After Decades of Marriage, Wife Discovers Her Husband’s Secret

Imagine being married for several decades, believing that you know the love of your life better than anyone else. Then imagine that the love of your life passes, and after losing them, you discover that you didn’t actually know them that well at all.

Audrey was very much in love with her husband and was happy with the simple life they had built together. She was a retired economics teacher, and while they weren’t wealthy by any means, she cherished the time they spent together and never regretted the decision to marry him.

Audrey and Glyndwyr met at a bar and fell in love instantly. They knew from the moment they met that they wanted to spend their lives together. Glyndwyr admired Audrey and could see no other woman but her. Audrey found Glyndwyr mysterious, but rather than be put off, she was intrigued by him.

While dating, Glyndwyr and Audrey admitted to one another that they had never felt for anyone else what they felt for each other. They explored their city hand-in-hand and were together whenever it was possible. Audrey knew that Glyndwyr sometimes had to leave town on business, but she did not inquire further.

A few months after their marriage, Audrey noticed a sharp abdominal pain. Concerned it was something serious, she rushed to the local emergency room. Glyndwyr, having just returned from one of his many business trips, accompanied her.

Audrey understood that Glyndwyr could not share with her the details of his business trips. He had informed her that his work was very private, and in order to continue doing it, he was not permitted to share

One day, Glyndwyr went out for a walk, something he did often to clear his mind. Usually, he returned from these walks feeling refreshed with a clear mind and ready to be present with his family. However, this day, his time away from home had only served to leave him more upset and frustrated. He had some news to tell Audrey that would affect their family.

Audrey was completely shocked and by no means wanted to leave her home where they had built such a wonderful life and happy memories. She especially did not appreciate being told she had to uproot it all so quickly.

Audrey stood in the doorway of the home she loved and argued with Glyndwyr about the decision to move. She did not want to back down. The thought of giving up the life she loved so much so suddenly was heartbreaking.

The couple soon discovered that they were expecting their second child. This time they were told that the pregnancy was high risk and that going through with it would take an incredible toll on Audrey’s body. She would be unable to have more children after this.

Audrey and Glyndwyr chose to continue the pregnancy, excited at the news of a second child. However, this meant that they could not move. Audrey could not travel during a high-risk pregnancy and put her health in even more danger.

Glyndwyr dedicated even more of his time to his family. He cared for their son and for Audrey while she was placed on bed rest. He took care of the home as well and spent as much time as possible making sure that they were ready for the new baby.

One day, Glyndwyr approached Audrey and told her that he had changed his mind about moving their family. He no longer believed that it was the best decision for them at that time. He believed that they needed to stay close to their support system and prioritize raising their children.

Audrey and Glyndwyr lived their life together for nearly fifty years. They raised their children and were just as happy with one another’s company throughout the years as they were when they first met. They enjoyed their time together and loved one another fiercely. They even became grandparents.

Glyndwyr’s health continued to get worse. He ultimately decided to visit a doctor to find out the issue. His doctor soon diagnosed him with Parkinson’s Disease. He was told that his prognosis was not good.

Glyndwyr’s health never recovered. He continued to decline rapidly as they tried to cherish every moment they had left together. He sometimes considered sharing his lifelong secret with Audrey but was concerned about devastating her further.

Glyndwyr was very much loved in his community. There were many who knew him who were stricken by losing someone so dedicated and loving. He was well known to be hardworking and dedicated to his family.

Audrey avoided going through Glyndwyr’s belongings for as long as she reasonably could. She was so heartbroken at losing him that the thought of taking such a final step meant accepting the loss completely. Leaving things as they were helped her feel as if a part of him was still present.

After three long years of avoiding the task, Audrey finally summoned the courage to sift through Glyndwyr’s possessions. She had left everything untouched for so long, unable to accept that this would mean he was really gone forever.

Glyndwyr sometimes retreated to his study where he loved to write. The final drawer to be cleaned was in his office where Audrey suspected he kept his creative writing work. She knew that he had written several poems and novels in his spare time.

When Audrey opened the drawer, instead of finding Glyndwyr’s prose and poems, she found strange, unfamiliar documents. They appeared to be quite old, and she could not recall her husband ever mentioning what they might be.

As she read through the documents, Audrey found one that showed test results for the name in question. This person, a young boy, had shown that he had an incredible memory, especially a strong propensity for remembering the details in pictures and maps.

Audrey continued to read through the stack of strange documents. She was learning more and more about the life of this mystery boy. She came across a letter that talked about the same boy who had taken the test.

Audrey realized that her husband would have been the same age as the boy referred to in the documents. She wondered if this boy had been a friend to Glyndwyr but still could not come up with a reasonable explanation for why he would have a friend’s school documents.

Audrey continued to search for any information that might indicate to her how her husband was connected to this mystery boy. She filed through information about his education, his intelligence, and decisions regarding the two.

Audrey began reading a document that referred to a secret operation known as “XX” as well as a counter-espionage project. She read the document repeatedly, certain that she was misunderstanding and struggling to figure out what this actually had to do with Glyndwyr.

Audrey was worried that whatever she might find at the other end of that telephone number could completely unravel her happy memories of the man she loved. She was sure that the answers to her questions about these documents could be found by calling.

Before making a final decision to pursue the matter further, Audrey took several days to consider what it might mean. She was incredibly curious about what appeared to be very important documents about someone with a name she had never heard.

Audrey finally worked up the courage to sit down and make the call. She stared at the telephone number for several minutes, terrified about what this decision might lead to. She could barely sleep as she just wanted answers.

Later that night, after she had given up, the phone rang. Audrey answered to a man on the other line. He asked if he was speaking with Audrey Phillips. He noticed that she had called and was getting back to her as quickly as he could.

Audrey provided the man with her address. He arrived the next day, right on time. She led him inside and asked him to have a seat. She was on edge with anticipation, not knowing whether she should be excited or terrified about the information he was about to share.

The man told Audrey that Glyndwyr had incredible intelligence that was unmatched by his peers. His parents and school noticed these talents when he was very young, and as he grew older, his talents only grew increasingly stronger.

Instead of shipping off to basic training, Glyndwyr and his colleague were chosen to participate in a special military program. They were only permitted to tell their fathers. No one else, not even their wives, children, or mothers were allowed to know about their work. They had to keep it secret for a lifetime.

Glyndwyr and his colleague were both young at the time and didn’t fully understand what they had signed up for. They knew that regular academics were boring to them, and they were excited to embark on what they saw as an adventure.

Glyndwyr and his colleague were tasked with crawling through very long concrete prison pipes to gain access to the German prisoners of war. It was their job to get the men to trust them and provide them with information.

This was their job until the war finally came to an end. When it was over, both men remained in contact with their commanding officer. He had no desire to let their special talents go to waste and had new work ready for them if they would accept.

Part of their training involved learning how to lead a double life. They were told to find partners, establish families, and lead normal lives to maintain appearances to the outside world. They were permitted to create lives they loved while still being available to the military.

Glyndwyr and his colleague were sent on their first mission to capture enemy spies. They received payment if they completed the mission. This mission involved infiltrating an army camp and surveilling the intended targets.

The man told Audrey about one particular mission where Glyndwyr was responsible for rescuing one of his fellow spies from a boat. From there, they were responsible for picking up and transporting a load of arms in two separate gunboats.

The man told Audrey with a humorous chuckle that this mission had taken place just a few weeks after she and Glyndwyr had been married. He had told Audrey that he was going away for a weekend of football.

Audrey was shocked that she had never suspected something like this. She knew Glyndwyr went on private business trips, but it had never occurred to her that he could have been a secret military spy.

Before she could begin asking her myriad of questions, her husband’s colleague handed her a note. Glyndwyr had written it before he passed and given it to him for safekeeping. It was as if she had part of him with her again, for just a few moments.

In his letter, Glyndwyr told Audrey that he knew that if she was reading his words, then she now knew the secret he had kept from her their entire marriage. He hoped that she would understand why he couldn’t tell her and that he wanted her to always stay safe.

Enclosed in the letter was a check in the full amount of the money that he had earned for being a military spy. He had saved it with the intention of giving it to her after he had passed. They had lived a very simple life together because he had not used any of this money.

Rather than use the money for herself, Audrey decided that she wanted to donate the money to the veteran relief fund. She believed that other veterans should benefit from the brave work that her husband had done. She wanted other men in her husband’s position to know that their families would be cared for.

One of America’s most important spies is likely one that you’ve never heard of. Her amazing story is displayed at the CIA Museum which is located inside the spy agency headquarters in Virginia.

40 years after her death, Virginia is being recognized for her importance in the Second War. A British author named Sonia Purnell wrote a book about her called, you guessed it, A Woman of No Importance.

Virginia was born into a wealthy family and was raised with the expectation that she would marry into the privileged circle that she was bred into. However, Virginia saw a different life for herself.

Virginia studied in France and had dreams of being a diplomat, an ambassador. However, she received a lot of pushback. She applied several times and was pushed back from the State Department.

An unfortunate accident occurred while Virginia was hunting birds in Turkey. She accidentally shot herself in the foot. Due to this, gangrene set in and she had to have her left leg amputated below the knee.

World War Two erupted and Germany invaded France, a place where Hall felt a deep connection to due to her school years. She volunteered to be an ambulance driver for the French.

When Virginia met a spy with British intelligence, a path opened up that would change her life forever. It is fun to imagine what kind of conversation led to what was conspired.

Virginia posed as a reporter working for the New York Post. Finally, Virginia had found the adventure she so craved.

Virginia operated in eastern France in a town called Lyon, and initially stayed at a convent. There, she convinced nuns to help her.

Virginia began to organize a group of French resistance fighters. In return, she provided them with safe houses and important intelligence.

Virginia changed outfits and looks constantly. She was able to do this multiple times a day even, sometimes, as many as four times in the space of one afternoon, all with four different code names.

Klaus Barbie was known as the Butcher of Lyon. He had tortured and killed thousands in France through his forces. Klaus ordered “wanted” posters for Virginia.

In 1942, as the Nazis closed in around Virginia, she narrowly escaped them and headed towards Spain. The journey was a difficult one. At one point, she had to walk for three days for 50 miles.

The Americans needed Virginia to return, but because she was so well known it would be difficult. Committed to her cause, she asked a makeup artist how to draw wrinkles on her face.

At its peak, Virginia’s network consisted of around 1,500 people, including a man who would later become her husband, Paul Goillot.

The British and French recognized Virginia’s contributions in private. However, American president Harry Truman publicly honored Virginia White House ceremony.