person for turning them away? Or was I just protecting myself from further pain and heartache?

Ultimately, I may never know the answer. But what I do know is that I made the best decision I could in the moment, given the circumstances. And for now, that will have to be enough.