upset quiet mother and kid child girl daughter fight

She Discovered Her Husband’s Secret Lovers, But What She Did Next Shocked the Whole Town.

The Original Poster (OP) discovers her husband’s secret affairs and decides to embark on a long-term plan to make him pay for his betrayal. As the years go by, the tension between them reaches a boiling point which leaves both their lives forever changed.

The Discovery

worried young single mother feeling stressed while working through finances in kitchen debt money stress
image credit: cast-of-thousands/shutterstock

The OP discovers her husband’s infidelity through a secret credit card bill, which includes hotel payments and other suspicious expenses. She investigates further and witnesses him bringing different men to the hotel. OP chooses not to confront him immediately and instead gives herself time to cool off and strategize.

The Test

woman nervous thinking unsure
image credit: dima-berlin-photos/canva

The OP gets an STD test, which comes back negative, and convinces her husband to start using condoms. She decides not to confront him about his affairs, valuing the comfortable lifestyle he provides for her and their children. However, she resolves to make him feel guilty for the rest of his life.

The Slow Burn

couple enjoying date night restaurant romantic evening dining
image credit: Lucky Business/shutterstock

The OP plans elaborate date nights and subtly brings up stories of cheating husbands and gay men in conversations. She praises their only openly gay friends, calling them “real men” who are “out and proud.” Her husband responds with guilt gifts, including flowers, every week.

Compartmentalizing Her Life

pretty young woman shrug shoulders, looks uncertain and confused doubts huh
image credit: cast-of-thousands/shutterstock

OP, having grown up with the concept of “free love,” considers herself in an open marriage and has no problem ignoring her husband’s infidelity. She remains satisfied with their life and sees no need to find another partner or have an affair.

The Side Piece

men together happy
image credit: ground-picture/shutterstock

Her husband begins an exclusive relationship with another man, whom he introduces to the family as a new friend. The OP is furious but decides to continue keeping the secret when he brings the man into their home.

Her Husband’s Escalation

male looking out window home real estate worried pensive
image credit: fizkes/shutterstock

Her husband hints at moving to a state where it would be easier for him to come out. The OP refuses, citing her business and their children’s lives as reasons to stay put.

The Failed Arguments

woman upset reading phone social media sad
image credit: khosro/canva

Her husband tries to start arguments in hopes of provoking a divorce, but OP diffuses them by agreeing with him and offering a nice dinner and trips. She spies on his phone and discovers that he feels like he’s cheating on his boyfriend with her.

The Drinking Problem

male angry at work screaming jobs
image credit: dean-drobot/canva

The OP’s husband turns to alcohol as the pressure mounts. She decides to take action when his drinking becomes too heavy, as she doesn’t want that kind of environment for her children.

She Gathers Evidence

law concept lawyer judge court legal
image credit: esb-professional/shutterstock

The OP gathers evidence of her husband’s infidelity and hires a divorce attorney. She sends the evidence to his employer, family, and church, knowing it would break his morality clause and bring shame upon him.

The Fallout

male worker outraged
image credit: icon8-photos/canva

Her husband is fired, shunned by the community, church, and his family, and loses his reputation in town. His boyfriend is run out of town, and he can’t follow due to an impending custody battle.

The Divorce

attractive woman in casual clothes resting at home putting hands behind head relaxing sitting on rocking chair
image credit: fizkes/shutterstock

OP becomes a free woman, retaining the house, car, and business. She gets full custody, child support, and a fair share of their assets, while her husband won’t be paying alimony.

The Aftermath

male crying at table sad
image credit: shotprime/canva

Her husband moves six hours away for a new job, with a damaged relationship with his family and a ruined reputation. The love of his life leaves him for good, and his children only tolerate him.

The Honest Conversation

teenager girl daughter kid child worried mother upset fighting
image credit: kamira/shutterstock

The OP explains to her children that their father being gay is okay, but hiding it from her is wrong. She shields them from the details of his infidelity and remains polite to him for the children’s sake.

The Admission

woman proud confident pointing at herself
image credit: khosro/canva

OP admits she is not a hero in this story and acknowledges her actions were “messed up.” She shares her story online to finally tell someone, knowing she can’t do so in real life. Both OP and her husband emerge from their dysfunctional marriage scarred but wiser, providing a reminder that even in the face of betrayal, how we respond can have a lasting impact on ourselves and those around us.

Was The Woman’s Behavior Appropriate?

pretty young woman shrug shoulders, looks uncertain and confused red head doubts huh
image credit: cast-of-thousands/shutterstock

The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses…

Forum Responded

woman stern pointing
image credit: khosro/canva

One responder wrote: “You were smart for yourself and your kids, all he had to do was not bring his cheating into your home, which is like the easiest thing in the world.”

Another Viewpoint

Mature male with laptop working outdoors in garden home office concept
image credit: ground-picture/shutterstock

Another reader wrote, “I personally completely understand what you did and why you did it. The other options that were available to you would be inferior for everyone involved. If he hadn’t gotten greedy and tried to move in with his affair partner, he would have had it all in the end.”

A Different Perspective

Shocked panic young woman dressed in stylish clothing holding hands on head and screaming in despair and frustration
image credit: cast-of-thousands/shutterstock

A different person states: “At first, I felt bad because of how difficult it can be for gay men in small-town communities (not to mention the South). Then he tried to literally gaslight OP into divorcing him. Whether that was for economic reasons or to hide that he wanted to move to come out, that was super s***.”

What Do You Think?

group business meeting discussion jobs
image credit: tom-merton/canva

What are your thoughts on their actions?

What would you have done in this situation?

More From Top Dollar

woman warning sign unhappy angry
image credit: khosro/canva

A woman endures the relentless abuse of her micromanaging superior, ultimately leading to a mental breakdown and a dramatic resignation. However, fate takes an unexpected turn as an old colleague offers her a Chief of Staff position, placing her two levels above her former tormentor and setting the stage for a climactic confrontation and the sweetest revenge. 

After She Is Pushed Out by a Cruel Boss, She Returns to Outrank Her Nemesis and Delivers Sweet Payback

More From Top Dollar

man diver
image credit: andrew poplavsky/canva

Wild jobs that pay way more than they ought to.

13 Useless Jobs That Pay Too Much and Should Be Eliminated

More From Top Dollar

woman old mother angry frustrated
image credit: slatan/canva

The original poster of the story, a 29-year-old man, had a series of conflicts with his mother-in-law that threatened to ruin his marriage.

His Mother-In-Law Is Ruining His Marriage, So Here’s What He Decided to Do

Alexander Veros

Alex is a writer for Top Dollar Investor, focusing on lifestyle, travel, and business stories. Alex has started several online businesses and is a blogger who loves providing quality content to help others. He is passionate about affiliate marketing, finance, and cryptocurrency.

Similar Posts