Forgiving a cheating partner is no easy task, but some manage to make it work.
For many, infidelity is an absolute dealbreaker. The thought of your partner preferring someone else’s company, even if it was a one-off affair, can sow seeds of doubt about their commitment and the likelihood of them straying again. However, one man who forgave his wife’s infidelity has been living happily with her for over 10 years.
He believed their relationship was solid, and they went on to have two children together. But he recently discovered a shocking detail that changed everything. In a Reddit post, the man revealed that his wife had an affair with her boss a decade ago, leading to a brief separation. They reconciled a year later and have been together since.
Warning: Below post may contain offensive language
Their reconciliation was possible because his wife transferred out of the office where her boss worked, ensuring the ended affair wouldn’t resume. But now, his wife has dropped a bombshell – her old boss is back on her team, and they’ve been “texting a lot.”
The man expressed his discomfort, saying: “I’ve been told it’s mostly professional, but they are friends. They go out for staff drinks together. They give each other rides to events. They text on weekends (work-related or otherwise). She has told me they are friends, she enjoys his company, he’s happily married, and I would get along with him if I got to know him (I’ve refused).”
He further shared that despite trusting his wife, he’s struggling with the situation and feels dismissed when he voices his concerns, as she tells him they’re “just colleagues and friends”, and accuses him of “overreacting”.
He added: “We’re pretty open and generally accept we don’t tell each other what the other can and cannot do or whom they can be friends with. When I tell her that I can’t handle how close they’re becoming again, and it’s f***ing me up a little, she tells me it seems like I’m giving her an ultimatum.”
Online commenters mostly supported the man, suggesting he was actually “underreacting”, and warning that without boundaries, it could lead to another affair.
One said: “Professional is one thing, but some necessary distance should be the default. Friendship should be out of the question. If she had any real appreciation for her marriage, she’d understand what’s appropriate and wouldn’t be pursuing friendship and more with him again.”
Another person commented: “What she is doing is completely disrespectful to you. The only type of communication she should have with him should be at work. There is no need for texts and rides to work events together.”