This just got recommended to me, so perhaps Medium is back on your side! It does sound like you made the right decision. I can understand the dilemma though. For someone who preaches forgiveness, the concept of sweeping those 12 months under the carpet and starting again isn't so far fetched. People make mistakes. She stayed around for what, 18 years, which was much longer than the time you spent apart. Having said that, the fact that you'd started a new relationship, it was working out, and things might be likely to change again if you went back to your wife - that is significant. I think under those circumstances, you did the right thing. Obviously, you did!

I think if you'd still been single, it might have been worth giving your wife a second chance, but it sounds like the challenge of competition made your ex wife appreciate you more!