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Found out my husband had an affair. I don't know what to do

46 replies

ForQuickGreenLion · 11/10/2026 21:12

A few weeks ago a woman knocked on my door, handed me an envelope and said I need to read what was inside. She was his affair partner. She had written me a letter explaining everything. That she didn't know he was married at first, later down the line when feelings had already developed he told her that our marriage was dead and I think she truly believed this was an overlap situation. He told her he loved her. I don't hate her as I have friends who have met in situations like that, I'm aware life isn't black and white. She left her phone number and we had a brief phone call where I wanted to clear up some questions. She was very polite. In the envelope was also letters he'd written to her while we had been on holiday together. She also included screenshots where he says he loves her, she's different to everyone else and he feels like he bores me. There was also a message where she asked if he needed/wanted her to step back and he said "no not at all". If all this wasn't bad enough I also found out through her letter that a couple of years ago he took 12-18 months off work sick due to some disciplinary action. I did question her about this and what she says adds up. He told her I left for work before him, which I do, and he got home before me, which he did, so he just put his uniform in the wash bin. When she questioned him about the school holidays (as I work in a school) he told her he told me that he had banked up his annual leave, which is what he told me. She confirmed that they spent his birthday together and that was when they had their first kiss and she knew the name of the friend he had told me he'd gone with.

We've been together 37 years. He told her I got pregnant early and entrapped him but he was the one who persuaded me to come off the pill.

When I asked her why she told me now she said she had asked him if their relationship was building towards anything and his reply was something like "I've thought about leaving but all my stuffs tied up there and I'm happy to plod along". She said at that point she thought 'fuck him'. She didn't want to keep his secrets anymore. She didn't like feeling misled. She didn't like that his answer was selfish.

I don't know how to feel. I'm angry at them all and I can't stop crying. I don't want to hate anyone but I hate them both. I'm 63 and I feel it's too late to start again but how can I look at him now knowing what he did and what he's lied about. I just don't know where to begin or what the road ahead looks like. My worlds be turned upside now. I wish I never knew but also glad I know. I don't have anyone to speak to about this

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 12/10/2026 16:31

OMG, what a lying rat. I’m so sorry op. When I realised my husband (of 25 years) had been cheating for months, I divorced him. He’d broken my trust, and our marriage, and there was no way I could live with that going forward. I strongly suggest you do the same. See a lawyer, plan your future without a lying low-life, be kind to yourself, maybe get some counselling if it would help. You are worth more than this.

OneNewEagle · 12/10/2026 16:52

Do not think this person is your friend. She has done it in the hope that she gets him if you end it.

Quietly work out what is best for you OP.

PineConeOrDogPoo · 12/10/2026 18:59

OP, You say you don't know what to do. Is that because a part of you would like to continue the relationship ? In general the first thing to do following discovery is not to make rash decisions and to focus fully on self care (and not on the relationship itself or the other person/people).

What follows after a betrayal as a healthy outcome (over time) is a reconstruction of the self quite independently of any relationship considerations. You must rebuild You and find out what You want.

ImHereForTheDucks · 13/10/2026 15:42

I'm so sorry, OP. That is a heavy load.
I am picking my way through a variation of this, although not quite as all-encompassingly deceitful, 'just' a regular affair disclosure. @Natty13 is wise; please play the long game. Do not risk future hardship because you were too wrong-footed and caught up in the moment to do due diligence on your potential outcomes. It sounds unfeeling and cold, but now is the time to 'love yourself more' and plan ahead.

You do not owe your husband any kind of closure or reflection-time; he afforded you no such luxuries. Presumably he now knows you know -OW must have told him she's been in touch with you? If he knows you know, how is he acting? If not -great! The greatest gift you can give yourself now is time: time to process your feelings on your own without someone else trying to influence you, and time to get your head around what a future having gone your separate ways might look like. Not to 'fuck him over' necessarily, as Natty13 says, but to make sure you're acting in your own best interests.

Since his disclosure, we have had some very honest conversations and re-evaluated what our relationship is now. He's stopped contact with OW and is very remorseful, trying to make amends. I have, after much soul-searching, decided that it is now my turn to be a bit under-cover (he's had his turn), so I am sort of reverse-affairing him: stealthily walking backwards toward the door without him noticing. I am going along with his efforts at trying to fix the mess he put us in. I'm not pretending to be over it -I am being honest about how much it still hurts and that it's changed how I feel about him- but I have not told him that I've already made up my mind that it's over. This is because, knowing him, I know that getting my ducks in a row and leaving will be so much easier without him realising that's what's going on until it's happening. He has the capacity to make things messy. Instead, I'm doing everything I need to make sure that at a date in the not too distant future, I will be able to withdraw from the relationship cleanly with minimum disruption to me or DC. There are two key events that need to fall into place first.

I have wrestled with myself, feeling like I'm being just as dishonest as he was during the affair. I might have come clean about my plan to leave earlier, but a few things has swayed me to keep working on my exit-plan quietly on my own: his own barefaced lying to both me and OW (whom, I'm sure, would never have let herself stoop if she'd known our relationship wasn't 'dead'), the idea of him pivoting from contrition to obstruction and manipulation the moment he finds out, making it much harder to leave, and his really unattractive assumption that, just because he's sorry, I'm bound to be up for forgiving him.

I think I will look back at this time as the weirdest in my life. I'm seeing some of the loveliest sides of him as he's trying to make good and I'd be lying if I said I'd not been tempted to keep motoring on with reconciliation. I really tried to embrace the 'never the same again, but different' ethos of affair recovery. But I couldn't, it was too sad and too humiliating after everything we've been through. At the point of disclosure, I wasn't able to leave, without taking some massive lasting hits, which I wasn't prepared to put DC through, and I'm so glad I didn't go then. By the time I do go, it will have been over a year since DDay.

I'm not sure if you'll come back to this thread, OP, but if you do; the long game is a viable option. No need to decide anything yet. Look after yourself.

Gobbledegoo · 13/10/2026 15:55

If you 'forgive' him you will always have his lies in your mind and probably won't trust him ever again. It will eat into you and destroy you mentally. Go to a solicitor and see what you will gain by divorcing him. Not just physically but mentally as well.

I wish I had done this at the time. I am not the same person now and don't feel any love or connection with him. He is just here and I feel lonely apart from when out with friends without him.

Goaliestar · 13/10/2026 16:13

ImHereForTheDucks · 13/10/2026 15:42

I'm so sorry, OP. That is a heavy load.
I am picking my way through a variation of this, although not quite as all-encompassingly deceitful, 'just' a regular affair disclosure. @Natty13 is wise; please play the long game. Do not risk future hardship because you were too wrong-footed and caught up in the moment to do due diligence on your potential outcomes. It sounds unfeeling and cold, but now is the time to 'love yourself more' and plan ahead.

You do not owe your husband any kind of closure or reflection-time; he afforded you no such luxuries. Presumably he now knows you know -OW must have told him she's been in touch with you? If he knows you know, how is he acting? If not -great! The greatest gift you can give yourself now is time: time to process your feelings on your own without someone else trying to influence you, and time to get your head around what a future having gone your separate ways might look like. Not to 'fuck him over' necessarily, as Natty13 says, but to make sure you're acting in your own best interests.

Since his disclosure, we have had some very honest conversations and re-evaluated what our relationship is now. He's stopped contact with OW and is very remorseful, trying to make amends. I have, after much soul-searching, decided that it is now my turn to be a bit under-cover (he's had his turn), so I am sort of reverse-affairing him: stealthily walking backwards toward the door without him noticing. I am going along with his efforts at trying to fix the mess he put us in. I'm not pretending to be over it -I am being honest about how much it still hurts and that it's changed how I feel about him- but I have not told him that I've already made up my mind that it's over. This is because, knowing him, I know that getting my ducks in a row and leaving will be so much easier without him realising that's what's going on until it's happening. He has the capacity to make things messy. Instead, I'm doing everything I need to make sure that at a date in the not too distant future, I will be able to withdraw from the relationship cleanly with minimum disruption to me or DC. There are two key events that need to fall into place first.

I have wrestled with myself, feeling like I'm being just as dishonest as he was during the affair. I might have come clean about my plan to leave earlier, but a few things has swayed me to keep working on my exit-plan quietly on my own: his own barefaced lying to both me and OW (whom, I'm sure, would never have let herself stoop if she'd known our relationship wasn't 'dead'), the idea of him pivoting from contrition to obstruction and manipulation the moment he finds out, making it much harder to leave, and his really unattractive assumption that, just because he's sorry, I'm bound to be up for forgiving him.

I think I will look back at this time as the weirdest in my life. I'm seeing some of the loveliest sides of him as he's trying to make good and I'd be lying if I said I'd not been tempted to keep motoring on with reconciliation. I really tried to embrace the 'never the same again, but different' ethos of affair recovery. But I couldn't, it was too sad and too humiliating after everything we've been through. At the point of disclosure, I wasn't able to leave, without taking some massive lasting hits, which I wasn't prepared to put DC through, and I'm so glad I didn't go then. By the time I do go, it will have been over a year since DDay.

I'm not sure if you'll come back to this thread, OP, but if you do; the long game is a viable option. No need to decide anything yet. Look after yourself.

Clever woman.
The quiet exit is far more devastating to them.
He thinks he is so fabulous, too fabulous for you not to forgive.
When he finds out that you in fact never forgave and played the long game, expect him to play the victim.

When my friend did this, so her youngest could finish secondary school in peace, he really thought it was all behind them.
Last year her daughter went to Edinburgh and she wanted her to have the first semester over.
They had a lovely Christmas and she told him in January that she wanted a divorce.

He tried to persuade her of course, pleading devastation etc.,saying how he has been so understanding over her not wanting sex as she heals emotionally.

She has spelt out that she never forgave his affair, doesn't love him, and if he gives her any grief or drama over this she will tell their entire wider family, large circle of friends, and their children about his 2 year affair with his colleague.
He has a big career, is as vain as fxxk, and doesn't want this getting out.

So the divorce is very amicable and he has moved out of the family home, which he is giving her.
Their children have taken it quite well as they have been so calm and measured about it.

Privately she cannot stand him, but is prepared to play along until everything is over the line.

Boomer55 · 13/10/2026 16:31

ForQuickGreenLion · 11/10/2026 21:36

The affair was only a few months but it's still broke me

I would forget what he says, she says, or any net opinion. Just go with what you’d sooner do. 🌺

thepariscrimefiles · 13/10/2026 16:38

ForQuickGreenLion · 11/10/2026 21:36

I honestly had no idea. He only worked part time and nothing flagged up

Was he on full pay during the time he was suspended? What was the outcome of his discipinary investigation?

cartagenagina · 13/10/2026 16:40

Have you spoken to him about it? You really aren’t too old to start a lovely single life without this cheating lying bastard.

RemakeRemodel · 13/10/2026 16:43

OneNewEagle · 12/10/2026 16:52

Do not think this person is your friend. She has done it in the hope that she gets him if you end it.

Quietly work out what is best for you OP.

He's not exactly a prize, she might have done it because she's angry and she thinks he is a piece of shit.

Happyjoe · 13/10/2026 16:51

ForQuickGreenLion · 11/10/2026 21:36

I honestly had no idea. He only worked part time and nothing flagged up

My brother did the same, lost his job but went 'to work' every day as normal. It can be hidden for quite a while..

Am so sorry this happened to you OP. Please, just look after yourself, don't do anything straight away, give yourself time to do what YOU want to do. Sod everyone else right now, just look after you. You can chose later how you feel and act on that.

And, 63 isn't that old. Sure, not so much fun starting over but you've got to weigh up the options of if you can live for another 20 years feeling awful if you can stay with him. That's deeply personal. Be kind to you

Eristealviper · 13/10/2026 17:19

Natty13 · 11/10/2026 21:29

She got sick of being strung along by him so told you because she she hoped you'd leave him and she could have him for herself. She was with him for how many years knowing he was married and said nothing? Only saying something because it affected HER.

Honestly, my marriage would be over. But I'd fuck over both of them before I called it. I'd let him convince me to stay together, I'd agree to work towards forgiveness, listen to any promises and excises he made and stay together...while quietly plotting an exit that suited me. If you kick him out now he'll just go straight to a relationship with her and they both win, taking the last of your dignity in the process. I'd let her find out she means nothing to him by having him choose his marriage, and as for him I'd blindside him later by leaving when he didn't expect it. You've been blindsided yourself - think strategically.

Agree wholeheartedly with ⬆️

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/10/2026 17:30

Don't think that you're too old for divorce. A relative of mine divorced in their 80s and lived their final years very happily.

OMGDidYouSayThat · 13/10/2026 17:59

I don't think 63 is too old, you can find happiness again whatever that looks like, you don't owe either of them anything, i'd just take him for what you can get and make a new life for yourself...be happy.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 13/10/2026 18:21

Going to work? Scene from The Full Monty! Don’t these men ever talk about work and their mates? For 18 months? Did he get full money for all this time? The op doesn’t seem to know him.

Joyforsomenotall · 13/10/2026 18:44

Find your anger OP and play smart
Getva solicitor try a few see which one fits best iy will be worth it. Be very careful but start copying tjunhs eg financial how did he not wotk got a uesr do uoinuse a joint accountant? The house id the mortgage paid, who.paid most og it. Did you take cstrer breaks tp raise kids. Sorry og I sound cold snd clinical but this is how it is now. These people are not your friends you want to leave eith yout head held high knowing you hanfledcan awful situation with grace. This was his choice not yours. Childrrn I ask as if they are at uni living elsewhere he may try to pressurisecyou into selling the family home. Hr will beg for fotorgiveness. Hecwoulfnybhave done it in the first place if you mean so much to him. Get a shitbhot lawyer? Tell neither him nor her anything, get your ducks in a row rr finances and keep an eye on any children you hsve. I promise you in 5-20 years time you will be happier, more confident, knoe you have.set.a good example to.yout children. Allow yourself tonight to.grieve.cry.etc then channel that anger? He lied to your face for years. How fucking fare hr, but play long, play smart tell close friends family if you feel able? You have done nothing.wrong. you owe it to yourself not yo allow him.to fuck you over. You will br stronger because of this, you eillngraduallyvstsrt to see him for the weak piece of shit he is. Even if yountrll noonr lawyers will help you who paid fot rverythingbehilstvhr wasd out of work or dif hr takr out a loan. Unfortunately many others have been through similar, you don't want it to be real.rigjt now. It is and you deserve so much better fight for it? It will.be worth it. Remember neither of them.sre your friends. I.immsgine he id pretty annoyed at her letter and might not know exactly what is daud
Don't tell him. He needs to.move out yesterday hr broke the marriage vows do he moves
You've got this and we are here at any hour whenever you need us. Play. Cool for now all a bit of a shock you needcsome space to.process can he constantly with her, mates, parents yiu dont care he just needs to leave asap while you sort the shit he created couture. You deserve so much better.

Joyforsomenotall · 13/10/2026 18:45

Apolohirs for all the typos I have nerve damage which is being particularly annoying today

Natty13 · 13/10/2026 19:09

Goaliestar · 13/10/2026 16:13

Clever woman.
The quiet exit is far more devastating to them.
He thinks he is so fabulous, too fabulous for you not to forgive.
When he finds out that you in fact never forgave and played the long game, expect him to play the victim.

When my friend did this, so her youngest could finish secondary school in peace, he really thought it was all behind them.
Last year her daughter went to Edinburgh and she wanted her to have the first semester over.
They had a lovely Christmas and she told him in January that she wanted a divorce.

He tried to persuade her of course, pleading devastation etc.,saying how he has been so understanding over her not wanting sex as she heals emotionally.

She has spelt out that she never forgave his affair, doesn't love him, and if he gives her any grief or drama over this she will tell their entire wider family, large circle of friends, and their children about his 2 year affair with his colleague.
He has a big career, is as vain as fxxk, and doesn't want this getting out.

So the divorce is very amicable and he has moved out of the family home, which he is giving her.
Their children have taken it quite well as they have been so calm and measured about it.

Privately she cannot stand him, but is prepared to play along until everything is over the line.

This is exactly what I was trying to suggest, but much more articulate. Your friend is a very smart and strong woman, I hope she enjoys her fresh new life as she deserves!

caringcarer · 13/10/2026 19:21

You need to see a solicitor to find out what you would be entitled to and what he might get. I'd do that before making any decisions. You don't have to confront him immediately. I'd stop having sex with him though.

wellhellohowstheweather · 13/10/2026 19:22

Just to keep in mind, I know two women this happened to at your age. They’re both single and very happy now. There is an alternative if you feel able to consider it

Jenpen31 · 13/10/2026 19:34

This is very deceitful behaviour. I know I could not get past this level of hurt. Put yourself first. You could have a lovely, peaceful single life ahead of you. You dont need this in your life.

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