“While I was happy to see my ex-husband handsome, stylish, and successful, his proposal left me sleepless and distressed. For many, divorce means a sense of emptiness and being lost… but for me, it was a release for both of us after months of exhaustion. My ex-husband and I had a passionate time dating, but what made us incompatible was that each of us had our own thoughts and paths. Our opposing views caused the distance between us to grow wider over time.

My husband is a strong, lively person who enjoys partying. I, on the other hand, am quiet, live a peaceful life, and don’t want a noisy existence. We were opposites largely because of these things. He liked business, taking risks in his ventures, while I preferred stability; I wanted wealth but genuinely preferred a simpler life.

When our marriage broke down, we chose to divorce gently and easily, simply ending our series of ‘out-of-sync’ days. Friends, relatives, colleagues… everyone was curious and regretful about us, some even thinking one of us had an affair. I wasn’t bothered much by the whispers and started a new life as a single mother, full of freedom and self-reliance.

Regardless of others pairing up, I only had my child as an anchor, and that was my simple source of happiness. Every day, I got to do the work I love, take care of my child, and have peace of mind. I started thinking more openly, enjoying travel, and finding interesting feelings in the places I visited. The two of us went everywhere together, always cheerful, although there were moments of sadness when my child mentioned their father. I hurt for my child not having their father nearby, but what could be done when everything was already decided?

The ex-husband’s proposal made me feel stunned and awkward. (Illustration photo)

After the divorce, my ex-husband and I only kept in touch via phone, never meeting because I thought everything was closed off. He often texted to ask how I was doing; I reluctantly replied and usually avoided him. I heard he had remarried, which didn’t concern me much because each of us had our own lives. That’s why I was deliberate about not meeting him or even texting back and forth.

It had been two years since I last saw my ex-husband; he unexpectedly asked to meet and came to see me. He looked handsome, stylish, and appeared to be doing well financially. I had heard from a few people that my ex-husband was thriving in business, and I was happy that he was wealthy now because during the time we were together, he hadn’t achieved much development.

After exchanging initial pleasantries, my ex-husband confided: ‘I am doing very well now, with money to spare. But my new wife and I are incompatible; we are nothing more than business partners, relying on each other to grow. Life is not happy; aside from business matters, we have no significant common ground. That’s why I always think of you and our child.’

My ex-husband did not hesitate to propose that I give him a chance to see me and our child regularly. What shocked me was that he wanted to have a secret affair with me, claiming that I am compatible and stimulating for him, unlike his current wife. He and his wife have been married for a while and still haven’t had a child, so if I could give him a son, he would grant me anything I want—a new house, a car. He promised he would eventually leave his wife to come back to me.

Since that day, he has constantly called and texted, trying to persuade me to go out with him and do that. Of course, I did not agree; I do not want to be a third party. My stable life has been turned upside down, and I have to think a lot about my ex-husband; he often uses our child as an excuse to beg me to sneak around with him.

Now I am very worried and don’t know how to handle this. Should I flatly refuse and stop meeting him, or should I agree to let my child have more chances to see their father? Please give me advice!”