Stepan, my husband, and I have been married for 30 years. We were able to settle our lives despite initial financial challenges and the unexpected arrival of our son. Stepan established his own dental office, while I ran the family and raised our son, Volodya, who now lives independently and works for a huge technological firm.

I overheard two receptionists talking about a secret child one day while waiting for Stepan at his clinic.I was stunned and terribly disturbed. Due to the huge volume of patients, my spouse frequently worked late. And I began to suspect that something was wrong with this story. I approached one of the receptionists, unable to keep my suspicions to myself.

She stated that Stepan had an affair with a woman named Vita, with whom he had a child. That same day, I severed my relationship with him. As a result of my shock, I decided to relocate to Poland, where my sister, Christina, lived. My son and other relatives supported me and severed contact with Stepan.

Stepan called me a few months into my new life in Krakow and disclosed that he had a daughter with Vita, who had abandoned the child with him and vanished. He begged me for assistance, claiming that he couldn’t balance the requirements of the child and his career. Despite the fact that my sister and son were vehemently opposed to my return, the fate of the child weighed heavily on me.

But I didn’t want to leave Poland, where I had a new job, pleasant friends, and a home. Although the youngster was not at fault, was it my responsibility to bear the repercussions of his parents’ actions? I’m conflicted and unsure about what to do next.