I Left My Husband and 3 Kids for My Egyptian Lover – What Happened Next Changed Everything

A mother of three, Julia Clark, 53, shares how a family holiday to Egypt in 2016 turned her life upside down, leading to the end of her 15-year marriage and a series of dramatic changes.

Julia had been married to Peter, also 53, for 15 years. Together, they had three children: James, now 34, Melissa, 21, and Amelia, 18. On the surface, their life seemed stable, but during their two-week holiday in Egypt, Julia realized she felt lonely and unfulfilled in her marriage.

“It felt like my relationship with Peter had become stale,” she explained. “He was a good man and an amazing father to our kids, but it felt like we were just staying together for them. There wasn’t much between us anymore.”

During the holiday, Julia met Ahmed, a 35-year-old hotel worker. He approached her and later added her on Facebook. When she returned home to England, she accepted his friend request, and they began chatting online. At first, their conversations were casual, but soon they turned into daily video calls. After three months, Ahmed confessed that he was falling in love with her, and by five months, Julia found herself developing feelings for him too.

Peter noticed Julia’s growing distance and her late-night phone calls with Ahmed. One night, he confronted her and said, “If you want a new life, you need to leave.” Julia knew he was right. By March 2017, she and Peter started the divorce process, ending their 15-year marriage.

In 2018, Julia finally met Ahmed in person during a 12-day trip to Egypt. During the trip, Ahmed proposed to her on the rooftop of an apartment. Julia was shocked but said yes, although she felt they should take things slowly. Over the next two years, Julia visited Ahmed every eight to nine months, and their bond grew stronger. Finally, in September 2020, Julia made the bold decision to leave her life in England behind. She moved to Egypt to start fresh with Ahmed, giving up her house, her family, and even leaving her children, who had always been her priority.

Twelve days after moving to Egypt, Julia and Ahmed got married. At first, things seemed fine, but cracks quickly began to show. Ahmed started going out late at night without telling Julia where he was. He also stopped taking her on dates, which made Julia feel isolated and unimportant. Feeling unsure about her decision, Julia flew back to England to think things over. While she was away, Ahmed convinced her to return, promising to make things better.

However, when Julia returned to Egypt, Ahmed dropped a bombshell. He told her he needed to marry an Egyptian woman to have children, as Julia was too old to give him the family he wanted. Under Islamic law, Ahmed was allowed to have multiple wives, and he suggested they discuss this option. Julia was heartbroken. “I told him I couldn’t share him,” she said. Even though Ahmed tried to backtrack, the damage was done. Julia realized the relationship had no future and decided to distance herself.

By September 2022, Julia and Ahmed divorced. Julia returned to England in 2023 and permanently settled in Lincoln in January 2024. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “I still believe there’s someone out there for me, but I’ve learned to be more cautious. I thought what I had with Ahmed was real, but I was wrong.”

Ahmed, on the other hand, explained his perspective: “It was an Islamic marriage in an Islamic country. I am an Egyptian man, and Julia is an English woman. There were many differences in our cultures and ways of thinking.”

Despite the heartbreak, Julia hasn’t given up on love. Before leaving Egypt, she met another Egyptian man closer to her age, who she believes truly cares about her. However, she admits she still has doubts. “Sometimes I think, ‘It’s not real,’ because I made the same mistake with Ahmed,” she said. For now, Julia is focusing on rebuilding her life and finding happiness in her own way.