Mark Sanford's Fiancee Found Out About Split From Facebook Post

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The former fiancee of Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) found out about the engagements' severance the same way the rest of the world did: by reading a lengthy Facebook post from the former governor of South Carolina.

'I learned it from the press today,' Maria Belen Chapur told The New York Times. Chapur was in Paris, where she had been vacationing with Sanford, but apparently had no prior notice of the end to their relationship. She said that the two had discussed the plans to set a date for their marriage, capping a long and tumultuous relationship that began as an extramarital affair.

After a week together Chapur described as like a 'honeymoon,' she pressed Sanford on a wedding date, 'I had a spectacular week, you know I love you, but I don't want to continue in the category of mistress, and if we continue like this I continue in that category, and I can't bear it anymore. It has been really painful to me.' Sanford is said to have replied, '24 months. If not I'll say goodbye and I will look for you in 24 months.'

On Friday afternoon, Sanford delivered his full reply in a 2,346-word post. 'I cannot do this anymore,' Sanford wrote, 'No relationship can stand forever this tension of being forced to pick between the one you love and your own son or daughter, and for this reason Belen and I have decided to call off the engagement.'

Chapur revealed on Saturday that the affair that captured national attention and stymied Sanford's political career had been deteriorating amid disagreements over their wedding date and the status of Sanford's divorce from Jenny Sanford. The Times reports that Chapur had asked for their split to be made public, and the abrupt Facebook post was certainly that.

Sanford also announced in the Facebook post that he would be getting a lawyer in response to a new lawsuit from his ex-wife, who recently demanded he undergo a psychiatric exam and take both anger management and parenting classes.

The saga of Sanford's romantic life began in June of 2009, when the then governor disappeared for several days. Aides said that Sanford was 'Hiking on the Appalachian Trail,' which became a euphemism for extramarital affairs. Sanford was actually with Chapur in Argentina, and tearfully admitted the affair on his return the the U.S.. The damage to his personal and political life would continue to mount over following years.