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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Can a marriage survive an emotional affair if the other woman is still around?

19 replies

Happycherry39 · 07/03/2026 08:46

I’m looking for some honest perspective because my head is a bit all over the place.
I’ve been married to my husband for 12 years and we have four children together. Last year his dad died and he really struggled with the grief. Around that same time our marriage started to fall apart — we became distant, communication broke down, and things between us weren’t good.
During that period he developed what I would describe as an emotional affair with another woman. As far as I know nothing physical happened, but there was messaging, sharing things with her, and a closeness that crossed a line for me.
Since everything came out he has been trying to repair things. He says he wants the marriage, he’s making more effort at home, and in many ways he’s being a better partner than he was before.
The problem is the woman involved isn’t someone who can just disappear from our lives. They work in the same place and share the same friendship circles, so she’s still around. They’re not openly communicating in the same way now (as far as I know), but she still exists in his world and realistically she probably always will.
I feel stuck between two thoughts.
One side of me thinks: if he’s genuinely trying to repair things and be a better husband, maybe walking away from a 12-year marriage, our home, and the stability of our children’s lives would be throwing everything away.
But the other side of me wonders if I’m setting myself up for a lifetime of feeling second best or constantly triggered by her presence.
I don’t know how people actually move forward when the other person is still in the same environment. Do you eventually become numb to it? Do boundaries actually work in that situation? Or is it naive to think you can rebuild trust when the third person is still around?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar — especially if the other person didn’t completely disappear from your lives.
Did you manage to rebuild the relationship, or did you eventually realise it wasn’t possible?
Please be kind. I’m trying to work out what the healthiest path forward is for me and my children.

OP posts:
Dozer · 07/03/2026 08:51

sorry your H treated you so badly.

Most of us wouldn’t stick around if he didn’t move jobs and cease contact with OW. Why is he saying he won’t do that?

Sounds like you don’t have the facts about his affair: unlikely it wasn’f physical.

likely that the affair was the main factor in the ‘ problems in your marriage’ and that it, or your H’s strong interest in her, came first Don’t buy into the ‘cheaters script.

Happycherry39 · 07/03/2026 08:58

He has said he will change jobs but he has such a good job and he would never find anything as good as he has.
The affair definitely only started when it seemed pretty obvious our marriage couldn’t survive his grieving and we was in talks of seperating, but was also still clinging onto hope

OP posts:
Askmehowiknow2021 · 07/03/2026 08:59

I’m so sorry op. Been there, and it’s fucking awful. And no, I wouldn’t have stayed if he was still in contact with her. He dropped her like a sack of shit when I found out. If he hadn’t, and if he hadn’t done all the work and taken all the responsibility, I’d have gone. 5 years on I’m happy but it has been a horrific time and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

Happycherry39 · 07/03/2026 09:04

He has definitely stopped talking to her outside of work, but I know they have to communicate for work!
how did you deal with feeling like your not the only one anymore?

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 07/03/2026 09:05

He has said he will change jobs but he has such a good job and he would never find anything as good as he has.

if he really cared about you and if the marriage really meant everything to him, he absolutely would leave his job and find something new. The fact he hasn't is a sign he doesn't want to make any effort that involves his inconvenience to put things right with you.

Askmehowiknow2021 · 07/03/2026 09:08

In your situation, he’d be changing jobs and that would be none negotiable.
And you deal with it by putting the responsibility right back where it belongs. With him. You are still the same person, still have the same value, this is all on him. He needs to do the really difficult work to find out why he permitted himself to be such a colossal twat.

Lennonjingles · 07/03/2026 09:13

There’s been quite a few EA posts recently, hopefully you can browse here to see others opinions, in your position. Personally, I would give it time, you both know the reason why it started, so that’s something to work on. It does sound like you both want to try and make the marriage work and the fact that he’s offered to change jobs. How does he feel now when he sees her at work and does she respect the fact that it’s over also.

Happycherry39 · 07/03/2026 09:17

He has said they don’t talk unless it’s work related. He is saying and doing all the right things. But I wish she wasn’t present, I feel like it’s holding my healing back. I wonder if she did disappear weather I would still feel like this anyway. I don’t feel threatened by her I just feel silly

OP posts:
Endofyear · 07/03/2026 09:24

Happycherry39 · 07/03/2026 08:58

He has said he will change jobs but he has such a good job and he would never find anything as good as he has.
The affair definitely only started when it seemed pretty obvious our marriage couldn’t survive his grieving and we was in talks of seperating, but was also still clinging onto hope

If it were me, I'd be insisting that he change jobs. He might not be able to get such a good job again (although I doubt this is true) but that's the price he has to pay for cheating. It's a consequence of his own behaviour. Don't be too quick to forgive and trust him again - often in these situations, the two participants will start up again in time. If he's really committed to making things up to you, he should stop all contact with her for good.

TheBenefitOfHindsight · 07/03/2026 09:35

I am so sorry to hear you have been put in this situation. You didn't ask for it, yet here you are, forced to engage with a whole set of issues arising from your husband's choices.

I am picking my way towards the end of the first year since my husband's disclosure of an emotional affair, which he embarked on with someone he discovered a connection with during a similarly difficult time.

I decided to make a go of repairing the relationship, and in some ways, one might say it's working: we're still here and everything is continuing as normal. The OW is more peripheral in our lives, so not quite as intensely involved as your DH's OW.

But I feel different. While we dived headlong into working on the relationship and experienced some positive things as a result (more honest communication, spending more quality time together, realigning our goals etc), I notice that I feel differently about him on a profound level. He did something to me which I know I could never have done to him. I understand the ins and outs of how it happened but I have stopped trying to will myself to forgive him. I'm OK with not being able to commit to forgiveness. I'm becoming more relaxed about the idea that I'm still quietly on the fence, and may still decide to bail. He doesn't know this, and I don't feel a need to discuss it. We're not talking about the EA or OW regularly anymore, I don't even think about it all the time, but I accept that I carry feelings of hurt and resentment which continue to make themselves known, a bit like a few bits of gravel in my shoe, never not there.

Making the decision to stay or go should be a long-term thing, which you grow into as you see the aftermath unfold, not something to jump to while still in the throes of pain in the first months following a disclosure. One thing which I didn't foresee is that, during a more recent period of personal challenge, I find I'm pretty short on empathy for DH. I feel for him, and make an effort to help him sort out the thing which is bothering him, but I do catch myself thinking: "Less than a year ago, you rationalised causing an immense amount of suffering for me, and here you are, suffering and expecting my support and labour." I'm observing it; this time last year I would have poured myself and my energy into helping him, firmly believing I was helping us. Now, I see that he is often a little entitled and self-centred.

I guess I have become more comfortable with observing the long game, knowing now what I didn't really understand before, that the effects of affairs are systemic and take longer to work themselves out than those of us who opted to give our relationships a second chance often realise. It very much helps to know that I could leave tomorrow without too much disruption to mine or the DC's life.

Oh, and I still have pangs of absolutely, unashamedly, viscerally hating the OW, unable to fathom how she could do what she did to me and our DC. I know the 'idea' is that one ought not to feel angry with one's spouse's affair partner, as they're weren't the one who promised you exclusivity, but I think that's a load of crock and I don't give myself a hard time for 'wrong-think', I think it's pretty natural. It comes and goes, it is what it is.

Wishing you clarity and courage, OP.

Anon1234567891 · 07/03/2026 16:09

Sorry OP, I haven’t got any advice but am in a similar position. My H said it was a friendship and not anything more and although I didn’t find anything sexual or admitting feelings I felt it was more than friendship. He sees her at work and said he wouldn’t ignore her if she messaged him but they don’t seem to have messaged for a while, although are on WhatsApp at the same time sometimes so I don’t know if that’s a just a coincidence or if he’s hiding it.
We are supposed to be moving on but I find it hard knowing that he sees her every day, knowing how much they talked to each other and how they were together.
I also don’t know how I’m going to feel if they are on a works night out together. If I don’t go then I will worry about them being out together but if I do I think the anger I will feel will be to much. It already feels bad that I’ve been on nights out where she is there not knowing at the time the level of stuff going on behind my back and they had laughed about things to do with me, the fact she knew that was going on behind my back makes me feel like they were laughing at me while being nice to my face.

sorry that’s not a help but you are not alone.

Fast5 · 07/03/2026 16:19

I had what most would describe as an EA about two decades ago, although I wouldn't have called it that at the time, and realised very late that things had got out of hand.

Very similar circumstances actually. Lots life stress and a sympathetic ear, when things weren't feeling "close" at home.

Initially I had to stay well away from him. No contact at all, but like you he was still "there" in the wider context of my life and would occasionally be in the same place, but we wouldn't speak.

Now, I can genuinely say I'm over him and when we do meet up he really is just someone I know, not even a close friend.

Afaik (now deceased) DH never knew, but I don't think our marriage ever recovered, but that could be because it was already dying during the period that lead up to the EA.

Purplecatshopaholic · 07/03/2026 16:52

Endofyear · 07/03/2026 09:24

If it were me, I'd be insisting that he change jobs. He might not be able to get such a good job again (although I doubt this is true) but that's the price he has to pay for cheating. It's a consequence of his own behaviour. Don't be too quick to forgive and trust him again - often in these situations, the two participants will start up again in time. If he's really committed to making things up to you, he should stop all contact with her for good.

This. I’m so sorry op. To some extent you get the relationship you accept. He was lying and treating you with huge disrespect while he was cheating (and it was cheating whether physical or not, and I bet it was), and he still is. If he cares about you and your relationship he will leave this job and never talk to this woman again. If he won’t, then it really is on you to decide what you will accept. (I divorced mine. No it wasnt easy, yes it was worth it).

Askmehowiknow2021 · 07/03/2026 16:57

TheBenefitOfHindsight · 07/03/2026 09:35

I am so sorry to hear you have been put in this situation. You didn't ask for it, yet here you are, forced to engage with a whole set of issues arising from your husband's choices.

I am picking my way towards the end of the first year since my husband's disclosure of an emotional affair, which he embarked on with someone he discovered a connection with during a similarly difficult time.

I decided to make a go of repairing the relationship, and in some ways, one might say it's working: we're still here and everything is continuing as normal. The OW is more peripheral in our lives, so not quite as intensely involved as your DH's OW.

But I feel different. While we dived headlong into working on the relationship and experienced some positive things as a result (more honest communication, spending more quality time together, realigning our goals etc), I notice that I feel differently about him on a profound level. He did something to me which I know I could never have done to him. I understand the ins and outs of how it happened but I have stopped trying to will myself to forgive him. I'm OK with not being able to commit to forgiveness. I'm becoming more relaxed about the idea that I'm still quietly on the fence, and may still decide to bail. He doesn't know this, and I don't feel a need to discuss it. We're not talking about the EA or OW regularly anymore, I don't even think about it all the time, but I accept that I carry feelings of hurt and resentment which continue to make themselves known, a bit like a few bits of gravel in my shoe, never not there.

Making the decision to stay or go should be a long-term thing, which you grow into as you see the aftermath unfold, not something to jump to while still in the throes of pain in the first months following a disclosure. One thing which I didn't foresee is that, during a more recent period of personal challenge, I find I'm pretty short on empathy for DH. I feel for him, and make an effort to help him sort out the thing which is bothering him, but I do catch myself thinking: "Less than a year ago, you rationalised causing an immense amount of suffering for me, and here you are, suffering and expecting my support and labour." I'm observing it; this time last year I would have poured myself and my energy into helping him, firmly believing I was helping us. Now, I see that he is often a little entitled and self-centred.

I guess I have become more comfortable with observing the long game, knowing now what I didn't really understand before, that the effects of affairs are systemic and take longer to work themselves out than those of us who opted to give our relationships a second chance often realise. It very much helps to know that I could leave tomorrow without too much disruption to mine or the DC's life.

Oh, and I still have pangs of absolutely, unashamedly, viscerally hating the OW, unable to fathom how she could do what she did to me and our DC. I know the 'idea' is that one ought not to feel angry with one's spouse's affair partner, as they're weren't the one who promised you exclusivity, but I think that's a load of crock and I don't give myself a hard time for 'wrong-think', I think it's pretty natural. It comes and goes, it is what it is.

Wishing you clarity and courage, OP.

I hated OW too. She was supposed to be a “friend” ha!
I spent a long time loathing her and when I found out she’d been diagnosed with an horrific medical condition, I was actually shocked by how much I just….didn't care. That’s not me, at all.
In the end, I realised that I was a decent, honest and loyal person, with strong boundaries and morals. And she…was not. I know who I’d rather be. In the end, I just feel sorry for her, because I’d hate to be who she is. I still wouldn’t give her the steam off my piss, but I no longer give her head space either. Took years though!

lightand · 07/03/2026 17:01

Not been through the same thing, but something a bit similar.

Personally, I would stay and see how things carry on.

BeCosyMauveCrab · 08/03/2026 18:14

I had an EA and had to cut the guy out of my life. Once they have been a safe space to confide, it’s too tempting for them to be around. He had become my best friend and that wasn’t ok. I chose my husband and my marriage, and that meant choosing what was best for my husband every time. The EA only lasted 5 weeks and I came clean once I realised I was in over my head. I changed friendship circles, changed places I went etc. my mistake had hurt my husband, I was going to do every damn thing in my power to protect him and our marriage.

Hogglehedge · 11/03/2026 07:06

Hey op. I am in the exact situation🫂 please feel free to inbox me (im finding it supportive chatting to others going through same and to offer support too)
Its tough. In our case my husband had no excuse other than my child being severly mentally unwell and he couldn't cope with it and saw her as a "distraction ". It was an EA and sexting. Shes still around him and in group chats despite him blocking her and on numerous occasions hes interacted with her in a WhatsApp work chat. It has causdd huge issues with friendship groups, mutual friends that i know at his work, work socials (as ive said no to him going if shes on them) .I have tried and tried, but huge damage has been caused and still ongoing and hes showing me he dosent care and that hes put her feelings before mine and shes like a bad smell still being around him at work. I really, really hope you are ok I truly know how hard this is🫂💔

Hogglehedge · 11/03/2026 07:13

TheBenefitOfHindsight · 07/03/2026 09:35

I am so sorry to hear you have been put in this situation. You didn't ask for it, yet here you are, forced to engage with a whole set of issues arising from your husband's choices.

I am picking my way towards the end of the first year since my husband's disclosure of an emotional affair, which he embarked on with someone he discovered a connection with during a similarly difficult time.

I decided to make a go of repairing the relationship, and in some ways, one might say it's working: we're still here and everything is continuing as normal. The OW is more peripheral in our lives, so not quite as intensely involved as your DH's OW.

But I feel different. While we dived headlong into working on the relationship and experienced some positive things as a result (more honest communication, spending more quality time together, realigning our goals etc), I notice that I feel differently about him on a profound level. He did something to me which I know I could never have done to him. I understand the ins and outs of how it happened but I have stopped trying to will myself to forgive him. I'm OK with not being able to commit to forgiveness. I'm becoming more relaxed about the idea that I'm still quietly on the fence, and may still decide to bail. He doesn't know this, and I don't feel a need to discuss it. We're not talking about the EA or OW regularly anymore, I don't even think about it all the time, but I accept that I carry feelings of hurt and resentment which continue to make themselves known, a bit like a few bits of gravel in my shoe, never not there.

Making the decision to stay or go should be a long-term thing, which you grow into as you see the aftermath unfold, not something to jump to while still in the throes of pain in the first months following a disclosure. One thing which I didn't foresee is that, during a more recent period of personal challenge, I find I'm pretty short on empathy for DH. I feel for him, and make an effort to help him sort out the thing which is bothering him, but I do catch myself thinking: "Less than a year ago, you rationalised causing an immense amount of suffering for me, and here you are, suffering and expecting my support and labour." I'm observing it; this time last year I would have poured myself and my energy into helping him, firmly believing I was helping us. Now, I see that he is often a little entitled and self-centred.

I guess I have become more comfortable with observing the long game, knowing now what I didn't really understand before, that the effects of affairs are systemic and take longer to work themselves out than those of us who opted to give our relationships a second chance often realise. It very much helps to know that I could leave tomorrow without too much disruption to mine or the DC's life.

Oh, and I still have pangs of absolutely, unashamedly, viscerally hating the OW, unable to fathom how she could do what she did to me and our DC. I know the 'idea' is that one ought not to feel angry with one's spouse's affair partner, as they're weren't the one who promised you exclusivity, but I think that's a load of crock and I don't give myself a hard time for 'wrong-think', I think it's pretty natural. It comes and goes, it is what it is.

Wishing you clarity and courage, OP.

Totally understand this 🫂💐💐

Savonne · 11/03/2026 07:14

Sorry to hear about this.

In my experience, whatever he told you they did is half of what they actually did

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