My husband thinks he’s the center of the universe and now he’s trying to impose conditions on me.

**Diary of a Man**

My wife, Laura, has recently become the center of attention and now thinks she can impose conditions on me. And not just any conditions, but ones that make my blood run cold. She told me she’d divorce me if I didn’t stop seeing my daughter, Lucía, from my first marriage. Really? She’s my daughter, my blood, my life. And she thinks she can erase her from my existence just by threatening me? I still can’t believe the woman with whom I shared years of my life has gone to this.

It all started a few months ago. Laura has always had character, but I used to see it as a strength, not a flaw. She’s confident, determined, and used to everything revolving around her. When we got married, I thought I’d found someone loyal, someone who would support me and accept my family. Lucía was young then, only five years old. From the start, she grew fond of Laura, calling her “Mama Lau.” It filled me with joy to see how well they got along. But over time, something changed.

Laura began to distance herself from Lucía. At first, it was small things: she no longer asked about her school day, she avoided playing with her like she used to. I attributed it to tiredness—her job is demanding, she’s sometimes late. But then she started getting irritated every time I mentioned my daughter. “You spend too much time on her,” she blurted out one night at dinner. It left me speechless. How could I not spend time with her? Lucía lives with my mother, Carmen, in Valencia, and I only see her on weekends. Those moments are my refuge, my way of continuing to be her father, despite the distance.

Then came the ultimatums. A month ago, Laura sat across from me in the kitchen, crossed her arms, and, with a cold stare, said, “I don’t want you to keep going to see Lucía every weekend. This affects our family.” I thought I’d heard wrong. What family? It’s just the two of us, we don’t have children, and Lucía is a part of me. I tried to explain that I couldn’t abandon my daughter, that she’d already suffered through her parents’ separation, that she needs my love. But Laura just shrugged. “She’s grown up now, she’ll get over it. If you don’t stop going, I’ll get a divorce.”

I froze. Divorce? Because I wanted to be a father to my own daughter? It was so absurd I didn’t even know how to react. In that instant, I understood that the woman I trusted didn’t see me as her partner, but as someone who had to abide by her rules. She didn’t just want to get away from Lucía—she wanted to control my life.

I began to remember other moments. How Laura criticized my mother for “spoiling” Lucía, how she frowned when I bought her gifts or paid for her ballet lessons. Once, she said that “the past should be left behind,” referring to my first marriage and my daughter. At the time, I ignored it, but now it all made sense. It’s not that she doesn’t want to accept Lucía—it’s that she wants to erase her from our lives.

I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to pack up and leave right now. I can’t be with someone who sets such cruel conditions. But another part is afraid. We’ve been together for seven years, we have a house, projects. I’ve invested so much in this relationship… And then, how do I explain to Lucía that her father is alone again? She’s already asking why “Mama Lau” doesn’t call or visit her. How do I tell her she wants me to forget her?

My mother, Carmen, tells me I must protect my daughter, even if it means losing my wife. “You’ll never forgive yourself if you choose her over Lucía,” she told me over the phone. And she’s right. Lucía isn’t just part of my past—she’s my heart, my responsibility. I remember when I first held her, her first smile, her first steps. I won’t betray her for someone who sees her as a hindrance.

But Laura won’t budge. A few days ago, she repeated it more harshly: “Either you choose your daughter or me. I won’t live with a man tied to his past.” I remained silent, knowing that any response would only infuriate her further. But deep down, I’d already made up my mind. I won’t stop seeing Lucía. Ever. Even if it means losing my marriage.

Now I’m thinking about how to move forward. Maybe I should talk to a lawyer to find out what awaits me. Or look for a better job so I can be independent. I’ve even looked at apartments in Valencia to be closer to Lucía. It’s scary, but it also gives me hope. I want my daughter to know that her father will be there, no matter what.

Laura thinks her threats will break me. But she’s wrong. I won’t live by rules that force me to give up what I love most. I choose Lucía. And if I have to start over, I will. For her. For us.

**Lesson learned:** True love doesn’t require sacrificing those we love most. Sometimes, the family we choose is found in those who never asked us to choose.