Shakira believed in her "'till death do us" vow with Gerard Piqué despite never getting married, but the former football player broke their family with his affair.
The estranged couple's family - including the two kids - were living in Barcelona happily until Shakira found out about her ex's infidelity with Clara Chia Martin. Aside from her heartbreak after getting cheated on, the singer also expressed her sadness that her sacrifice to help Piqué's career thrive was put to waste.
Shakira Reveals She Put Her Career on Hold for Gerard Piqué
Speaking in an interview with Billboard, Shakira opened up about how their decision to reside in Spain to allow her then-partner to focus on soccer professionally affected her own career.
"The thing is, I was dedicated to him," she said. "To the family, to him. It was very difficult for me to attend to my professional career while in Barcelona. It was complicated logistically to get a collaborator there."
The 46-year-old "Hips Don't Lie" hitmaker added that she could not leave their children just to give herself a chance to make music again.
Shakira added that she has ideas now and that she can collaborate with whoever she wants to, but she also spoke about how being a single mom and a musician are not compatible.
The "Waka Waka" hitmaker opened up about believing in the dream that she and Piqué would be together until death. However, the athlete has since moved on with his new muse and made their relationship Instagram official seven months after his split from Shakira.
READ ALSO: Shakira, Lewis Hamilton Getting More Serious? F1 Racer Shifts Focus Since Dating Singer
Shakira Feels Complete After Breakup
In a separate interview with Enrique Acevedo of Canal Estrellas (conducted in Spanish) in March, she revealed that she once believed a woman needs a man to feel complete. However, she reportedly learned how to stand on her own by recognizing her weaknesses and vulnerability.
"One way or another, I've managed to learn it from another perspective and feel that I'll be fine on my own," she said. "When a woman has to face [hardships] in life, she comes out stronger."
As a mother, Shakira said she helps herself to be "stronger than a lion" while learning to accept pain and frustration.
Meanwhile, Piqué told El Pais in March that he has been trying to do what's best for the kids.
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