Paul Keepin, 40, had been with Teresa for 23 years when he suddenly announced he was leaving her and their five children last December.
The greengrocer gave no explaination to his wife for turning his back on her.
She was left reeling after discovering he was in a relationship with Walford favourite Jessie, 47, just two months later — when she saw a picture of the pair in The Sun.
On Monday we revealed how the couple were now dating. They were spotted together at the Amy Winehouse Gala at the Dorchester hotel in London earlier this month.
There is no suggestion the pair were seeing each other while Paul was still with Teresa.
But speaking exclusively to The Sun Online from her home in Rochester, in Kent, Teresa, 40, said she hit "rock bottom" when Paul walked out.
She said: "We’re not actually divorced yet. He walked out on us a year ago and he never came back."
She went on: "I had to move in with my dad because I couldn’t afford to live anymore and it’s just been a struggle since then.
"The first I knew about it was the story in The Sun in February when they were falling out of a club together.
"That’s the first I knew about it. It kind of broke me a little bit.
"When you spend so much time with someone, so many years, it’s really hard to see them with someone else."
Heartbroken Teresa was forced to leave their family nest in Longfield, Kent, shortly after Paul left.
Her supportive dad – who she described as her "rock" – took the family in when she could no longer afford to keep up the mortgage payments without Paul.
The 40-year-old, who is training to be a teaching assistant, said: "My dad sorted me out and told me I should move in with him and it helped me with the kids.
"And he’s helping me bring them up. It’s affected them a lot.
"My 13-year-old son has struggled a lot — I think he’s angry with everything.
"He had his dad in his life one day but not the next.
"We had ups and downs.
"But one minute Paul was going to the park with the kids and we were happy and the next he just changed.
"We've not even had a conversation about it."
The struggling mum-of-five said she only learned of Paul's romance with TV star Jessie from reading newspaper reports.
She insists that "if he’s happy, I’m happy" — but admits her estranged husband's relationship has put a huge strain on her and her family.
Teresa said: "It’s had a massive impact. I’m only just getting my children into a good place now.
"Before we had a house together but Paul stopped paying the mortgage on that so we were getting lots of letters and things.
"My car had broke down a few times and I wasn’t able to get the kids to their schools.
"It was one thing on top of another and I met up with my dad and my sister and just broke down."
Teresa moved in with her dad in Rochester in April.
She said: "Everyone seems happier since we came here. As far as I’m aware Paul has moved in with Jessie [in north London].
"I’m 40 now. We were together since we were 17 and got married when we were 20. We met as our parents used to drink in the same pub in Gravesend.
"We were together for 23 years and then it all just came to a halt."
Teresa said Paul – who runs fruit and veg stalls across South East London – gave her no reason for leaving.
"The only explanation is that it’s something he didn’t want anymore", she said.
"I don’t want to come across as the bitter ex. Let them get on with it if they’re happy.
"You hit rock bottom but all you can do is do what you’re doing and try to survive."
Teresa feels that Jessie's celebrity status has made it even tougher for her — and could have enticed Paul away from "boring" family life.
She said: "Because she’s high profile it means it’s always in your face, so that’s hard.
"But it’s what he’s chose so there’s nothing I can do about that.
"He didn’t really care about celebrities… but maybe he’s enjoying that sort of lifestyle.
"Maybe it was a bit boring bringing up children — a bit mundane and day-to-day."
The Sun revealed the relationship this week — just four months after Jessie was sent home from the British Soap Awards for being drunk.
We told how the actress had arrived at the annual event already tipsy before hitting the bar.
But concerned bosses quickly ordered her to head home at 7pm before the main awards had even started.
Jessie, who was heard slurring her words, was furious at the decision.
Mum-of-one Jessie, who has appeared on the BBC1 soap since 2000 as gobby Kat Slater, is notoriously unlucky in love.
In August 2011 she called off her £300,000 wedding on the day of the ceremony, when she found out catering boss fiancé Vince Morse had sexted an old flame.
He told former fiancee Karen Short he had doubts over his planned marriage and even suggested they run away together.
Jessie started dating singer Tim Arnold a year later but the pair split in 2016 when he grew tired of the limelight.
He said: "People just want to know about the celebrities you know or have been with. I am tired of it."
Prior to that she was with policeman Dave Morgan, the first of her failed engagements and the father of her 13-year-old daughter Tallulah.
She met the copper when he escorted her to court for a drink-drive case. They split in 2004.
Jessie fell out with younger sister Danielle in 2007 when she seduced her boxer boyfriend Tommy O'Neill.
The pair got engaged but called it off after a year together.
The Sun Online has approached Jessie and Paul for a comment.
Volatile star's ups and downs
1999: TV debut on The Bill.
2000: Cast as Kat Slater in EastEnders.
2002: Suspended from soap for two months for bad behaviour.
2005: Leaves show in “mutual decision” with producers.
2006: Dates builder Chris Osborn for two months.
2010: Returns to EastEnders with Shane Richie’s Alfie Moon.
2011: Named Best Actress at British Soap Awards.
2015: Quits EastEnders again.
2018: Rejoins soap. Collapses in street during drunk night out.
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