I started dating my husband 15 years ago when he was already separated from his first wife.
He hadn’t initiated divorce proceedings by that point but he was living in a different property and their marriage was well and truly over.
He had an affair with another woman prior to his separation and despite all parties knowing that I had nothing to do with him romantically or otherwise prior to him leaving his wife, I have over the last decade and a half been blamed for the break-up of his marriage. I have been subjected to harassment, I’ve had my reputation destroyed by the barrage of lies his wife has told, she’s emailed employers and colleagues with her stories. I’ve been accused of bullying her children. It’s been vile and despicable but I’ve continued to keep my head down and wait for people to get bored and move on. We live in a rural area so I guess there is little else to occupy people than idle gossip and salacious rumours. 15 years on and I’m still being subjected to bitchy jibes . The worst part is not the random strangers but the destruction of any kind of relationship between my husband and his children. His ex has successfully destroyed that for him. What is painful for me is that through all of this my sister-in-law chose to side with his ex years ago and still punishes me today. I hate seeing her. I hate her constant underhand comments and snide remarks. For some reason she has chosen to perpetuate the lies and gossip despite knowing the actual truth.
should I just refuse to partake in all family get togethers in order to avoid the constant barrage of nastiness that comes my way? Do I keep ignoring it or confront her? I am so desperate to move on with life but I feel as if I am trapped in a vicious cycle by these petty, catty women.