Reddit Stories - Family Drama That Feels Too Real Sleep Stories ( Over 9 Hour Compilation ) - Episode # 47

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

Summary: Episode 47 delves into a poignant family drama that resonates deeply with listeners. The narrative explores complex relationships, misunderstandings, and emotional turmoil, creating an immers...ive experience that feels all too real. This sleep story invites reflection and connection, making it a relatable journey for anyone navigating familial challenges.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 I hope you enjoy this story. Discovered that my deceitful and oppressive mother was exploiting my identity for financial purposes while tracking my movements, following a period of extreme hardship she caused. Consequently, I collaborated with my sibling to address the situation. Her down in court. Living with my mom was an absolute nightmare. She has always been toxic and manipulative, but things got really bad after my dad left when I was around 12. From then on, I was her emotional punching bag.
Starting point is 00:00:32 She controlled everything about me who I could hang out with, what I wore, and even monitored my texts. If I ever did anything she didn't like, she'd scream at me for hours and sometimes even throw things around the house just to make a point. She never saw me as her kid. She just saw someone she could control. Once, I missed curfew by ten minutes, and she made me sleep on the porch in the middle of winter. Another time, she locked up all the food in the kitchen because I didn't fold the laundry properly. Whenever I pushed back, she'd say that I was just like my deadbeat father and would
Starting point is 00:01:07 end up a failure. So yeah, things were bad, and it only got worse the older I got. I knew I had to leave, but she made it hard. She sabotaged every job I tried to get. She'd call the employers and badmouth me. She also kept saying that I'd be nothing without her. Luckily, I still managed to find a job at our local diner. I saved every penny I could, worked multiple, often late shifts, and finally moved out two months ago. I found a small apartment in a different area of our city and blocked her on everything. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could breathe. But of course, my mom didn't take that well.
Starting point is 00:01:50 She left me dozens of nasty voicemails from different numbers. She called me selfish and ungrateful for abandoning her. When I didn't respond, she ramped it up. She started contacting our extended family to guilt trip me. A lot of them contacted me to tell me that I abandoned her in her time of need. At first, I ignored it. I thought that if I just stayed no contact long enough, she'd eventually move on. I admit that was naive of me to think.
Starting point is 00:02:21 At first, it was small things that threw me off. The packages I ordered never arrived, even though the tracking said they'd been delivered. Then my mailbox started getting tampered with important letters, including a job offer, just vanished. I figured it was bad luck or someone stealing mail in the building, but it kept happening. Then, one day, a late notice arrived from an electric company I never signed up with for an address back where I used to live with my mom. That's when I started to panic. I had never lived at that address, but the bill was under my name. I had no idea what to do.
Starting point is 00:02:58 A few days later, I started getting random texts from unknown numbers saying things like, Why did you get back home after 10 p.m. on Monday? Or why were you at the pharmacy on Tuesday? Which was super creepy because how did this person know where I was and what I was doing? I tried to brush it off as spam or coincidence, but my anxiety was through the roof. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. It was messing with my head. I started checking every lock twice.
Starting point is 00:03:27 I was genuinely terrified to leave my apartment. Then, a few weeks later, things got worse. The cops showed up at my door one evening and told me that I was being investigated for shoplifting. Apparently, someone matching my description had been caught stealing from a nearby store. I tried to stay calm and explain that I hadn't even left the house that day, but they didn't seem convinced. They said the store manager had given them my name and and insisted I was the one who did it. I was terrified. Luckily, my apartment building has security cameras, so I gave the officers access to the
Starting point is 00:04:04 footage, and it showed I never left that day. After reviewing the footage, they apologized and told me to reach out if I had any information on who it might have been. I knew then that this wasn't just a coincidence. Someone was trying to frame me, and that someone had to be my mom. She was the only person who looked like me, and who I knew loved to. shoplift. About two hours after the cops showed up at my door, I finally managed to convince myself to go tell the police about my hunch. I decided to speak to the same two officers that I met, and when I told them that I thought it was my mother who had me set me up, they began digging into her. And well, did they find so much. My mom had been showing up at multiple stores,
Starting point is 00:04:48 buying items, and then returning them after swapping the real products for cheaper items inside the boxes. She apparently had a credit card in my name, because she had access to my SSN and all my banking details for the longest time, and she used that credit card to commit her fraud. The officers said they had surveillance footage from the store they approached me about that showed her wearing a hat and a medical mask. It was easy to mistake her for me because we looked very similar, but it was still clearly her. By that point, I was too shaken up about the whole thing. So the officers escorted me back home and told me that they would reach out whenever they found new information on my mom. They wanted to build a solid case against her
Starting point is 00:05:29 before charging her with anything. Two days later, one of the officers called and told me my mother had also set up utilities in my name at her house because she probably wanted to rack up unpaid bills and tank my credit. That explains the electricity bill I got. Aside from that, they told me that my mother had also been making long posts that essentially were about how she sacrificed everything for her child who ended up turning against her. I honestly didn't know what to feel. My only comfort was that the officers promised that they'd open a formal investigation into her and that they would arrest her soon. But it only got worse for me. That same evening after my call with the officer, I discovered the creepiest part. One of my neighbors mentioned that some guy had
Starting point is 00:06:13 been asking around about me. He was asking about where I lived, what time I came home if I had any visitors, etc. Turns out, my mom had hired a private investigator to stalk me. She was so obsessed with knowing every little detail of my life that she actually paid someone to track my movements. After asking around my workplace, I found out that the pie had even shown up outside my workplace one day, but I didn't notice because a coworker was walking me to my car at the time. Not to that also would explain the weird texts I'd been getting. I was exhausted, paranoid, and scared all the time. I couldn't take it anymore.
Starting point is 00:06:53 I knew I needed some serious help. That's when I decided to call my aunt my mom's estranged sister. I knew she was a lawyer, but I hadn't spoken to her in years because my mom had poisoned me against pretty much everyone in the family. My mom always said my aunt was greedy and cut from the same cloth as dad. I wasn't sure if she'd help, but I was desperate. To my surprise, she was more than willing to take on my case pro bono. Turns out, my mom had screwed her over two.
Starting point is 00:07:24 After their parents died, my mom lied to her and told her that there was nothing left in the estate when in reality, she'd taken everything, including the sentimental items my aunt wanted. By the time my aunt found out, my mom had already sold the estate and moved somewhere else. My aunt had been waiting for an opportunity to get back at her ever since. Together, we filed for a restraining order and built a case against my mom for harassment, fraud, and identity theft. When my mom walked into the courtroom and saw her sister sitting at the lawyer's table, she went pale. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on her face. She had no idea I was in contact with my aunt, and the last person she wanted to face in court was the sister she had betrayed.
Starting point is 00:08:08 My aunt was a beast in court. She knew exactly how to handle my mom, who tried every trick in the book to get the hearing postponed. She even tried to claim bias because her sister was my lawyer. But the judge shut her down every time. The hearing itself was a circus. My mom tried every excuse under the son to excuse her actions. She claimed she was just helping me by using my name, and that she needed to keep tabs on me for my own safety, and even that I had given her permission to use my identity. None of it stuck. There was just way too much evidence against her. There was security footage from the store, utility bills in my name, and the PLs report and testimony of what my mom had him do. At one point, she even tried to argue that I made her do all of this by going no contact. She said that I forced her to act that way because I abandoned her
Starting point is 00:09:03 and that she was just trying to protect me by keeping tabs on me. The judge wasn't having any of it. Every time my mom tried to weasel her way out of responsibility, the judge shot her down. In the end, the court granted me a restraining order, and my mom was ordered to pay restitution for the damage she caused to my credit and finances. She stormed out of the courtroom in a rage, but not before screaming that I was an ungrateful child and that I would regret this. I was really happy with the results of that case.
Starting point is 00:09:33 I finally felt safe and I was really grateful to my aunt for that. But then, other extended family members started contacting me and telling me that I was wrong to take my own mother to court and drag her estranged sister into it. They've called me a disgrace in pretty much every way possible. I know that I did what was right for my mental health, but now, I think I took it too far. Maybe I should have tried to talk to her or negotiated with her or something? I don't know. I'm just a huge mess right now.
Starting point is 00:10:06 My emotions have been in overdrive for so long that I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. I could use any advice right now, but please be gentle with me if I am wrong. Ida for taking my mom to court and using her estranged sister as my lawyer? Update 1. Hey everyone. Thought I'd give you all an update since a lot has happened since the court hearing. This is coming a little over a month after everything went down, and spoiler alert the drama didn't end in court. I've also read through a lot of the comments and I just wanted to thank every one of you that commented. I've now learned about narcissism, the mental
Starting point is 00:10:42 disorder, and I've done a lot of research into it. My mother lines up pretty well with the symptoms, and while I understand that my mom may not be in control of how her mind thinks, I still know that she can be held responsible for her actions. Now, let's continue with the updates because I have a few of them to give. After the hearing, the first thing I did was cut off every relative who took my mom's side. A lot of them tried to guilt-trip me and said that I should forgive her because she's still my mom. But being related to someone doesn't mean you owe them forgiveness, especially not after everything my mother put me through. Some of these people hadn't lifted a finger to help me when she was making my life hell, but suddenly they had all these opinions about family
Starting point is 00:11:24 loyalty. Yeah, no, thanks. I blocked every single one of them. It wasn't even a hard decision mostly because it was only a handful of them. But, I've learned the hard way that keeping toxic people in your life only brings more chaos. But even though I went no contact with those flying monkeys, the chaos didn't stop there. About two weeks after the hearing, I found out that my mom was trying to sue the private investigator who had talked to my neighbors. Can you believe that? Apparently, she was mad that he talked to my neighbors during his investigation and claimed he
Starting point is 00:12:00 broke confidentiality. I don't even know why she thought that was a good idea, but she went ahead with it anyway. Unfortunately for her, the pie was a pro. He kept all the receipts which included texts, emails, and even a written contract with my mom, where she explicitly gave him permission to ask around about me. From what I heard, the pie wasn't having any of it. He shut down her sense immediately and even reported her behavior to the authorities handling the fraud investigation. And speaking of the fraud investigation, things got wild. I got a call from the investigator assigned to my case the same person I had worked with before when I reported my mom's shenanigans. They told me they had found more scams she had pulled in my name. Apparently,
Starting point is 00:12:46 she had been using my identity for years without me knowing. I thought the utilities and shoplifting stuff were bad, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. She had applied for multiple small loans under my name but nothing huge enough to get flagged right away. They were just small amounts here and there. On top of that, she subscribed to random services and even tried to lease an apartment using my identity. I had no clue any of this was going on because the bills and letters were sent to her address. It's terrifying to think how far she was willing to go just to mess with me. The investigator told me that, based on what they uncovered, my mom could be facing criminal charges if the fraud department decides to pursue the case. Right now, they're still
Starting point is 00:13:30 reviewing everything, but it's looking pretty serious. I can't say I'm surprised. She's been pulling these kinds of schemes for as long as I can remember. But knowing she might finally face consequences? That feels good. Like, really good. Then came the most infuriating part. I found out from a few extended family members people that I barely talked to that my mom had been spreading lies about me. She told them I was on drugs and out of control, and that's why the cops showed up at my apartment. According to her, she was trying to help me clean up my life because I was supposedly too far gone to help myself. She lied about the whole thing to make herself look like the hero and the poor mother who was doing everything
Starting point is 00:14:15 she could for her wayward child. Hearing that honestly made my blood boil. Not just because it was a total lie, but because it showed how deeply manipulative she is. She didn't just try to ruin my life with fraud and stalking. She was also actively working to destroy my reputation. Some of the people she spread these lies to were distant relatives, but she also reached out to old family friends who hadn't seen me in years. I guess she thought that if she could convince enough people I was a mess, it would justify all the things she did to me. It was tough hearing about these lies, even though I knew they weren't true. I felt so sad and exhausted. I've spent so much of my life dealing with her manipulation, and it's frustrating to see her try to drag me down even when I've
Starting point is 00:15:02 done everything I can to move on. But I've come to realize that people like her don't change. They'll always find new ways to play the victim and blame others. Still, I'm not letting her win. I've taken all the necessary steps to protect myself. I've placed more fraud alerts, worked with the investigator to clean up the mess she made with my credit, and stayed firm on my no-contact boundary. I also made sure to warn the relatives and friends she contacted that everything she said was a lie.
Starting point is 00:15:32 Thankfully, the ones who reached out to me believed me, especially after I explained what happened in court. Besides, most of them only reached out to me to inform me that my mom was going around sounding like a lunatic. I guess, it was also refreshing to see a bunch of other people see my mom for what she truly was. At the end of the day, I feel more at peace knowing that I'm not dealing with this alone. The legal system is finally on my side, and my mom can't manipulate her way out of this one. I'm not sure what's going to happen next with the investigation or whether she'll face jail time,
Starting point is 00:16:07 but I'll be sure to update you guys. Stay tuned. Update 2, Hey everyone, I wasn't planning on posting again. so soon, but things have gone even more off the rails since my last update. Honestly, I thought my mom's antics would die down after the court hearing, but nope, she's only gotten more unhinged. And this time, she went after my job. So, not long after I cut contact with the relatives who took her side, I guess mom realized she didn't have anybody left to do her dirty work. That's when she decided to pull a stunt directly targeting my livelihood.
Starting point is 00:16:41 She sent a letter to my workplace that was full of lies about how I'm mentally unstable and dangerous to customers. The letter basically made me look like I was a threat and said that if they didn't fire me, I'd cause some kind of scene. She even added fake stories to try and make it seem like I was reckless at work. Luckily, my boss isn't an idiot. She'd known me for a long time and knew the letter was bogus. She called me into her office, showed me the letter, and told me not to worry about it. Honestly, it still stung to see the things that Mom wrote about me, even though I knew they were all lies. My boss was super cool about it. She immediately got security involved and made sure that my mom was blacklisted from the building. Now, if Mom even thinks about showing up,
Starting point is 00:17:30 security will handle her before she gets anywhere near me. After that, I was just emotionally drained. I mean, at that point, it was clear that Mom was determined to destroy me however she She could. She couldn't manipulate me anymore, so she decided to attack my reputation and career. I kept telling myself that it wasn't going to work, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. I ended up calling my aunt the one who represented me during the court case and she gave me some much needed support. She told me not to engage with mom, no matter how hard she tried to drag me down.
Starting point is 00:18:05 She reminded me that my mom could not physically reach me anymore because of my restraining order. She assured me that if my mom pulled any more stunts, she would make sure that my mom was charged with violating my restraining order. And then about a week after the letter incident, I found out that mom had been arrested. Apparently, the fraud investigation I mentioned in my last update caught up to her, and one of the stores she scammed decided to press charges. From what I was told, Mom had been using stolen credit cards to make online purchases, and one of the stores flagged her account.
Starting point is 00:18:39 When the investigation linked everything back to her, the police moved in, and she was arrested for theft and fraud. She's currently being held until her trial, and from what my aunt said, the charges are serious enough that she could be looking at actual jail time. There's a laundry list of charges like identity theft, credit card fraud, and theft by deception, just to name a few. It's all finally catching up with her. My aunt aka my awesome lawyer was the one who found out about the arrest first.
Starting point is 00:19:09 And when she did, my mom tried to pull another stunt. My mom somehow got a hold of a phone while in holding and called my aunt. She begged my aunt to represent her. Can you imagine the audacity? After everything mom put my aunt through, she had the audacity to ask my aunt to help her. According to my aunt, when mom called, she didn't even apologize. Instead, she tried to manipulate her and said that family should always have each other's backs. My aunt shut that down real fast.
Starting point is 00:19:42 She told Mom that if she wanted legal advice, she'd have to find someone else because there was no way she'd defend someone who tried to ruin her and her niece's life. Apparently, Mom started screaming at her over the phone. She called her a traitor and threatened to ruin her too. My aunt told my mom to tread lightly because my aunt was a well-reputed lawyer, and if my aunt wanted, she could very easily help escalate the charges my mom was facing. My mom was shocked to hear that and quickly hung up the phone. When my aunt told me about this, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't believe that even after everything, my mom still thought she could guilt someone into saving her. And not just anyone, it was the only other close family she had whom she had betrayed in the worst way possible.
Starting point is 00:20:28 It was like she had learned absolutely nothing. Hearing about that phone call was both satisfying and sad. It confirmed what I already knew that my mom will always choose. manipulation over accountability, but it also made me realize just how far gone she really is. As for how I feel about her getting arrested, it's complicated. Part of me feels guilty for being relieved. She's still my mom, you know. And knowing that she's sitting in a holding cell waiting for trial is hard to process. But at the same time, it's not like I didn't see this coming. She's been getting away with this kind of behavior for years, and it was only a matter of time before
Starting point is 00:21:07 it caught up to her. Honestly, it feels like Karma finally did its job. If anything else happens, I'll be sure to update you all. Thanks again to everyone who's been following this wild ride and offering support. You have no idea how much it means to me. Update 3. Hey everyone. It's been six months since my last update, and I figured I'd give you all some closure. A lot has happened, and for the first time in a long while, I can finally say that it's over. So, here's where things stand. My mom pleaded guilty to several misdemeanor fraud charges. Honestly, I was surprised it all wrapped up so quickly.
Starting point is 00:21:50 Turns out, her lawyer worked out a plea deal because there was just too much evidence stacked against her. There were paper trails, surveillance footage, and victims willing to testify. If she tried to fight it, she would have been facing way more. more serious charges. The judge gave her two years of probation instead of jail time, along with an order to pay restitution for everything she stole. The restitution amount is no joke. She owes a ton of money. Every loan she took out in my name, every fraudulent transaction she made, and the damages from the theft charges have all added up to a pretty big figure. Knowing her, she'll probably
Starting point is 00:22:28 never pay it all back. But honestly, that's not my problem anymore. I thought I'd feel bad for her, or at least conflicted, but I don't. I feel free. For the first time in my life, I'm not constantly waiting for the next nightmare to unfold. I don't have to worry about her manipulating anyone around me or dragging me back into her mess. The restraining order is still in place, and I've officially changed my last name to make sure she can't find me again. It felt weird at first, but now it feels like a fresh start. Like, I finally get to live my life on my own terms. As for how this whole mess affected my mom, well, let's just say karma hit her hard.
Starting point is 00:23:13 A lot of people in her social circle have cut her off. Word about the fraud charges spread quickly, especially since some of the people she scammed were within that circle. Her reputation took a nosedive, and from what I've heard, she's been struggling to keep a job. I know some mutual relatives feel sorry for her, but I'm not one of them. She built this house of cards, and now it's all falling apart. But a couple of weeks ago, my aunt, the lawyer who helped me get the restraining order, reached out. She told me that my mom had been texting her, even though my aunt made it very clear after
Starting point is 00:23:48 that she wanted nothing to do with her. Apparently, mom was sending these long-winded messages about how my aunt betrayed her by supporting me. She blamed my aunt for where was now. She called my aunt selfish and the backstabber My aunt was obviously not going to take that sitting down She's a lawyer My aunt did not hold back from absolutely roasting my mother to bits
Starting point is 00:24:13 She brought up how my mom was the one who stole her inheritance When my mom knew that my aunt was drowning in student debt And was on the brink of homelessness She told my mom that my mom was the backstabber My aunt asked my mom if what my mom did to her was something that family did to each other, because my mom could not let go of the family as first reasoning. My mom apparently didn't have much to say after that. She never once apologized, even when my aunt pointed out all the mistakes my mom made and the various ways she hurt my aunt. I mean,
Starting point is 00:24:46 neither my aunt nor I was surprised. My mom has never once apologized for anything she's ever said or done. I knew this wouldn't have led to anything more. But, that didn't stop my mom from essentially harassing my aunt. She kept calling and texting my aunt with various insults. Eventually, my aunt had enough and told my mom that if she continued to harass her, she would file a lawsuit against my mom for stealing her inheritance. That shut up very fast. As for me, I'm in a much better place. I've started therapy to work through everything she put me through. It's not easy, but for the first time, I feel like I'm finally moving forward. I won't lie, there are still moments where I catch myself looking over my shoulder because
Starting point is 00:25:33 I can't help but wonder if my mom will try to worm her way back into my life. But those moments are happening less and less. I know I'm not the same person I was when this all started. I can't, thank you all enough for the support and advice you gave me throughout this nightmare. There were moments when I thought I'd cave, but reading your comments gave me the strength to keep going. It's wild how much strangers on the Internet can feel like a lifeline when you need it most. So yeah, it's over. I'm finally free. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:26:07 I hope you enjoy this story. Harmful mother and new father renovated my residence, transformed my living space into a baby's room, and accused me of mooching while attempting to evict me from the house my father passed down. Me after he passed away. I, 18M, have just been kicked out of my own house and I urgently need somebody's advice. To start with, I have never had a perfect family. My mom and dad were childless for four years before they got pregnant with me. I've been told that it was a miracle that my mom got pregnant since they had been trying for a long time and had lost all hope. However, once my mom found out that she was pregnant, both my parents were extremely happy and started to plan for the future. This happiness was short-lived as has been
Starting point is 00:26:54 told to me by my grandma because my parents were never really happy with each other. They have always had a lot of nasty fights and even after my mom got pregnant with me, these fights never really stopped. All of their fights were pretty much about the same things every day. Mom hated the fact that Dad gambled and Dad hated the fact that Mom was drinking the whole day even though she was pregnant with me. To compromise, Dad decided to stop gambling on the condition that Mom stops drinking as well which Mom initial agreed with, but she never kept her end of the deal. Dad found out that she was secretly hiding alcohol bottles around the house to take a sip here and there. At this point,
Starting point is 00:27:35 he felt that she was not only endangering herself by drinking alcohol but also me hence dad gave her an ultimatum. He threatened that he would leave her if she did not stop, which apparently did not sit well with my mom. My grandma says that because of this mom got really pissed and started to abuse my dad verbally. She then threw a pair of scissors at my dad which hit the corner of his eyes and injured him seriously. Later, when he was rushed to the doctors, he was informed that he had a partial corneolaceration which could be treated but that he was extremely lucky that it did not result in a permanent vision loss. This really scared my mom and she begged my dad to not press any charges against her. She promised to change so my dad
Starting point is 00:28:17 decided to let it go. When I was finally born, I have been told that both my parents were very happy and tried their best to take care of me. However, the peace between them didn't last long. According to my grandma, my dad one day came home from work to find me crying my eyes out in my nursery while mom was passed out on the sofa clearly drunk. He was furious and woke her up to confront her about it, but she kept saying that motherhood is hard and that it was just one drink. He would have also called CPS on her had she not calmed him down. I wish he had because after getting drunk, Mom started to cleverly drink only during the morning after Dad would leave
Starting point is 00:28:56 so that she would not get caught later in the evening. This is why I must have spent a lot of days in hunger because my health started to deteriorate and I was losing weight really fast. Whenever my grandma would come to visit, she would always find the house in a complete mess. There would be dirty dishes in the sink, the floor would be sticky, and filthy, and the entire place would be in disarray. She would find me wearing dirty diapers or dirty clothes, with my hair uncombed. Whenever she tried to talk to my mom about the state of the house or about me, my mom would become extremely defensive and ask her to mind her own business.
Starting point is 00:29:33 One time when my grandma came to visit us, she realized that my mom was clearly drunk during the day since she was unable to comprehend her words and kept giggling. When grandma confronted her about my mom started to get angry and insisted that it wasn't a big deal. That's when my grandma decided enough was enough. She stayed with me the entire day so she could take care of me and later when my dad was back from work, she demanded that she take care of me for a few months so he could admit my mom to a rehabilitation center. My mom tried to fight back but my dad immediately agreed with my grandma since he too must have realized that his wife needed help. While my mother was admitted, I went to live with my grandma for a few months. Those months I spent with her
Starting point is 00:30:18 were the best time in my entire life. She bathed me, read stories to me every night, cooked me healthy meals, and took me out to the park to play. I didn't even know these were things that parents were supposed to do with their children. She didn't shout at me like my mother would if I wanted to play with her. She didn't slap me if I ever broke my plate by mistake. Living with my grandma made me feel safe. My grandma slowly became more of a mother to me and has since taken care of me more than anyone ever has. I am so grateful that she is my grandma because I don't know how else I could have survived all those years. My dad would visit me all the time since he missed me a lot. He would tell me how much my mom missed me and that she could not
Starting point is 00:31:03 wait to get well so she could hold me again. Honestly, I kind of dreaded going back to my parents' place. I wish that I could just stay with my grandma forever. However, in a few months when my mother finally got sober and got her AA sobriety chip, the first thing she did was drive to my grandma's place and visit me. It was surreal seeing my mother after all these months and I felt like meeting a stranger. My mother did look much better and after she and grandma had a talk, I was informed that I would be moving back to my parents' place later this weekend. No matter how much I cried or protested, my mom told me that she was my parent and I had no choice but to live with her. It felt painful to come back to my parents' place which had so many bad memories.
Starting point is 00:31:50 I guess the move must have mentally and emotionally affected me a lot because I started to eat a lot less and I would puke a lot. At the mere age of five, I was diagnosed with addition. My parents did everything they possibly could to help me. They even took me for family therapy so that we could all heal from our past and move on. Slowly but surely, I started to feel better as I settled down. My parents were no longer fighting and my mother was no longer drinking. She tried to be a more present parent which made me start to trust her. Dad even cut down on his working hours so he could spend more time with us. However, things took a turn for the worst one afternoon when my dad and I came home from school and caught my mother cheating on him.
Starting point is 00:32:35 She had the audacity to bring her affair partner into our house, and we walked in on them doing the dirty deed. I was absolutely traumatized and my dad was speechless for a few minutes. His whole face was red in embarrassment as my mom and her affair partner rushed to cover themselves up. He told me to go upstairs while he confronted my mother and her affair partner ran out of the house in terror. I could hear my parents yelling at each other loudly. My mother, being the narcissist she is, blamed him for why she had been cheating, saying she felt too pressured to be perfect and this other guy made her feel like a normal person. She told my dad how she felt like no matter what she did he was always disappointed with her
Starting point is 00:33:18 because of her past mistakes. My dad yelled back that she was a coward and that he was done with her. He demanded that she move out immediately. This is when my mom started to beg him that he should not be this cruel and that he cannot do that to the mother of his son. She told him that the other guy meant nothing and that they needed to fix the marriage for the sake of me. That night my grandma came to pick me up as my parents continued to yell at each other. She did say a word or two to say to my mother but mostly stayed out of it. For the next two weeks, I stayed with my grandma while my mom and dad
Starting point is 00:33:54 sorted things out at home. My mother would call me every day and pretend as if she was very concerned about me when I knew by now that she didn't care about anyone else except for herself. I don't know if it was because my dad really genuinely loved my mom or because he was too used to their dysfunctional relationship, but in the end, he decided to stay with her on the condition that they start going for marriage counseling. However, despite my father's decision, I never saw my mother the same way ever again after catching her with the other man. I felt like I had lost all respect for her. As if things couldn't get any word. for us as a family, just three months after this incident, my dad was diagnosed with stomach
Starting point is 00:34:35 cancer. He had severe stomach cramps one day which made him collapse at work. Later, when he was taken to the hospital, it was discovered that his health was quickly deteriorating and he needed to start treatment immediately. This started long days of chemotherapy and bed rest since my dad had to take time away from work to try to fight against the cancer. He had some money saved up and even my grandmother was willing to help. My mom, on the other hand, was not happy with this. She would constantly complain about how draining and expensive these treatments and doctor visits were. Dad encouraged her to find a part-time job at least and would promise her about how he would go right back to his job and support her like he has always done once he recovers.
Starting point is 00:35:20 Eventually, Mom didn't have a lot of choice so she started working as a server at a local restaurant. Her shifts were long and she would pretty much stay out until late at night. While my grandma would drive my dad to and back from the hospital for his treatment, our neighbor who had a daughter the same age as me, offered to take me to school every day which was a huge help for us. This is how I became friends with Shirley. She and I have been friends for a long time now since we pretty much grew up together. Shirley's parents knew about my family history, as did a lot of neighbors since my parents
Starting point is 00:35:55 were not particularly subtle with their yelling matches. So when Shirley and I became close, they started inviting me to have lunch slash dinner with them as well. My dad saw no issue with this and neither did I, however my mom would always berate me for spending so much time at their place. She would tell me how they only saw me as a charity case and that I was nothing more than a broken toy to them. In hindsight, this might be true but as they spent more and more time with me, I started to see how they treated me like one of their own. In fact, when Shirley's mom found out that I liked apple pie, she would make sure to always bake one for me during the weekends. Shirley's dad taught me to play basketball and we spent many evenings practicing
Starting point is 00:36:39 hoops outside their garage. They sort of became like a second family to me over time, hence it was no surprise to anyone when Shirley and I started to date eventually. Shirley brought everything positive to my life and I am grateful every day that she is still my girlfriend despite all my crazy family history. Unluckily, my mom has never really warmed up to Shirley or her family over all this time but they have never let her dislike come in their way of treating me with affection and love. A year into fighting cancer, my dad was informed by his doctors that the chemo was not helping him anymore and that he didn't have very long to live. This news was heartbreaking for all of us and I spent many nights crying for him. As a child, I just could not understand why I was
Starting point is 00:37:24 going to be losing the only parent who genuinely loved me and struggled to come to terms with my grief. My dad spent his last months with me, mom, and grandma as much as he could. One morning, he just didn't wake up anymore no matter how much I called for him and I knew that something was wrong. I ran to tell my mom who called 911 immediately. I can't begin to write the pain I felt when the paramedics declared that he was dead. The only comfort we had was that he had passed away peacefully and asleep. I did not let them take my dad's body away until I was literally physically restrained by my mom as I kept crying and screaming in grief.
Starting point is 00:38:03 It was only when my grandma arrived that I calmed down a bit. I couldn't imagine the grief she must have felt at that moment. The funeral happened without any issues, however, the real twist came when dad's lawyer arrived to read his will. It was then that it was revealed that Dad had left all his money and his house to me. My mom was shocked and even asked the lawyer to show her the papers. I guess Dad knew the kind of person she was and wanted me to have his house and whatever little money was left after chemo so that I could have a decent start in life. Mom didn't like this one bit and kept asking the lawyer if she could fight this in court
Starting point is 00:38:40 since the house rightfully should go to her as she was his wife. However, since my dad had changed his will long before he went into chemotherapy, it meant that he was sound of mind and well and she didn't have any strong ground to stand on. My mom asked me what I wanted to do with the house and I told her that I wanted to stay in the house. She told me how we could sell the house and move to a much better location, but I had just lost my dad and this house was all I had that reminded me of him, so I obviously refused. It wasn't like she had any choice in this matter, so she continued to live.
Starting point is 00:39:13 in the house. I did notice that she looked extremely disappointed but I didn't think much about it at that time. However, not even two months later, my mom informed me that she had met someone and that she wanted me to meet him finally. Now imagine my surprise when I walked into the restaurant and she introduced me to none other than Andrew, the very same guy she had been caught sleeping with years ago by dad and me. I immediately recoiled in disgust and shock as the man extended his hand to greet me. I asked my mom if this was the same guy and she acted all surprised and told me to sit down so she could explain further. I refused to shake the guy's hand or even acknowledge him as I was furious at my mom for even thinking I would ever want to meet him. My mom began to explain
Starting point is 00:39:59 how they both had reconnected after all these years and that Andrew was just an old friend who made her feel good after dad's death. There was something in her words that just made me feel like she was lying to me. They also seemed extremely cozy with each other and kept kissing which made me even more uncomfortable. I started to think about all those nights she came back home late at night while my dad was still alive giving excuses that she was working over time when she could have been very well meeting up with this guy behind our back. Throughout the evening, I kept ignoring Andrew whenever he tried to make any small talk with me. Later my mom was pissed at me for being rude to her boyfriend and told me how disrespectful it was. I remember that she even told me that this is why she was thinking of marrying Andrew in the next few months so hopefully, I could have a positive role model in my life. I was pissed hearing this and told her that there was no way that I wanted him in my life and that if they did get married then she had to move out because I would rather live alone than with a man who had the audacity to have an affair with her while my dad was still alive.
Starting point is 00:41:02 My mom threatened me that I was still under age and that she was my parents so I have no real choice in this matter anyways. Unfortunately, she was right and true to her words, she soon got married to Andrew and he quickly moved into our house. Once he moved in, he made sure to remind me every day that he was the man of the house. He hated the fact that I had pictures of my dad and me in our living room so one day after I came back from school, I discovered that he had taken those pictures down and put them in the basement. When I angrily confronted him, he told me that he and my mom needed to make a fresh start, hence I was only allowed to put up pictures of my dad inside my bedroom. As if this wasn't enough for me to hate him, he was also extremely controlling. He would call my mom every time her shift ended and would call her back again if she was even a minute late to reach home.
Starting point is 00:41:55 Slowly, he started to do this with me as well, but I shut him down quickly. I reminded him that he was not my father in any way and that I was going to stay out as long as I wanted. I had the keys to the house anyways so it wasn't like he could lock me out. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I was staying out to party or anything. I would simply just spend my evenings at Shirley's place or at the library where I could peacefully finish my homework and study. Throughout this time, I continued to have a good relationship with my grandma and I visited her as much as I could. We would simply sit and watch an old black and white movie or reminisce about the old days. When I graduated from high school, my mom didn't even bother to attend my high school graduation.
Starting point is 00:42:41 Although I didn't expect much from her by this time, I was still a bit sad that my only parent didn't care about me a single bit. However, my grandmother and Shirley's parents were there for me and they cheered for me during graduation. Later, when I was getting ready to go out to party with my friends, my mom had to be. came into my room to inform me that she and Andrew felt that I was now an adult so I needed to step up and take responsibility around the house. Confused, I asked her what she meant by that since I always washed my own dishes and did my laundry. This was when my mother informed me that I needed to find a job and start paying the bills around the house. She said that Andrew felt I wasn't carrying my weight and that as an adult, he expected me to contribute
Starting point is 00:43:24 money. I was a bit pissed that she didn't give me a single day to celebrate before dumping this news on me but nevertheless, I agreed to contribute as much as I could. Over the next few weeks, I applied and got a job as a cashier at Burger Kings while also simultaneously applying to various colleges. Eventually, I got into a good college in my town which meant that I didn't have to waste money by opting for hostile accommodations but I did need to buy a car so it would be easier for me to attend classes. I decided to have a talk with my mom to ask her if she could help me buy a car, but she and Andrew immediately got pissed hearing this. Andrew yelled at me that they were doing more than enough for me with the tight income they both had and that for once I needed
Starting point is 00:44:08 to stop being so selfish. I couldn't comprehend exactly what it was that made me selfish in his books, but Mom didn't even try to defend me. She told me that I was on my own and that as an adult I needed to figure things out. Imagine my surprise when just a few weeks later, I woke up to a few workers working on remodeling the kitchen and the downstairs washroom. When I asked Mom about it, she told me that Andrew was sick of how old and rusty the house looked so he was going to be changing a few things here and there. I asked her where they got the money to do this when according to them they didn't even
Starting point is 00:44:42 have the money to help me out with a car a few weeks ago. Hearing this mom got frustrated with me and said that I was being entitled to expect them to help me. For the next few weeks, I watched Mom and Andrew change things around the house and completely revamp it. I kept my mouth shut throughout all this and just kept my head down. Shirley knew I was upset over this and tried to cheer me up as much as she could. However, today, when I returned home, I found my things and clothes in the living room. I rushed to check on my things yelling at Mom about why they were there and not in my room. This is when Andrew and mom came downstairs to tell me that they needed to talk to me about something very important.
Starting point is 00:45:25 They then went on to excitedly announce that Mom was pregnant with Andrew's child and that they had kept this news to themselves for over two months. Andrew then went on to state that as the father of the child, he needed to think about the needs of his child firsthand he had decided to change my room into a nursery for his baby. My mouth hung open in shock as he went on to say that it was time for me to move out and live on my own since he and mom had agreed. they could not take care of a freeloader anymore. Mom nodded in agreement and suggested I could move into Grandma's place until I could afford my own. I could feel teardrops welling up in my eyes.
Starting point is 00:46:02 At that moment, I felt so unwanted that I didn't even bother to argue with them. I called an Uber and took all my important documents so I could spend the night here at my grandma's place. She is as shocked as me and hates my mom even more now. She wanted to go right back and confront my mom. but before that, I wanted to take some legal advice. I have just recently turned 18 and I know that the house rightfully belongs to me, so will I face any issues removing my mother and Andrew from the premises? Will I have to consult with a lawyer regarding this?
Starting point is 00:46:36 Update 1. Okay guys, thanks for all your advice. I read all your comments and decided to do what most of you told me to do. First of all, today I went to visit my lawyer to understand my legal stance better. The lawyer informed me that there was no way that Mom and Andrew had any right over the house as my dad's will was crystal clear and that I needed to hand them a formal eviction notice which could then be used to sue them if they didn't abide by it. After this, I visited my house with my grandma. I had the keys to my place so I didn't even bother to ring the doorbell. Luckily, there was no one I called Shirley's dad and asked him if he could help me change the locks in the main door and the back door. and fortunately, he agreed. By the time Shirley and Andrew returned home, the locks had been
Starting point is 00:47:23 changed. I met them outside on the porch with my grandma and refused to let them inside. Andrew was furious seeing me standing there, but my five feet five inches, Grandma was not scared of him a bit. She looked him right in the eyes and told him that they had 30 days to move out since I had decided to sell the house and there was nothing that they could do to stop it. I then handed them a written notice, signed by my lawyer, outlining their 30-day eviction period and the legal consequences they would face if they did not comply. Andrew snatched the paper from my hand to inspect his face turning red in anger. He then crumpled it, but Grandma warned him that destroying it wouldn't change anything.
Starting point is 00:48:04 They had 30 days, and that was non-negotiable. Seeing this unfold, Mom started to beg me and tell me that I should not put her through so much stress during her pregnancy. She went on to say how big of an inconvenience it would be for them to move out when she was already going through so much. I was so mad at her for never defending me all this time that I started yelling at her for being such a horrible mother to me for all these years. I reminded her how she would just leave me to fend for myself while she would be passed out from drinking. I told her how as an adult she needed to find her own place and stop living at my place. Hearing this, she started to plead even more, but I told her that she and her freeloader husband
Starting point is 00:48:46 were done mooching off of me and my house. Andrew looked horrified and tried to ignore me and get inside the house but quickly realized that his keys didn't work anymore since the locks had been changed. He started to yell at me, but I told him that I would call the police on him because he was technically trespassing on my property now. It was satisfying to see him look pissed but unable to do anything. I told both of them that this was only going to be the start of all their trouble and their new baby if they didn't listen to me. I reminded them that not only would I sue them, but I would make sure that it would drain all their finances while I could just recover the money from selling the house eventually. I told them that I had nothing to lose
Starting point is 00:49:27 at this point and that me and Grandma were going to be staying with them for the next 30 days to make sure that they were going to be packing and leaving. Andrew and Mom were clearly not expecting this and tried to argue back, but I wasn't having it. I reminded them that I was the owner and they were merely just guests, so if they didn't like what I was saying, they were free to go to a motel and that I would move all their things out to the porch for them to collect the next morning. Their faces turned a mix of anger and desperation, but they knew that I was done with their bullshit. This was my house, my rules, and it was time for them to respect that. Update 2, wow, I woke up today to find my post on TikTok.
Starting point is 00:50:06 I live in a small town so there is a high chance that if my neighbors or friends come across my post or the video circulating, then they might recognize me. Now, addressing the questions about why I am giving my mom and Andrew a 30-day legal notice. It's because my lawyer advised that this would ensure they have no grounds to sue me if this ever goes to court. As for those asking about the money my stepdad spent on remodeling the house, I want to be fair. When I sell the house, I am prepared to reimburse him for the remodeling costs, provided he can produce proper bills that my lawyer can verify. As for those asking why my grandma and I are staying here with my mom and Andrew, it's because I don't want them to unfairly claim any part of this property since they don't pay me any rent. As the owner of the house, I'm not going to leave my property. I have also refused to provide them with a key to my door so they can't even claim that they leave here without a car.
Starting point is 00:51:03 key. My grandma, who is a no-nonsense person, wants to be here to make sure these leeches are out of here soon. Update 3. It's been a while since I gave an update here. Well, as some of you suspected, my stepdad and mom did try to play dirty and refused to move out when their 30 days' legal notice ended. However, I am smarter than them and the next time they went for my mom's ultrasound, I moved all their things to the porch and refused to let them back in. They came back can try to call the police on me, but there was nothing the police could do. I calmly showed them proof that I was the legal owner and explained that my stepdad and mom didn't even have a key to the house. Seeing this, the police informed them that their only option was to go to court
Starting point is 00:51:49 if they wanted to contest my claim. Andrew cursed me out loudly and started to walk over aggressively, but one of the officers warned him to calm down or risk being detained. Eventually, my mom and Andrew were removed from my property, and it was satisfying to watch them realize exactly what they had lost. Since then, I have installed cameras all over my property and talk with a real estate agent who will start showing the house to potential buyers next week. I hope you enjoy this story. Following an extended period of separation due to professional commitments, I learned that my spouse was in a romantic relationship with her new executive and resigned from her position to reunite with me after he ended the affair.
Starting point is 00:52:32 As a 43-year-old male, I have been living in Chicago for the last two years for job purposes. My wife, Jill, 39F, and our nine-year-old son are put in our hometown in Houston. Pre-pandemic, I used to run a garage with my friend while Jill worked as an executive. We didn't make much, but it was manageable. We lived in our own house. I had inherited it from my family. My parents retired early from their day job and went to live on our countryside farm to lead their lives in peace amidst nature. My father loads up his truck every two weeks with all the dairy products, fruits, veggies, and potatoes, depending on the season, grown on his farm and ships it to us.
Starting point is 00:53:17 So yeah, we save a lot there. Life was smooth. Ban. COVID hit and we lost everything. Everyone went indoors, there were no. no cars on the road, and people were selling off their vehicles because they couldn't pay their mortgages. Our garage followed the same fate, we had to shut it down and close the lease because we couldn't pay the rent. Jill's company also got shut and she lost her job.
Starting point is 00:53:45 Our only hope was the grains, vegetables, and milk we were getting from my parents' farm. Yes, we had savings but that was wearing out sooner than we thought. The government and local community's sponsored groceries and other essentials and it saved people like us. When things started opening up, I thought to take up a job because setting up the garage all over again in that condition was not possible. But to my dismay, most of the garages were permanently shut down because the owners could not pay the mortgage. The ones that were running were not hiring new employees or any employee for that matter. The business was low and the owners themselves were running the show. Same was the case for Jill, she too didn't get back her job.
Starting point is 00:54:29 After a lot of struggle and cold reach, finally one of my distant cousins told me that there was a vacancy at his workplace but that was in Chicago. It was a job at a car manufacturing unit, the pay was good, and besides I had no other option than to take this job. We had almost no savings left and there was no hope of finding a job in Houston. I left for the job, leaving my wife and son at home. The company gave me food and shelter and I got 15 days leave every six months to visit my family. For the first year, it was smooth. Despite the distance, Jill and I were still very close. She always motivated me to work harder so that I could move them to Chicago. I was living in a dormitory provided by the company. Though the factory was located in the suburbs,
Starting point is 00:55:18 it was still expensive to bring family here. We both knew that it was a long journey but we were hopeful to be living together shortly. After my long working hours, talking to Jill was the only thing that kept me refreshed and going. Things have started changing after my last home visit. Six to seven months back, Jill got a job at a startup company. I didn't notice any evident change except that she was not available for me every day. It was understandable. Earlier she was a homemaker so she could make time for me every time I called.
Starting point is 00:55:54 Now with her job, this was unrealistic to expect. However, I noticed some changes in her when I went home during my last vacation. She was way too guarded about herself and her phone. She was not talking freely and I felt like she was careful about whatever she spoke. This wasn't the case earlier. Yeah, before that, When she first started her job, she had a tough time with her boss. She's a secretary at a CEO's office.
Starting point is 00:56:24 She works for a startup run by young just out of college graduates who are very rude to their employees. Jill couldn't take the harshness and resigned after a few months. After her resignation and her long email about a toxic workplace, her CEO called her back, promising to mend his ways. A lot of employees were leaving the company because of his bad adage. Her earnings were a cushion for us. She used to save most of it because I provided all the household expenses despite her job. It expedited our process of living together. She withdrew the resignation and rejoined. Things got better for her and she told me that her boss was now way more polite and respectful. It looked sorted. Fast forward to three months back,
Starting point is 00:57:12 Jill told me that her boss, the CEO, was going for a five-day investor summit in Dublin and he wanted Jill to accompany him. She denied it initially because she couldn't leave our son alone for five days, but her boss has offered to let our son accompany them at the company's expense. Honestly, I have no idea how these corporate companies operate, how they could afford to spend so much on unnecessary stuff like this kind of travel, but anyways, I left it for Jill to decide. She said it was important for her career and she went. I may sound possessive but I felt uneasy about her trip but didn't say anything. She called me regularly and kept me updated during the trip.
Starting point is 00:57:53 I face-timed with my son daily and we did that too during the trip as well. He was very excited to visit a new place. It was his first time outside Houston. Eventually, I eased up. There was no evident change in Jill after the trip. nothing that I read in the confessions here, like ignoring me or becoming cold, etc. I wouldn't have been writing this if I didn't go home last month. I didn't tell her the exact date of my visit, I wanted to give her a surprise.
Starting point is 00:58:24 I had done this before as well, but this time she was more shocked than happy to see me at the door. Her face didn't light up on seeing me, it was grim, though she pretended to be excited but you know, you can make out this subtle change in your partner. Then she was very guarded about her phone and about her own being overall. When you meet your partner after six months, obviously you want to get intimate. Every time she used to pounce on me on the same very night of my visit. But this time, she seemed reluctant. I asked her what happened.
Starting point is 00:58:58 She said nothing. She behaved like a virgin schoolgirl who just coordinated the entire action, feeling guarded about herself and without taking any initiative. I don't know, I felt she was scared about something I might find out. I confronted her but she didn't acknowledge that there was anything unusual. But over the next few days, she became normal. Not very proud to say this, but I snooped into her phone that very night after she slept. No, there was nothing.
Starting point is 00:59:30 The chats with her boss had nothing except work-related stuff. No suspicious phone calls and the gallery was clean. When she was out for work, I asked my son the details about the Dublin trip and nothing came out from there either. I came back to work after the holidays, happy and satisfied. A week ago, Jill again told me she was going for a two-day work trip with her boss to Florida, and this time without our son. He has his exams which he can't miss so he will be living with my in-laws for those two days.
Starting point is 01:00:03 I don't know guys if I'm being a jerk here, but I really don't have a good feeling about all this. I asked her who all were going. She said it was just her and her boss. Her company has two founders, but she goes with just one of them every time, I find it very weird. I don't know if I'm being a moron to suspect her, but I just don't want to ignore the red flags early on and get fooled. Has anyone been in this situation before? Any advice slash pro tips highly appreciated. Update 1, Hello All, it's been quite a while since my last post.
Starting point is 01:00:38 I connected with a lot of men who were deployed outside their hometown and they faced a similar situation. Seeing my circumstances, most of them suggested that I give Jill the benefit of the doubt because I couldn't find any substantial evidence suggesting her cheating. I did that. After her trip to Dublin and Florida, she went on many more work trips to cities like Amsterdam, Seattle, etc. Surprisingly, never in Chicago, where I live. A month ago, I got my second promotion, a long-awaited one with a substantial hike. I was so delighted when it was announced. I immediately called up Jill and told her about this but her reaction was far from being happy.
Starting point is 01:01:21 And you know why? Because this meant she and my son could move in with me. I asked her if she was not happy that I got my long-awaited promotion. I worked here for four years, double shifts on most of the days to earn my promotion so that I could be with my family again. She said she was happy about the promotion but was not sure about shifting to a new place. She said she had worked so hard to rebuild her career and now she didn't want to waste it again. I suggested she could get a new job in Chicago, but she didn't like that idea. She said she was expecting a promotion and had worked her ass off to make a name for herself in the company and now she couldn't leave it without a promotion.
Starting point is 01:02:01 It didn't go down well with me because she was pushing back a lot. I mean if I had the chance I would have definitely left my job to live with my family. Her salary was a quarter compared to mine and she could have got a similar paying job easily here, yet she was not ready to leave her job. It led to several fights and arguments between us, but she shifted her reason towards our son that his school and curriculum would be disrupted. My son is a soccer enthusiast and has been getting trained at a community class. trained at a community club. I assured her I would find him a good training club here, but she was reluctant saying shifting here would mean a complete disruption in our son's life.
Starting point is 01:02:41 Some of her reasons made sense, but I felt she never wanted to share a house with me. Finally, we came to a conclusion that we would wait for another year, save some more money, and then think about this decision. Due to three months into this and Jill tells me that she wants to move to Chicago with me. I asked her what happened all of a sudden. I asked her what happened all of a sudden. She said she had just changed her mind and our son needed me. Few moths back, when we were fighting over this, she reasoned out that we shouldn't disrupt our son's curriculum. At that time, our son's class academic year had just ended and it would have been easier for us to get him admitted to a new school in Chicago. Now his new academic
Starting point is 01:03:22 session has started and it would be so difficult to get him admitted mid-year. I told her to wait for this year and they could come next year, but she got adamant about living together. I asked her about her job and she said she was ready to quit the job. Family is more important than anything else. I really don't know what is driving this change in her, but I definitely suspect something fishy. She has even got to a point where she's ready to delay our son's academic session by a year. I discussed this with some of my local colleagues here and they assured me that they would help me in getting my son admitted mid-session. I'm planning everything else to bring them here with me, house setup, car, school, etc.
Starting point is 01:04:04 But deep down I feel she is not doing this for me. There's something else. I'll update the thread if I'm successful in getting through the truth, else it might just be my overthinking. Update 2, hello everyone. So, it came out that my wife was indeed cheating on me and I found out everything when she shifted with me in Chicago. As I mentioned in my last update, she suddenly told me that she wanted to move with me and that she was ready to quit her job. I was both happy and suspicious about the entire thing, but I made all the arrangements for them. My cousin who referred me to this job, helped me in getting my son
Starting point is 01:04:43 admitted to the same academic year. He also helped me procure an affordable rental apartment. So, Jill and my son shifted with me and I couldn't be happier. Whatever suspicion and doubts I had in my mind, it all vanished when we started living together. It was a happy time. However, as time passed, I realized that Jill was not the same woman I had married. Yes, time changes all of us, but it was not a good change. She became snappy and guarded. Whenever I confronted her, she said she was missing our hometown, friends, and family
Starting point is 01:05:20 there. I too was living away from family for so long. I kind of empathized with her, but one night, I found her weeping over the phone. I eavesdropped on the conversation and realized that she was pleading with someone to take her back. So, instead of hiding or investigating anything, I just confronted her after she was done with the call. Yes, I heard it all and it was quite clear. I'm glad that she didn't lie or manipulate the situation. She confessed everything.
Starting point is 01:05:52 It happened so that her young boss fucked her, quite literally. It started on their first Dublin trip. After a successful investment deal, they got so happy and drunk that they lost control and did that. After that, they did it every night after our son fell asleep. This disgusted me so much that I wanted to punch her fucking face right there. They continued to fuck even after the trip and every business trip, they have been together, it was more of a fucking trip. That was the reason she didn't want to leave her job. However, when she told her boss that I wanted her to be here with me but she had refused
Starting point is 01:06:30 because of him, he got scared and told her that he wasn't serious about those physical things. He asked her to prioritize her family over him. She flipped out. Though she knew, it was just for fun, somewhere she felt hurt that he wasn't as involved as she was. He even showed her the woman he had been dating casually. So, Jill was basically his sex toy. Isn't this evident?
Starting point is 01:06:57 It goes without saying that he wasn't going to marry her or ever get serious about her. I don't know what she was thinking before trading off her marriage for cheap sex. When the CEO didn't reciprocate Jill's feelings, she took it to her ego and quit the job. This time he didn't even bother to ask her the reason and released her. Looked like he desperately wanted to get rid of her and her resignation made things better for him. She thought he would beg and plead with her to stay. Why would he? He is the owner of the company.
Starting point is 01:07:29 He can have many girls lined up for him. Why would he run after her? Jill was an easy source of entertainment for him and he exploited it. She was a fool to take him seriously. Now, she is calling and pleading with him to take her back and he is asking her to move on. It amazed to know that she was ready to be his mistress. She was telling this over the call. I asked her how she was able to pull this cheating for so long.
Starting point is 01:07:57 She said their conversations were face to face, and they worked from the same cabin for eight to ten hours a day. Makes sense. That was the reason I couldn't find anything on her phone. Neither she texted or called him during my 15 days' home visit. They were together for half of the day, why do they still need to talk over the phone? Her boss was anyways not emotionally involved in her so talking about. wasn't needed. He wanted actions and she used to give him that in his cabin. Yes, she told
Starting point is 01:08:28 me that. They had regular sex in his cabin, bolting the doors and switching off the cabin camera. The revelation made my head so heavy. I asked her to leave me alone. It was already morning by the time our confrontation was over. I slept through the day. When I woke up in the evening, I saw that she had made my favorite food. She acted so normal and said we could start over fresh. I said no way, I was here, working my ass off day and night for a better life for my family and she was there getting down for her CEO. She acted shocked when I uttered the word divorce. She was like, how could you do that to me? I left everything for you, I stood by you in the struggle days when you made nothing and now when you're earning well, how could you
Starting point is 01:09:16 abandon me. She did support me in distress, but she also faltered and cheated on me. I too did my part of being a good husband. Long distance was difficult for me too, I too was craving for family and sex life, but I didn't choose infidelity. She did. She kept saying sorry and making all sorts of promises, but I didn't back off. I told I'd be booking tickets for her return and would send the divorce papers soon. Thank God, I had a pre-up with her which is going to save a lot for me. Details for next update. Currently, I'm not in a stable mind frame. I left the house and have been living in the company's dorm. We'll make the final update after sorting out this mess. Update 3. Hello everyone. Thanks for all the support. People commented that I missed the red flag
Starting point is 01:10:10 and that wives cheat in long-distance relationships. Not taking any offense but, guys, I was alert from the start, noticed the slightest change in her behavior, and discussed that openly. I called her daily and had transparent conversations every now and then. I even checked her phone whenever I visited home. I don't know what else I should have done to avoid the cheating. So yeah, my divorce proceedings have started. I had booked their tickets to return back home.
Starting point is 01:10:40 My son is too small to live alone without his mother and with my working condition, it's not possible for me to take care of him. Besides, he was away from me for so many years, it's not the best thing to keep him with me. I'm hoping when he grows mature and understands things, he will understand me. Jill pleaded with me that she had lost everything and didn't have any means to live on her own. I offered to let her stay in the house until I was back in our hometown. We had a pre-nup that she cannot claim my property in a divorce popping out of cheating. So she cannot have my house. I agreed to the child's support for my son.
Starting point is 01:11:19 So she gets nothing from the divorce. Even after she for Houston, she kept contacting me, asking for one last chance to fix our relationship. She was hopeful that I would forgive her for the sake of our son. Now, yes, people do that. They forgive their cheating partner for the sake of their children. Call me egoistic or whatever, I wasn't ready to take her back just to give my son a false illusion of a happy marriage. Finally, after a lot of tussle, the divorce was finalized. She got away with nothing.
Starting point is 01:11:55 She lost her job. Her boss has not given good feedback in her relieving letter. He mentioned her being flaky who resigns at the drop of a hat without any reason. She resigned twice in her tenure without reason. So she is not getting offers from good companies. Also, the market condition of the corporate industry is not so good for the last one year. She sometimes sends me voicemails that I have ruined her life. I don't care.
Starting point is 01:12:23 Neither I have blocked her. I want her to know that I hear everything she says. Still, I'm unmoved by her misery. I want her to know that I don't love her. her anymore. Now on to the next story. Story 2. Caught my wife cheating on me with her a fair partner while we were on a camping trip. My wife, 26, was extremely competitive with her twin sister. I, 32 male, noticed pretty quickly that she compared their jobs, houses, community involvement, style, self-discipline, and even spouses. Yes, she even compared me to her brother-in-law.
Starting point is 01:13:04 In these comparisons, she usually claimed herself the higher achiever, and her sister merely a close second, but in certain things, my wife wasn't as confident and looked to me for reassurance. To my dismay, she didn't seem totally convinced that I was the better catch. After talking about her brother-in-law's career in law enforcement and weightlifting dedication, she got quiet and inevitably started giving me hints that she wanted me to do some of the things he was doing. I was fit and lean, working as a van driver and handyman in a small, privately owned construction company. I wasn't making very much money, but it was enough to pay half the household bills. My wife covered the other half with her various social media platform
Starting point is 01:13:47 sponsors and a part-time job as a make-up saleswoman. When she started comparing me to her sister's husband, I lost it. I told her she was lucky she had such an easy way to earn money and that she owed it to the fact that she was born with a beautiful face, and learned how to charm and manipulate people. She was pretty upset with me after that, and didn't want to listen when I said I was working really hard and it was only a matter of time before I got a pay increase. It wasn't long after this interaction that I noticed my wife's increased interaction with her brother-in-law.
Starting point is 01:14:21 They were commenting on each other's posts and pictures on social media. I knew he was texting her because I saw a preview of his text pop up on my wife's phone before she grabbed it. Everything came to a head when I saw them at a cookout together. My wife's entire family was there, so it was crowded, but out of all the people my wife could have been catching up with, she was standing side by side with her brother-in-law. As soon as I went to the bathroom, she disappeared to find him. By the time I found her, they were smiling and talking intimately.
Starting point is 01:14:53 Irritated, I scanned the crowd for my sister-in-law. She was oblivious to what her sister and husband were doing. Since my wife was distracted, I went through her purse to find her phone. I took it to the bathroom and had time to read and screenshot a plethora of messages that spelled out their emotional and lustful affair. My wife admired him for his bravery and self-discipline, physical fitness, and flattered him in a variety of ways. Some things she never even said to me.
Starting point is 01:15:25 They send each other nudes, and that's when my hand started shaking. Their most recent messages were plans to meet at a cheap motel in four days, when their spouses would be working. I couldn't believe what I was reading because my wife as I knew her would never be so heartless or inconsiderate enough to have an affair with her own sister's husband. Yet, it was clearly happening. I waited until after the cookout to text the most of her.
Starting point is 01:15:49 crucial screenshots to my sister-in-law, along with a message that suggested we wait to ambush them at the motel with additional family members. She was completely shocked and devastated, so it took some persuasion to get her to agree to keep it a secret until then. When the day came, she and I, plus ten other family members, including their parents and members of APPS family, sat in our cars and waited for them to check in. They were riding an APPS car, looking as giddy as a newlywed couple. As soon as they started walking towards their room, key card in hand, all of us got out and started walking towards them. I remember I was the one that got their attention first, followed by the rest of the family. When they saw us, it looked like they were struck by lightning.
Starting point is 01:16:37 They froze, gasped, locked up, and needed to change their drawers. My wife's sister started screaming at them, which made her husband drop to his knees, trying to reach for her hand in desperation. My wife did not know what to say. She didn't like being wrong, and she was clearly wrong in this, for her entire family to see. She just started saying they didn't do anything, over and over again, trying to yell louder than the other family members and myself. I finally showed her the picture she sent to APPS, and that made her shut up, but she still didn't want to accept this shame and guilt. She turned and tried to speed walk away, but her uncle stopped her and called her a homewrecker, scolding her for ruining her sister's life. He demanded she
Starting point is 01:17:24 face her and take accountability for her actions, but she just screamed and kicked when he wouldn't let her go. She ran down the street crying because she didn't drive to the motel. APPS was willing to do anything to win back the love of his wife, but she refused to maintain a broken marriage with someone she couldn't trust. I felt the same way, and even though my wife wasn't begging my forgiveness at the time, she called me howling when she received divorce papers. With the screenshots an entire family as my witness, she couldn't claim her innocence, and she finally broke down. She admitted she made the worst mistake of her life, and that she never should have been comparing her sister's life to her own. Even though they both regretted it,
Starting point is 01:18:08 my wife and APPS were shunned from the family, never to be contacted again. Without her mom, sister or dad, my ex went down a metaphorical hole and never maintained the image that paid her so well before. She started smoking and drinking, while I got a huge promotion to assistant lead in a growing construction company. I hope you enjoy this story. Housemaid of nightmares took my belongings and falsely accused me. But I uncovered her in the act and had her temporarily expelled. I am a 17-year-old female, a high schooler. I relocated to her. I relocated to her. I relocated to the to California seven moons ago. A go for my further studies. It was hard to convince my parents, but in the end, they had to surrender on one condition that I have to stay at a hostel and school
Starting point is 01:18:55 of their choice. I was on cloud nine when I saw my school. I had heard about this school from a common friend, and according to her, it was one of the best schools in California. I got a nice, spacious room in the hostel. The first day away from my parents was hard to spend, but soon I started enjoying my freedom. Now I could do whatever I wanted. I had no one to scold me for staying awake till midnight or having my favorite snacks in my bed. It was like a dream. And that is why I'm here today, filling you up on my situation, which never in my life had I thought I would be facing. And who turned my life into a living hell? Moncey F, my roommate. She is the kind of girl no one would ever want to live with or even have a friendship with.
Starting point is 01:19:44 She is such a bossy person and always orders people around her. She thinks that everyone should obey her, and we are all her servants. I don't know what I did to deserve her. I still remember how she was yelling at her mother when she entered the hostel because she didn't want to live there. I immediately felt bad for her parents. I won't say I didn't try to build a good relationship with her. Since the very first day she entered my life,
Starting point is 01:20:10 I remember only one thing how she tried her level best to put me down instead of building a healthy roommate relationship. I remember how I tried to talk to her when we were having dinner at the dining table with other girls, but she didn't look interested at all, rolled her eyes, and left her seat. The next day, when I was watching something on my phone patiently, she threw my blanket off my bed because she couldn't find her notebook. When I tried to help her, she pushed me back instead and called me clingy. Sometimes I think she has some multiple personality disorder because later, she apologized for her behavior. But her behavior hasn't changed at all. She still sometimes makes a big fuss about little things. She is just getting on my nerves. The only time I'm calm and relaxed is when I'm
Starting point is 01:20:57 with Melissa F, my only best friend here. She listens to my nonstop complaints about my roommate and supports me. We spend most of our time in the cafeteria and sometimes in her room. We avoid spending time in our room because of my terrible roommate. Once Melissa came to my room and Mancy fought with her because she was sitting on her chair, which she misunderstood as mine. Mancy insulted her and said really bad things to her. Since then, I don't invite her to my room anymore. The main matter of concern for me now is that she is using her knowledge of my likings and dislikes for her own benefit. For instance, she purposely wears perfumes of Woody and strong scents because she knows I'm allergic to them. Sometimes she would yell at me
Starting point is 01:21:42 in front of everyone at school, especially in front of Jack, M, because she knew I liked him. She read my diary. She always troubles me by doing these things, always poking around in my life. Luckily, we didn't study in the same section. Otherwise, it would have been worse. Mancy is not just an arrogant girl but also a bully. Last week, she tortured a poor little girl. We were walking past the cafeteria and there was a girl sitting on the chair, with some students consoling her and trying to make her stop crying. Her clothes were all dirty with ink on them.
Starting point is 01:22:20 It looked like somebody had poured ink on her. And that somebody was none other than Mancy, I couldn't help but ask her about it. When the girl was done sobbing, she told us that my evil roommate had ordered her to bring a burger for her. Maybe the girl was a junior, which made Mancy see her as easy prey. When the girl refused to do anything for my roommate, she lost her temper and sprayed ink on the innocent girl. Except for a few boys, there was no one in the cafeteria, and those boys were busy playing video games, so they didn't notice anything. My roommate then abused her and left the cafeteria. We decided to complain about this to the principal, but when we reached the office,
Starting point is 01:23:00 we saw my roommate sitting outside the office. One of our teachers in first aid was also there. Mancy had bruises on her right arm and was crying. We were all in deep shock. No one had ever thought that she could even hurt herself by playing the victim. We all knew her as an arrogant bully, but this was our first time seeing her as a cunning person. I knew that it would be a waste of time to go to the principal, but Melissa insisted. And I was right. My close, clever roommate was able to convince the principal that it wasn't her who started the fight. After all, she had strong evidence her injury. She even told the principle that we girls bully her and make fun of her.
Starting point is 01:23:43 We all felt so helpless. It is Mancy who bullies people, yells at them, makes them do her assignments, and tortures her roommate. What surprised me the most was that when my roommate came back to our room with two of her bootlickers, she seemed all fine and was laughing her heart out as if nothing had happened. It made me so frustrated to see her. I couldn't bear her voice, let alone her laugh. She looks at me with a wicked smile on her face whenever she talks to me. I know that she wants me to know that she is the real boss here and no one can beat her.
Starting point is 01:24:17 What is more frustrating is that I'm not as lucky as others. Because they can at least stay peaceful in their room not unlike me who has to deal with her nuisance even after school. I'm hoping to stay away from her as much as possible and stay in Melissa's room more to avoid any useless argument with her, but I don't think things are going to be any better after all that she has done at school. Update 1. Every day with Mancy is getting worse now. I know I haven't been keeping you guys updated about my turbulent life. It's because the last few days were really tough for me to cope with.
Starting point is 01:24:49 Every day, new drama is happening in my life, all because of my evil roommate. If all those were not enough, Mancy was made. the head girl of the school. I don't know what magic she had done on the teachers that she was made one. I mean, yeah, she is the captain of the basketball team and vice captain of the soccer team, but she is quite dumb in studies. I mean, there are other girls who are smarter, more intelligent, and more disciplined than her, for instance, me. I have been participating in most of the curriculum and I'm good at my studies too. Manzi's tortures knew no bounds after becoming the head girl. She insulted many girls, including Melissa, for wearing lipstick to school even when
Starting point is 01:25:31 Mancy herself wore makeup. But she rubbed it off before the assembly, and we all knew that she was going to get her makeup done again. Her bossy behavior has been at its peak lately. Next Saturday, our school is hosting an annual function. I have given my name as a contestant because I thought it would be a good opportunity to show off my paintings. But yesterday I got to know that my name was removed from the list.
Starting point is 01:25:57 I know Mancy did this because the girls who are handling the lists of contestants are Mancy's minions. She not only got my name removed, but also all the names of other students who she dislikes. For all the activities, she chose only her friends and those who tolerated her bossy behavior. When I asked her why she did that, she laughed and called me an attention seeker. She literally questioned my worth and told me that I was not a deserving contestant, which is why she removed my name from the list. According to my dominating roommate, nobody would want to see my paintings. Melissa suggested that I participate in dance because she and her BF were also participating in it. When I reached out to Mancy for nominations, she said I can apply for dance but for that, I must have a
Starting point is 01:26:42 partner with me. Melissa suggested that I should ask Jack to be my partner. Melissa overheard it and before I could ask him anything she asked Jack to dance with her for the annual function. Jack is a little introverted and he has asked Mancy for some time to think about it. I'm still hoping that he will reject her proposal because I have noticed him staring at me multiple times. I'm getting chills just at the thought of seeing both of them dancing. Update 2. I was hoping that Jack would reject Mancy's request as I mentioned in my last update. But it turned out into something else. Actually, Mancy didn't ask him for it. She told him that it is the teachers who have decided the pairs and that is why Jack has to accept
Starting point is 01:27:23 request. Seeing both of them dancing kills me. She gives me a sneer every time they are dancing. I have tolerated her enough. I feel helpless because I know that I can't do anything about this. Three days ago, when I was studying and Mancy was getting ready to go to Jack's place for dance rehearsal, she asked me to pass her lip gloss. I knew she wanted to make me jealous, but I did not want to show her that it was her victory. They were just a dance couple and nothing more than that. So, I passed the lip gloss to her and started asking her about how her dance rehearsal was going, etc. She was speaking with much enthusiasm in her voice. Although it was killing me from the inside, I showed no reaction on my face. I was just smiling.
Starting point is 01:28:12 When she left, I kept thinking about what they would do what if Jack started liking her. This thought was actually killing me from the inside. I believe I have lost Jack before actually having him. My terrible roommate stole him from me. Speaking of stealing, I want to tell you guys something else. This is something that is bothering me a lot. My belongings are disappearing, I don't know where. First, it was my super expensive handbag that I purchased after saving money for almost eight months. At first, I thought I must have kept it in Melissa's room as I took it there to show her but after checking her room it wasn't there. I reported this to the warden but haven't received any fruitful results yet. It started with my bag but soon a number of my
Starting point is 01:28:58 other things also started disappearing including my clothes and makeup. Of course, I suspect Mancy of stealing my belongings because no one else comes to our room other than Mancy and her minions not just me. I have heard that a lot of other girls that are hostile are losing their stuff. I don't know about others but for my things, I suspect Mancy. Update 3, it was Mancy. My gut felt bang on target. It was Mancy who was stealing my stuff and all. Remember how Jack and Mancy used to go for rehearsals in the evening and I used to cry in my bed for hours? One such evening after she left the room, I found her wardrobe keys lying under the bed. I guess it slipped while she was stuffing it inside her bag. She barely forgets it, but today she was so busy making
Starting point is 01:29:45 me jealous that nothing else mattered to her at all, so she forgot to take her keys with her. That's stealing thing came to mind, and I got curious. I knew that it wasn't the right thing to do, but my curiosity was at its peak, so much so that I couldn't stop myself. I opened her wardrobe. It was the messiest wardrobe I had seen in my entire life. Her clothes were stinking, they were dirty. But that's not what I was interested in. After digging through her dirty clothes, I found my missing bag, some of my missing clothes, and some of my makeup items. So Mancy was indeed a thief apart from all her titles of being a bully and arrogant girl. But trust me, I wasn't shocked at all because, deep down in my heart, I knew that it was her.
Starting point is 01:30:32 I was thinking about why, on earth, she was chosen to be my roommate and how low she could stoop. I searched every other place but didn't find anything else. Then I locked her wardrobe, through the key on the bed, and left it as it was. I called Melissa and told her how Mancy had crossed all the limits. I wanted to expose Mancy but we could not think of any idea. If we showed Mancy's wardrobe to the warden, she would just say that I had planted those stolen items there and was framing her. Melissa suggested that I just take out my stuff from her wardrobe before she comes back
Starting point is 01:31:07 and later we would figure out the revenge. My bag and the makeup item were so expensive I just couldn't afford to lose it. I pulled it back secretly. I wanted to leave the school. At that moment, I really wanted to run from the hostel, but where could I go? I don't know anyone here. Melissa said that we would figure out something and for that moment I have to just calm myself down. I was broken completely and didn't know what to do.
Starting point is 01:31:34 I was thinking about my hometown and wanted to go back. All these were keeping me so stressed that I was not able to focus on my studies. Looking at my depression, Melissa forced me to talk to the warden about the incident. She wanted me to complain to the warden about Mancy. I wasn't the only person who hated her. Everyone in the school except her crawler wanted her to leave the school. We both knew that many students had complained about Mancy's behavior, but every time she defended herself, stating that she was the head girl of the school and students didn't like her.
Starting point is 01:32:07 so they made false allegations against her. I knew nothing would happen to her and she would get away with her evilness. So, I didn't complain to the warden about it. I want to expose her true colors to the teachers, but I'm just not able to come up with any plan. Update 4, you know what, Mancy is finally out of my room and I couldn't be happier. That day I discovered my items in her wardrobe, and I took it out from there. Mancy didn't realize that I had taken it back. Two days passed but she didn't say anything about it.
Starting point is 01:32:41 Probably she was too busy rehearsing her dance moves with Jack. Melissa and I came up with a plan to trigger Mancy and then secretly record her obnoxious behavior. So, on the third day, I placed my phone on the book's shelf, hiding it between the books, opposite Mancy's wardrobe. Melissa was with me in the room. When Mancy entered, she immediately got infuriated that Melissa was sitting on her bed. Melissa apologized but Mancy went full-blown on her, so the bully part of her was captured. Next was about her theft.
Starting point is 01:33:14 I pulled out the bag from my wardrobe and all those missing tops that I found from Mancy's wardrobe the other day and showed them to Melissa. I was like, see what did I find? When Melissa asked me where I found that missing stuff, I simply looked at Mancy. Mancy's face turned pale and she started abusing me. She started yelling that how could I call her a thief and all that? I said because she was a thief and stole others' belongings. She kept abusing me but I didn't back out.
Starting point is 01:33:44 Mancy lost her mind and opened her wardrobe and started throwing all the stolen items and dared me that I couldn't do anything about it. She was like, yeah, I have all these clothes and makeup of you poor chicks and what are you going to do about me. She mocked me and triggered, do you want to complain? Do you want to complain? Go ahead and complain. You chicks cannot do anything. Remember who's the boss here? She became so aggressive that at one point in time, her face was almost touching my nose. Melissa had opened her Instagram live when Mancy was throwing all the stolen on my face and was charging at me. When Mancy realized that she was being recorded, she tried to snatch the phone from Melissa and their scuffle also went
Starting point is 01:34:28 live. Melissa stopped the recording but by then the damage was already done. Besides, we had the full video of the incident getting recorded through my phone. Mancy was still shouting and cursing us when her phone started buzzing. Her friends were calling to tell her that she was caught on Instagram live and that so many had seen it. Melissa went out to call the warden because we knew Mancy was not going to spare us. We were right. Mancy became monstrous and hurled such abuses and assaults on me that I could have never imagined. By then, Melissa arrived with the warden. I took my phone from the bookshelf and showed the full recordings to the warden. Mancy was so infuriated that I had recorded her all these while that she tried to snatch the phone from the warden's hand.
Starting point is 01:35:14 The warden rebuked her and put her in place. I told the warden that I was going to involve my parents and the police if required if she didn't take any action. I played the same dirty of playing the victim in front of the warden. I was crying and insisted that I would directly show this to the principal if she didn't report Mancy. The warden took all three of us with her to the principal's office. I kept crying the whole time. I'm sure Mancy would have also used her tears to get away with her wrongdoings,
Starting point is 01:35:43 but this time she was caught big time and she could no longer use tears to fake it. The principal saw the video and called Bellows. both of our parents on the next day and he instructed the warden to change the room for Mancy. Mancy yelled in front of the principal that she was not going to move to another room because her friends lived in the adjacent rooms. So, I requested that my room be changed, I can live anywhere except with that wicked girl. The warden changed my room but also scotched Mancy for her behavior. There was a lot of drama and it would take forever for me to write all those in detail. So, in brief, the warden went back to Mancy's room and checked her wardrobe, she found a lot of missing
Starting point is 01:36:23 items reported by the other girls. I was packing my belongings when all this happened. You won't believe what happened next. When my parents met with the principal and saw the video, they blamed the management and the warden for not taking of the children's safety. My dad was like he was going to call the police right away, but the principal somehow stopped it. Meanwhile, Mancy's parents didn't take her side and stood quiet. This angered Mancy and she started yelling at her mother in front of everyone that they were not taking her side like my parents were taking mine. She only got silent when the principal threatened to suspend her from the school.
Starting point is 01:37:00 Her father at last spoke that Mancy was a sports person, so it is natural for her to be a little aggressive and she brings the aggression of the field in the house. The warden asked them to seek counseling for her because it is not healthy or natural to torture others, she was indeed a bully and nothing else. The principal asked Mansi's parents to take her home for a few days until he handled the other matters. The principal told me and Melissa that we shouldn't have posted on Instagram and that I should complain to the authorities. I told him that no actions had been taken on Mancy earlier, so I didn't complain and instead chose this route. He didn't say anything further, but we were also not applauded for our bravery. The principal and the
Starting point is 01:37:41 warden were concerned that it would damage the reputation of the school and the dorm. So they held me and Melissa equally responsible for damaging the reputation, although they didn't tell us anything Mancy is going through her suspension period. It is still not sure if she will continue to be the head girl or not. The annual function is also next week. Jack has also moved out from the dance program because Mancy is not there. Melissa asked me to join Jack as the partner, but I don't want to make a fool of myself by going to the stage without sufficient. practice. 90% of the rehearsals are over so I don't intend to join Midway. I don't know what is going
Starting point is 01:38:18 to happen when Mancy returns from her suspension period. I'm definitely not hoping that she will mend her ways. She is definitely going to hunt me down, but this time I'm prepared for this. The best part is, I don't have to see her face day and night. We'll update if anything develops. Now on to the next story. Story 2. repeatedly lied and refused to take me and my sister home until my mom threatened to call the cops. This happened in 2009, when I was 15 and my sister was 11. I honestly don't remember it well. I had to call my mother to fill me in on some details, and it helped a little. My parents got divorced when I was 10. My mother got primary custody, but we stayed with my father for about
Starting point is 01:39:06 three days a week, sometimes more. They took turns celebrating the holidays with us. We'd spend them with one parent in one year, and with the other one the next. In March 2009, my father and his then-girlfriend Molly broke up after he confessed to cheating with the woman that eventually became SM. Years later, I found out that a fair had been going on for almost two years by the time he told Molly. He introduced SM to us in May, on my birthday, actually, and they almost immediately announced their engagement. From that moment, she started trying to force us all to be a happy blended family, which usually meant forcing us to do everything she, or sometimes my stepbrother, wanted and pretending my mom wasn't in the picture.
Starting point is 01:39:49 S.M. and my dad started pushing her to leave us with them a lot more often than my parents had previously agreed, but she thankfully wouldn't budge. We started getting ready for the holidays in November, and S.M. started talking about a ski resort, hotel? I don't know, it was 14 years ago that she wanted to visit with us. It was a three-hour car drive from where we lived and was clearly more suited for couples, younger children, or the elderly. Neither me or my sister actually wanted to go, but before we could say that, SM asked us when we'd be done with school so that she could book it for a two-week trip
Starting point is 01:40:23 during our winter break. I was happy to be the one to break it to her. We'd spent Christmas and New Year's Day with my father and Molly the year before, so it was my mom's turn to have us. My father and S.M. called my mother dozens of times to try to convince her to let them take us, insisting that S.M. was excited to spend Christmas with us and that the previous year's holidays didn't count because we'd spent them with Molly. My mom said no, as she'd already made plans, and the subject was dropped for a few weeks. Then, on our last day of school before winter break,
Starting point is 01:40:57 SM picked me and my sister up from our schools. That was fine, we were supposed to spend a couple days with my father before the holidays. What wasn't fine was that the moment we got into her car, SM said, we're going to the ski resort. Surprise. She proceeded to tell us that they'd already packed our bags for us, and Dad would meet us there. I asked if my mom knew about this, and she said, sure, but I knew that was a lie. I also didn't believe her when she said we'd only be there for a couple of days and would be back before Christmas. I figured they'd booked the two week stay they wanted and would probably guilt trip us both into staying once their couple of days. I was terrified. I didn't have a phone, my mom thought I was still too young to have one,
Starting point is 01:41:42 didn't trust SM, and I could see my sister was even more scared. I told SM we didn't want to go. She said, fine. Let's just pick, stepbrother, up from school. We picked him up from school. S.M said, okay, now let's go to the resort, I said, again, that we didn't want to go. She said, fine. Let's just find a gas station and fill up. That pattern repeated itself about six times over the next hour. Every time I said we didn't want to go, S.M would make up an excuse and pretend to forget my plea. As we were about to leave town, my dad called S.M. I heard them fight for a few minutes about something, and then she hung up. Stepbrother asked her what happened, but she didn't answer. Then, she said, I'm taking you kids to your moms. She turned the car
Starting point is 01:42:37 around and took us home. When we got there, my mom pulled us out of the car and screamed at SM to leave, which she did. My mom was hugging us and bawling as if she hadn't seen us in years. She didn't tell me the full story until a few days later. Basically, my mom, my mom was My mom called my dad in panic because he'd never told her we'd gotten home, which he always did whenever he picked us up from school. He was hoping she wouldn't call until we were already at the resort. My father knew that lying would do more harm than good, so he told her their plans. He tried to spin it around to something my sister wanted, but my mother didn't buy it. She told him that if SM didn't take us back to her place, she'd call the police.
Starting point is 01:43:20 My father and S.M. took my stepbrother to the resort. For a few months after, they bragged about all the fun they had, and all the things me and my sister had missed. Stepbrother later confided in me that he actually hated it. He barely saw his mom while they were there, and he spent Christmas mostly alone in their room. S.M. called us both selfish for trying to ruin their holidays. My sister actually felt guilty for a while, and I had to reassure her. My mom didn't call the cops or press charges. At the time, she didn't know if what SM did would qualify as a crime, or if they'd actually help. She also feared that would ruin our relationship with my father, with whom she was still trying to stay on amicable terms.
Starting point is 01:44:06 Years later, she told me she regretted not calling anyone. And that's the story of how I got my first phone. For some reason, I really hate this story. So much that I avoid talking about it. This text was actually on my drafts for almost a week. It's far from the worst thing SM has ever done, but it still pisses me off. I admit that writing it all down did help a little, though. Wow, what an itch bay.
Starting point is 01:44:34 And your dad wasn't any better. How's your relationship with them now? I hope you enjoy this story. Brought the intoxicated motorist to court who collided with me, but my attorney partner is representing him. Now he is pleading with me to reconcile after the trial's outcome. Okay, so around ten days ago I, 25F, got into a car accident which absolutely wasn't my fault. My car was parked outside a friend's house and I was sitting in the car, waiting for her to show up. I was scrolling on the phone when all of a sudden, another car crashed into mine from the back.
Starting point is 01:45:12 The impact of that was really bad and unfortunately, I ended up spraining my neck. I suffered from a severe spinal injury because I'd fallen off a ladder around five years ago and this collision just aggravated that. The car crash led to a ligament in my neck being torn and I've been in severe pain since then. I couldn't get out of my car to confront the driver of the other car but as soon as my friend had heard the crash, she'd come running out of the house and had immediately called 911. When they arrived, we were both rushed to the hospital and while nothing had happened to the other guy, I ended up in a cervical collar.
Starting point is 01:45:49 I wasn't too worried about my car since insurance would take care of that, but I did press charges against the guy who hit me. I didn't know what he was on since my car was literally parked and the street we were on was wide enough to drive by without hitting anyone so it was insane that he'd crashed right into my car because he'd been drinking. I knew that because when he visited me in the hospital room, he was still reeking of alcohol but had tried to cover up the smell with a disgusting mix of perfume and disinfectant. I told the police that I wanted to press charges that day itself, but the guy who hit me, I'll refer to him as Chris for the sake of clarity, was very well connected and the DA refused to acknowledge it as anything other than an accident and they even tried to gaslight me into believing that I was parked in a really weird spot. Chris had just swerved to avoid hitting a cat and had unfortunately ended up crashing into my car.
Starting point is 01:46:40 I later found out that Chris was related to a really wealthy businessman, probably his nephew or something. I'm not sure but anyway, that was how he managed to dodge the law. The car would be taken care of by my insurance company since I'd been in an accident and I had all the proof and the police report said so as well, but I wasn't satisfied with just that. This Chris guy had literally hit my car head on and was most definitely drunk so he owed me a lot more than a weak apology. There was also the issue of my health care because I had to bear the entire cost of my visit and trust me, it was an insane amount since I had to. had to get some tests done, an x-ray. I had to pay for the collar plus medicines and all of it
Starting point is 01:47:21 came up to almost $2,000. My insurance wouldn't cover all of it since I didn't have to stay overnight and neither did I have to spend 24 hours. I run my own small-scale bakery business and I can afford to live nicely, I have a small apartment of my own and I can afford rent, gas, electricity, water, and all the other essentials and I can even afford to splurge once in a while but the hospital bill was huge and I absolutely cannot just afford to drop that sort of money without disrupting my budget for the month and I can't exactly skimp on anything else either. I still have to pay my bills and buy groceries and stuff that I need for my bakery business. And also it was just so infuriating that some drunk guy could drink and drive,
Starting point is 01:48:05 hit my car, send me to the hospital. And put me in excruciating pain and discomfort for the next God knows how many days and still just get away with it because of his connections. So I decided to sue the guy and since my boyfriend, 29M, is a lawyer himself, my first choice was obviously him. That was a week ago and we were having dinner when I told him about this. He got really uncomfortable when I told him about it and said that I should just drop it because it wouldn't be worth it to go after someone like Chris.
Starting point is 01:48:36 I was taken aback by his attitude towards this since he could see that I was in a lot of pain and knew that I'd had to spend a bomb on health care and yet he wanted me to drop it. We got into a fight over it and he told me that he was too busy to represent me in such a petty fight which was just so hurtful and made me rethink my entire relationship with him. We've been together for only six months but I've known him for a year and a half and he's been my go-to-person ever since we became friends. The way he behaved just didn't sit right with me and even though I knew that he was well-respected in his field, I'd never imagine that he'd make me feel so small.
Starting point is 01:49:11 I was acutely aware of the difference in our income and position in society, but I tried my best not to feel inferior. Maybe being a baker wouldn't make me as wealthy as he aspired to be and maybe it wasn't an important career but I did what I loved, I had fun doing what I do and most importantly, I didn't rely on my boyfriend for money so he had no right to make me feel that way. I didn't speak to him after that because I was very hurt about what he'd said. So I approached a cousin of mine who just started out and she was more than happy to help me file the petition against Chris. I didn't tell my boyfriend about any of this and it made up my mind to break up with him by the end of this week because he'd been really disrespectful and I wasn't going to stand for it. But before I could call him, he decided to
Starting point is 01:49:56 contact me. Yesterday, Chris was notified of the litigation process and apparently he'd hired my boyfriend to represent him in court and he'd called me to warn me. He said that I needed to be careful because I'd be up against a really good lawyer so my case needed to be airtight. He even suggested that I stopped the proceedings and settle out of court because if I did go ahead, I was destined to lose. I knew that this was just that other guy's way to play mind games with me and intimidate me into backing off but it wasn't going to work. I did feel bad about the way my boyfriend was acting though. For some reason, he thought this was funny. I was already hurting not just physically but also emotionally and that was enough to send me over the edge.
Starting point is 01:50:40 So I told them it was a good thing that we were already in court because now I could dump him since it had turned into a conflict of interest after saying that, I disconnected the call and since I still wasn't feeling satisfied with what I'd done, I decided to call his sister up and tell him what he was up to. His sister and I are really close and have been for five years. We became friends in college and after we graduated, she invited me to her house for thanks. Thanksgiving dinner one year which is where I met my boyfriend. I told her all about what he'd done and the fact that he was about to defend a guy who's obviously been drinking and driving, knowing that his family would be all up in arms about it. They're all really into activism and are very strict about the causes they support, but my boyfriend doesn't really care. It always felt strange to me, but now I guess he's just not a very socially conscious guy and I just wasted half a year of my life trying to be with someone who had no principles and would do anything for money. He's constantly at odds with his father who's also an ex-lawyer but is active in the circuit and usually finds out what cases his son chooses through someone who knows someone so my boyfriend can't exactly hide anything from his family either. His sister was also not on board with what he'd done and the way he was behaving so she promised me that she'd look into it and make sure he apologized to me.
Starting point is 01:51:57 She couldn't guarantee that he'd back out of the case but she said that she'd make sure he was sorry for making me feel small and being arrogant. She told me that he had already not been on good terms with his family for a while now and what I told her just made it very clear to her that her brother was going down the wrong path and she couldn't take it. She thanked me for telling her and even advised me to dump him because he'd lost sight of what was important because of how ambitious and greedy he'd become. She even seemed pleased when I told her that I'd already left him so that was how bad his relationship with his family was now. I can't say I'm surprised since his family has always tried to be ethical and his sister would constantly complain about the kind of people my boyfriend would choose to defend in court just because it paid well. I didn't like it much either, but I tried to stay out of it as much as I could since I didn't think it was my place to talk about how he worked and what clients he represented. He didn't talk about my work so I didn't want to overstep my boundaries either, but this time, I was involved directly and he'd insulted me far too much for me to keep it quiet anymore. Within half an hour of my phone call, my boyfriend started calling me relentlessly.
Starting point is 01:53:05 I decided to answer him after almost 10 missed calls and he immediately started apologizing for the way he behaved and said that he'd just been joking earlier. I told him that I wasn't going to forgive him because he'd really hurt me and I also told him that now his family was also aware of the situation so he could expect a call from his parents soon enough as well. That's when things got bad and now I think I might have been an awe for getting his family involved. He told me that I had no right to speak to his family no matter how hurt I'd been. They'd already been hounding him to work for better clients and now it was about to get worse just because of what I'd done. He was really unhappy about my decision to speak to his sister and said that he was relieved that we were no longer together so now he wouldn't have to hold back in court and would
Starting point is 01:53:49 make sure I didn't get anything out of this. I hung up after that and blocked him but I've been really worried ever since. We're supposed to appear in the local small claims court and I know it's not a very high-profile case. I've only filed a claim of $5,000 since I think I'm owed that because I'll definitely have to visit the hospital in the future as well for my neck after this. I'm still worried that I might lose because my boyfriend is a good lawyer from what I know and rarely ever loses. Also, I think I might have overstepped my bounds and really shouldn't have told his sister like a tattletail. He is a 30-year-old man, after all, fully capable of making his own decisions, so maybe he's right and I really was out of line. Now I'm considering just cutting my losses and apologizing to him.
Starting point is 01:54:36 I don't know if that'll solve anything, but I can at least try. So should I do it? Ida for dumping my boyfriend telling his family that he's representing someone who was certainly guilty. Update 1. Hey. So I decided not to apologize. to my boyfriend because I was not wrong. I read all the messages here.
Starting point is 01:54:58 I went through the comments on my post, I talked to my parents and a few friends of mine and I really thought about this long and hard. There's just no conceivable way that I'm in the wrong here. He messed with me so I messed with him, tip for tat. And if he wasn't in the wrong here, he wouldn't be getting so defensive either so it's clear who has a guilty conscience in this situation
Starting point is 01:55:20 and is trying to hide it by talking a big game and being overconfident. He might be a skilled lawyer, but I have the truth on my side and I have full faith in myself and my cousin, that's all I need anyway so he can say whatever he wants but it's not gonna phase me. I also found out that this Chris guy actually went to high school with my boyfriend and they have a couple of friends in common. I guess that explains how he seemed to know who I was talking about when I mentioned Chris earlier.
Starting point is 01:55:47 His sister was actually the one who told me about this and it all finally made sense. all of them went to the same high school and she knew that Chris was an exceptionally spoiled and entitled brat who'd grow up to be nothing but a wastrel. He'd partied his way through life and now, in his late 20s, he was still struggling to find his footing at any job and was a high-functioning alcoholic. It just pissed me off to know and that this guy still had a license and a nice car in spite of his alcoholism. Just because he was related to the right people and was rich enough to get away with whatever
Starting point is 01:56:20 he wanted. While I still had my car in the repair workshop and had to wear a collar so that my neck would heal and would have to take painkillers every other day just to be able to work. It was so unfair already and my boyfriend choosing to represent this idiot instead of me was the cherry on top. I guess some people really do think money comes over morals, but it's okay, that just tells me what kind of person he is. His sister also told me that they got into a huge fight over this with my now ex-boyfriend when his dad decided to confront him about what he was up to. He put his foot down and told him that he could either back out of this and choose not to defend this Chris guy or his family would sever ties with him and that led to a lot of drama but eventually, my ex decided to step back and cut his parents off.
Starting point is 01:57:07 Yeah, because he was getting paid a hefty amount to defend Chris and there was no way he was letting that go. He wouldn't even choose his own family over money so I've been really damn stupid to think that he'd choose me over money. At least I know where I stand now and so does his family. We're supposed to meet in court tomorrow and I'm nervous but I also know that I'm being honest here and he's not and that just strengthens my faith in myself. Also, the fact that even strangers on the internet are on my side on this one speaks volumes about who's right and who's wrong. Hopefully, the judge will also be able to see that and will be able to settle this. Update 2
Starting point is 01:57:46 So this is the night before the hearing in my ex just sent me a message from a different number saying that there's still time and I can back off even now. He said that his client is willing to pay me the $2,000 plus some more and settle out of court, but I'm not okay with that. I want that guy to acknowledge that he screwed up royally and paid me no less than $5,000. I'm not even being greedy right now, I just think that that's what I'm owed because $2,000 is what I had to spend only on the day of the accident. There are more medical bills to cover because I'll have to get medicines, consultations, and physiotherapy to properly heal from this incident.
Starting point is 01:58:23 I've been suffering from back aches almost daily and it's affecting my work as well. This is why I'm not willing to settle for anything less than five grand and I'm sure that it's completely fair and reasonable. I don't even know what the fuss is all about honestly, he's super rich so why can't he just drop $5,000 for an accident that he caused. It just doesn't make any sense. It's not my concern anyway, so I just blocked the other number as well and I'm going to try and fall asleep soon so that I don't have to entertain my ex's attempts to contact me and throw me off my game. This is really the last thing that I need right now and I'm pretty sure that he's still trying to get into my head and mess with me because he thinks he's going to lose.
Starting point is 01:59:05 I mean, that must be the case if he's so desperate all of a sudden. He knows he's going to lose and is trying to prevent that now. update three hey everyone we finally had the hearing today and it went better than i'd expected we were the last ones to present our case and my cousin was fab but of course my boyfriend is more skilled and was able to get the judge to assign a second hearing i won't get into the details because it's boring and irrelevant and the more i think about it the more frustrated i feel because there's still a chance that i might end up losing money fighting this i'm grateful that my cousin isn't charging me much because we're family but it's still money. I know being ethical and sticking to your principles is a great thing and blah blah blah but right now, I don't feel so good about the fact that there's going to be a second hearing. We'd managed to collect all the evidence we could find to strengthen our case but unfortunately so did they, probably with their slimy and unethical ways. They definitely had to bribe some people, I know that for a fact. Anyway, I was in a foul
Starting point is 02:00:11 mood when I was waiting for my cab to arrive and then my ex decided to speak to me and make it worse. I wasn't even looking at him and was trying my best to ignore him but I didn't have my AirPods with me so I couldn't exactly ignore his voice. He told me that Chris's dad had decided to cut him off after the accident because that had been the last straw and now, he was totally on his own. He was down to the last few thousand in his account and really couldn't afford to pay me the amount that I was asking for, which is why he'd asked me to settle out of court and settle for way less than what I'd claimed. I pretended not to hear him, but he went on and on about how I needed to have a heart and that it was unlike me to be so greedy. After a while, I just
Starting point is 02:00:52 snapped at and told him that I did have a heart, but I preferred to save it for people who deserved it. And his friend Chris most certainly did not. Worse comes to worst, his parents would take him back and pay me the amount instead. I'm sure the parents who raised this man-child would make sure that their son didn't go to jail over something so petty in anyway, his uncle was rich enough to make things happen, which is how they got a second hearing to happen. But I didn't have the luxury to rely on other people to bail me out of trouble constantly so neither was I being heartless and nor was I being greedy, I was just looking out for myself, and just because I wasn't constantly running after money like my ex didn't mean that I wasn't in need of it. He then
Starting point is 02:01:33 stared at me and kept trying to come up with arguments against me but couldn't so his mouth just kept opening and closing like a goldfish for a few seconds. And finally, after half a minute, my cab arrived and I left him standing there. I'm not entirely happy with how today went, but at least I got to chew my X out so that was a win for me. Now I just hope we can wrap this up by the next hearing. Update 4. Hi. So it's been three weeks in yesterday, I finally received the amount that was due. Just as I predicted, Chris's parents stepped up at the very last minute and bailed him out yet again, but it doesn't matter because at least the verdict was in my favor. What was interesting is what happened after the judgment. I went home and unlike the previous day, my ex didn't
Starting point is 02:02:20 try to stop me and talk to me outside of court and instead, decided to wait until we got home. A few hours after I'd come home, he showed up at my door with a bouquet of roses and asked me out. He said that he was truly apologetic about everything that he'd said and done so far and he always knew that he was going to lose, which is why he'd been such an egoistic idiot, but he'd realized that he was being stupid and now wanted me to give him a second chance. I did what anyone in my place would have done and slammed the door shut right in his face. He tried to talk to me, but I told him that I had no interest in entertaining him and his fake apologies so he could save his breath and just leave. The ego trip he'd been on before he lost such a petty case today was the real him and I didn't want to wait around for him to get worse. He was unethical and cold and I don't think that's what I'm looking for in a partner at all. In fact, I really don't think anyone is.
Starting point is 02:03:15 So he needed to leave me alone now and regret his decisions on his own time instead of trying to argue with me or else I would report him to the cops. He left without another word and I'm hopeful that he won't come back or try to contact me later on now. I told his sister all about it and she supported my decision wholeheartedly. She told me that her parents were still not willing to speak to him and neither had he apologized to them which was nuts because his dad was also a well-respected lawyer in his prime and was better than him and had taught his son all that he knew. He's just an ungrateful awe and I'm glad I finally took the blindfold off and saw him for what he truly is. Now, I'm just going to do it and hopefully, I'll be better soon. soon. Both physically and emotionally. Now on to the next story. Story two. Found out from daughter that wife cheated on me with guys she met at grocery store so I did this. My wife,
Starting point is 02:04:11 33, was an expert shopper. It helps that her grandmother and mother were very materialistic people while keeping a budget. She would hunt for the perfect sale, which is why I, 37, didn't usually jump up to go with her because she could be out for six hours or more. She would go out once a week, every Saturday, leaving the house by 6 a.m. She'd go to Saturday's market, then go to the mall, eat lunch, and probably shop more. We were married for eight years, and the whole time she was in the habit of doing this. She took our five-year-old daughter with her sometimes. My wife was a consistent light in my life and I did not know she didn't deserve my trust. She started taking our daughter less and less often, leaving the house without waking her up or giving her the choice.
Starting point is 02:05:00 I asked her why, and she said she could get back sooner without bringing her along because a lot of the time she would start to complain and get tired long before my wife was ready to come back home. I suppose that was a reasonable explanation, but my daughter and I were both bummed because she enjoyed those trips with her mom. Our daughter actually started asking her each time if she could go with her, and she'd say no each time. She'd do something else with her the next day, or bring home something nice for her, but it wasn't the same. I let it go for a while, but eventually, I felt like I had to say something. I confronted her and told her she needed to take her with her that Saturday. She was not happy.
Starting point is 02:05:43 I couldn't believe how inconvenient it was for her. She started to accept it and actually did follow through, but that Sunday, she went out alone. Usually, we all had family time and practiced meditation. Our girl always, turned it into a game of peaking without getting caught. When the wife got back, she was really happy, like everything was fine. Then, my daughter asked a question that led to the discovery of what was really going on. She asked her mom if she met the man with the puppet today. My wife forced a laugh and said no, he's only at the market on Saturdays.
Starting point is 02:06:21 I asked who this was, and before my wife responded, our daughter said he was the man mommy kissed yesterday. I looked at her with wide eyes. She knew we had to talk. I excused myself to another room and waited for my wife to set up our daughter with toys before joining me. I quizzed her until she was blue in the face, but she couldn't convince me her lies were true.
Starting point is 02:06:45 She tried telling me our daughter was talking about something else, but I knew her speaking capabilities were pretty accurate. She even looked at my wife like she was going to be in trouble with Daddy. She knew it was wrong, and she wanted me to know. So my wife eventually came clean. She said he was a nice guy that she got close to over the years she'd been going to the market. He liked her more than friends, and she didn't want to break his heart so she started giving him kisses. I didn't think there was any way she could believe this was okay. I told her she betrayed my trust by doing this, even by being friends with this guy without telling me. I'd like to know who she's involved with, even if only for safety's sake. Now I was suddenly aware of a guy she'd
Starting point is 02:07:31 gotten to know for years, introduced to our daughter, and kissed. I looked her straight in the eye and asked her if she ever slept with this man or anyone else. She blushed hard, looked away, and told me no. How much more obvious it could have been that she was lying to me. I stared at her, but she only tried asking if we could leave the room now, and I said no. I told her to tell me the truth because her whole body looked like she was lying. Her mouth got really dry, and she started to dry heave. She excused herself to our bathroom and threw up. I told her she needed to get it off her shoulders so she could feel better, but she pretended not to have anything to say. I told her I didn't want her to go to Saturday's market anymore, and she lost it. She said
Starting point is 02:08:19 this was one of her greatest joys in life, and I told her that she spoiled it for herself, because she started kissing an older guy. I wondered if she said older to try to get me to let it go like I'd picture an old lonely man. I wasn't a fool. So, for a whole month, she didn't go anywhere over the weekend. Finally, she made an excuse to go out, but she took our daughter with her to help convince me she wasn't up to no good. They'd come home with groceries or other stuff that proved they weren't at Saturday's market. I hated that this had become an issue between us now. Every time she left, I wondered if she was seeing Mr. Kisser. On the first day she didn't offer to take our daughter, I followed her. She didn't go to Saturday's market, but she did go
Starting point is 02:09:06 to someone's house. Before I got confirmation, I knew this was App's house. I could feel it in my bones. It was like my wife's energy and emotion were contagious to me. I knocked on his front door after my wife went inside. App answered it, and he asked him why I saw my wife just come inside. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I pictured this guy meeting my daughter. He looked young and confused, but before he could ask me anything, I asked if he was the puppet guy at Saturday's market. He covered his mouth for a second and asked me if I was her husband. I said yes, and yelled my wife's name. She came out and he told her to leave, then he told me she introduced herself as a widower.
Starting point is 02:09:53 I felt like my heart stopped beating permanently and IW is only surviving off air and my still blood. My wife came rushing out like she had a right to be mad, brushing past me. I followed her. She frantically tried to get in her car, but I grabbed her keys from her and ran to my car, locking the doors. She watched helplessly as I took her house key off before giving them back. She told her parents I kicked her out for no reason, so they let her stay with them and arranged to have a truck come get her stuff. They came over to visit with our daughter and asked me what really happened.
Starting point is 02:10:29 I told them the truth, and they must have made my wife's life at their house a living hell because every day she told me she hated me for telling them what happened. She moved out in just five weeks, opting to take turns sleeping on different friends' couches. rather than stay under their roof. The divorce went in my favor, and my wife is at least partially involved with our daughter. I hope you enjoy this story. Brought the intoxicated motorist to court who collided with me, but my attorney partner is representing him. Now he is pleading with me to reconcile after the trial's outcome.
Starting point is 02:11:05 Okay, so around ten days ago I, 25F, got into a car accident which absolutely wasn't my fault. My car was parked outside a friend's house and I was sitting in the car, waiting for her to show up. I was scrolling on the phone when all of a sudden, another car crashed into mine from the back. The impact of that was really bad and unfortunately, I ended up spraining my neck. I suffered from a severe spinal injury because I'd fallen off a ladder around five years ago and this collision just aggravated that. The car crash led to a ligament in my neck being torn and I've been in severe pain since then. I couldn't get out of my car to confront the driver of the other car but as soon as my friend had heard the crash, she'd come running out of the house
Starting point is 02:11:50 and had immediately called 911. When they arrived, we were both rushed to the hospital and while nothing had happened to the other guy, I ended up in a cervical caller. I wasn't too worried about my car since insurance would take care of that, but I did press charges against the guy who hit me. I didn't know what he was on since my car was literally parked and the street we were on was wide enough to drive by without hitting anyone so it was insane that he'd crashed right into my car because he'd been drinking. I knew that because when he visited me in the hospital room, he was still reeking of alcohol but had tried to cover up the smell with a disgusting mix of perfume and disinfectant. I told the police that I wanted to press charges that day itself but the guy who hit me, I'll refer to him as Chris for the sake of clarity, was very well connected. and the DA refused to acknowledge it as anything other than an accident, and they even tried to gaslight me into believing that I was parked in a really weird spot.
Starting point is 02:12:46 Chris had just swerved to avoid hitting a cat and had unfortunately ended up crashing into my car. I later found out that Chris was related to a really wealthy businessman, probably his nephew or something. I'm not sure but anyway, that was how he managed to dodge the law. The car would be taken care of by my insurance company since I'd been in an accident, and I had all the proof and the police report said so as well but I wasn't satisfied with just that. This Chris guy had literally hit my car head on and was most definitely drunk so he owed me a lot more than a weak apology. There was also the issue of my health care because I had to bear the entire cost of my visit and trust me, it was an insane amount since I had to get
Starting point is 02:13:28 some tests done, an x-ray. I had to pay for the caller plus medicines and all of it came up to almost $2,000. My insurance wouldn't cover all of it since I didn't have to stay overnight and neither did I have to spend 24 hours. I run my own small-scale bakery business and I can afford to live nicely, I have a small apartment of my own and I can afford rent, gas, electricity, water and all the other essentials and I can even afford to splurge once in a while but the hospital bill was huge and I absolutely cannot just afford to drop that sort of money without disrupting my budget for the month and I can't exactly skimp on anything else either. I still have to pay my bills and buy groceries and stuff that I need for my bakery business.
Starting point is 02:14:12 And also it was just so infuriating that some drunk guy could drink and drive, hit my car, send me to the hospital, and put me in excruciating pain and discomfort for the next God knows how many days and still just get away with it because of his connections. So I decided to sue the guy in since my boyfriend, 29M, is a lawyer himself, my first choice was obviously him. That was a week ago and we were having dinner when I told him about this. He got really uncomfortable when I told him about it and said that I should just drop it because it wouldn't be worth it to go after someone like Chris.
Starting point is 02:14:48 I was taken aback by his attitude towards this since he could see that I was in a lot of pain and knew that I'd had to spend a bomb on health care and yet he wanted me to drop it. We got into a fight over it and he told me that he was too busy to represent me in such a petty fight which was just so hurtful and made me rethink my entire relationship with him. We've been together for only six months but I've known him for a year and a half and he's been my go-to person ever since we became friends. The way he behaved just didn't sit right with me and even though I knew that he was well respected in his field, I'd never imagine that he'd make me feel so small. I was acutely aware of the difference in our income and position in society, but I tried my best not to feel inferior. Maybe being a baker wouldn't make me as wealthy as he aspired to be and maybe it wasn't an important career, but I did what I loved, I had fun doing what I do and most importantly, I didn't rely on my boyfriend for money so he had no right to make me feel that way. I didn't speak to him after that because I was very hurt about what he'd said.
Starting point is 02:15:48 So I approached a cousin of mine who just started out and she was more than happy to help me file the petition against Chris. I didn't tell my boyfriend about any of this and it made up my mind to break up with him by the end of this week because he'd been really disrespectful and I wasn't going to stand for it. But before I could call him, he decided to contact me. Yesterday, Chris was notified of the litigation process and apparently he'd hired my boyfriend to represent him in court and he'd called me to warn me. He said that I needed to be careful because I'd be up against a really good lawyer so my case needed to be airtight. He even suggested that I stopped the proceedings and settle out of court because if I did go ahead, I was destined to lose. I knew that this was just that other guy's way to play mind games with me and intimidate me into backing off but it wasn't going to
Starting point is 02:16:37 work. I did feel bad about the way my boyfriend was acting though. For some reason, he thought this was funny. I was already hurting not just physically but also emotionally and that was enough to send me over the edge. So I told him it was a good thing that we were already in court because now I could dump him since it had turned into a conflict of interest after saying that, I disconnected the call and since I still wasn't feeling satisfied with what I'd done, I decided to call his sister up and tell him what he was up to. His sister and I are really close and have been for five years. We became friends in college and after we grabbed She invited me to her house for Thanksgiving dinner one year, which is where I met my boyfriend.
Starting point is 02:17:20 I told her all about what he'd done and the fact that he was about to defend a guy who's obviously been drinking and driving, knowing that his family would be all up in arms about it. They're all really into activism and are very strict about the causes they support, but my boyfriend doesn't really care. It always felt strange to me, but now I guess he's just not a very socially conscious guy and I just wasted half a year of my life trying to be with someone who had. had no principles and would do anything for money. He's constantly at odds with his father who's also an ex-lawyer but is active in the circuit and usually finds out what cases his son chooses through someone who knows someone so my boyfriend can't exactly hide anything from his family either. His sister was also not on board with what he'd done and the way he was behaving so she promised
Starting point is 02:18:05 me that she'd look into it and make sure he apologized to me. She couldn't guarantee that he'd back out of the case but she said that she'd make sure he was sorry for making me feel small and being arrogant. She told me that he had already not been on good terms with his family for a while now and what I told her just made it very clear to her that her brother was going down the wrong path and she couldn't take it. She thanked me for telling her and even advised me to dump him because he'd lost sight of what was important because of how ambitious and greedy he'd become. She even seemed pleased when I told her that I'd already left him so that was how bad his relationship with his family was now. I can't say
Starting point is 02:18:43 surprised since his family has always tried to be ethical and his sister would constantly complain about the kind of people my boyfriend would choose to defend in court just because it paid well. I didn't like it much either, but I tried to stay out of it as much as I could since I didn't think it was my place to talk about how he worked and what clients he represented. He didn't talk about my work so I didn't want to overstep my boundaries either, but this time, I was involved directly and he'd insulted me far too much for me to keep it quiet anymore. Within half an hour of my phone call, my boyfriend started calling me relentlessly. I decided to answer him after almost 10 missed calls and he immediately started apologizing for the way he behaved and said that he'd just
Starting point is 02:19:23 been joking earlier. I told him that I wasn't going to forgive him because he'd really hurt me and I also told him that now his family was also aware of the situation so he could expect a call from his parents soon enough as well. That's when things got bad and now I think I might have been and awe for getting his family involved. He told me that I had no right to speak to his family no matter how hurt I'd been. They'd already been hounding him to work for better clients and now it was about to get worse just because of what I'd done. He was really unhappy about my decision to speak to his sister and said that he was relieved that we were no longer together so now he wouldn't have to hold back in court and would make sure I didn't get anything out
Starting point is 02:20:02 of this. I hung up after that and blocked him but I've been really worried ever since. We're supposed to appear in the local small claims court and I know it's not a very high profile case. I've only filed a claim of $5,000 since I think I'm owed that because I'll definitely have to visit the hospital in the future as well for my neck after this. I'm still worried that I might lose because my boyfriend is a good lawyer from what I know and rarely ever loses. Also, I think I might have overstepped my bounds and really shouldn't have told his sister like a tattletail. He is a 30-year-old man, after all, fully capable of making his own decisions, so maybe he's right and I really was out of line.
Starting point is 02:20:44 Now I'm considering just cutting my losses and apologizing to him. I don't know if that'll solve anything, but I can at least try. So should I do it? Ida for dumping my boyfriend telling his family that he's representing someone who was certainly guilty. Update 1. Hey. So I decided not to apologize to my boyfriend because I was not wrong. I read all the messages here
Starting point is 02:21:09 I went through the comments on my post I talked to my parents and a few friends of mine and I really thought about this long and hard there's just no conceivable way that I'm in the wrong here he messed with me so I messed with him tip for tat and if he wasn't in the wrong here he wouldn't be getting so defensive either so it's clear who has a guilty conscience in this situation
Starting point is 02:21:31 and is trying to hide it by talking a big game and being overconfident He might be a skilled lawyer, but I have the truth on my side and I have full faith in myself and my cousin, that's all I need anyway so he can say whatever he wants but it's not going to phase me. I also found out that this Chris guy actually went to high school with my boyfriend and they have a couple of friends in common. I guess that explains how he seemed to know who I was talking about when I mentioned Chris earlier. His sister was actually the one who told me about this and it all finally made sense. all of them went to the same high school and she knew that Chris was an exceptionally spoiled and entitled brat who'd grow up to be nothing but a wastrel.
Starting point is 02:22:12 He'd partied his way through life and now, in his late twenties, he was still struggling to find his footing at any job and was a high-functioning alcoholic. It just pissed me off to know and that this guy still had a license and a nice car in spite of his alcoholism. Just because he was related to the right people and was rich enough to get away with whatever he wanted. While I still had my car in the repair workshop and had to wear a collar so that my neck would heal and would have to take painkillers every other day just to be able to work. It was so unfair already and my boyfriend choosing to represent this idiot instead of me was the cherry on top.
Starting point is 02:22:49 I guess some people really do think money comes over morals, but it's okay, that just tells me what kind of person he is. His sister also told me that they got into a huge fight over this with my now ex-boyfriend when his dad decided to confront him about what he was up to. He put his foot down and told him that he could either back out of this and choose not to defend this Chris guy or his family would sever ties with him and that led to a lot of drama but eventually, my ex decided to step back and cut his parents off. Yeah, because he was getting paid a hefty amount to defend Chris and there was no way he was letting that go. He wouldn't even choose his own family over money so I've been really damn stupid to think that he'd choose me over money. At least I know where I stand now and so does his
Starting point is 02:23:34 family. We're supposed to meet in court tomorrow and I'm nervous but I also know that I'm being honest here and he's not and that just strengthens my faith in myself. Also, the fact that even strangers on the internet are on my side on this one speaks volumes about who's right and who's wrong. Hopefully, the judge will also be able to see that and will be able to settle this. Update 2 So this is the night before the hearing and my ex just sent me a message from a different number saying that there's still time and I can back off even now. He said that his client is willing to pay me the $2,000 plus some more and settle out of court, but I'm not okay with that. I want that guy to acknowledge that he screwed up royally and pay me no less than $5,000.
Starting point is 02:24:19 I'm not even being greedy right now, I just think that that's what I'm owed because $2,000 is what I had to spend only on the day of the accident. There are more medical bills to cover because I'll have to get medicines, consultations, and physiotherapy to properly heal from this incident. I've been suffering from back aches almost daily and it's affecting my work as well. This is why I'm not willing to settle for anything less than five grand and I'm sure that it's completely fair and reasonable. I don't even know what the fuss is all about honestly, he's super rich so why can't he just drop $5,000 for an accident that he caused? It just doesn't make any sense. It's not my concern anyway, so I just blocked the other number as well and I'm going to try and fall asleep soon so that I don't have to entertain my ex's attempts to contact me and throw me off my game. This is really the last thing that I need right now and I'm pretty sure that he's still trying to get into my head and mess with me because he thinks he's going to lose.
Starting point is 02:25:18 I mean, that must be the case if he's so desperate all of a sudden. He knows he's going to lose and is trying to prevent that now. update three hey everyone we finally had the hearing today and it went better than i'd expected we were the last ones to present our case and my cousin was fab but of course my boyfriend is more skilled and was able to get the judge to assign a second hearing I won't get into the details because it's boring and irrelevant and the more I think about it, the more frustrated I feel because there's still a chance that I might end up losing money fighting this. I'm grateful that my cousin isn't charging me much because we're family but it's still money. I know being ethical and sticking to your principles is a great thing and blah, blah, blah,
Starting point is 02:26:02 but right now, I don't feel so good about the fact that there's going to be a second hearing. We'd managed to collect all the evidence we could find to strengthen our case, but unfortunately so did they, probably with their slimy and unethical ways. They definitely had to bribe some people, I know that for a fact. Anyway, I was in a foul mood when I was waiting for my cab to arrive and then my ex decided to speak to me and make it worse. I wasn't even looking at him and was trying my best to ignore him but I didn't have my AirPods with me so I couldn't exactly ignore his voice. He told me that Chris's dad had decided to cut him off after the accident because that had been the last. straw and now, he was totally on his own. He was down to the last few thousand in his account
Starting point is 02:26:47 and really couldn't afford to pay me the amount that I was asking for, which is why he'd asked me to settle out of court and settle for way less than what I'd claimed. I pretended not to hear him but he went on and on about how I needed to have a heart and that it was unlike me to be so greedy. After a while, I just snapped at and told him that I did have a heart but I preferred to save it for people who deserved it. And his friend Chris most certainly did not. Worse comes to worst, his parents would take him back and pay me the amount instead. I'm sure the parents who raised this man-child would make sure that their son didn't go to jail over something so petty and anyway, his uncle was rich enough to make things happen,
Starting point is 02:27:27 which is how they got a second hearing to happen. But I didn't have the luxury to rely on other people to bail me out of trouble constantly so neither was I being heartless and nor was I being greedy, I was just looking out for myself, and just because I wasn't constantly running after money like my ex didn't mean that I wasn't in need of it. He then stared at me and kept trying to come up with arguments against me but couldn't so his mouth just kept opening and closing like a goldfish for a few seconds. And finally, after half a minute, my cab arrived and I left him standing there. I'm not entirely happy with how today went, but at least I got to chew my X out so that was a win for me. Now I just hope we can wrap this up by the next hearing.
Starting point is 02:28:09 Update 4. Hi. So it's been three weeks in yesterday, I finally received the amount that was due. Just as I predicted, Chris's parents stepped up at the very last minute and bailed him out yet again but it doesn't matter because at least the verdict was in my favor. What was interesting is what happened after the judgment. I went home and unlike the previous day, my ex didn't try to stop. me and talked to me outside of court and instead, decided to wait until we got home. A few hours after I'd come home, he showed up at my door with a bouquet of roses and asked me out. He said that he was truly apologetic about everything that he'd said and done so far and he always knew that he was going to lose, which is why he'd been such an egoistic idiot, but he'd realized that he was being stupid and now wanted
Starting point is 02:28:55 me to give him a second chance. I did what anyone in my place would have done and slammed the door shut right in his face. He tried to talk to me, but I told him that I had no interest in entertaining him and his fake apologies so he could save his breath and just leave. The ego trip he'd been on before he lost such a petty case today was the real him and I didn't want to wait around for him to get worse. He was unethical and cold and I don't think that's what I'm looking for in a partner at all. In fact, I really don't think anyone is. So he needed to leave me alone now and regret his decisions on his own time instead of trying to argue with me or else I would report him to the cops. He left without another word and I'm hopeful that he won't come back or try to contact me later on now. I told his sister all about it and she supported my
Starting point is 02:29:44 decision wholeheartedly. She told me that her parents were still not willing to speak to him and neither had he apologized to them which was nuts because his dad was also a well-respected lawyer in his prime and was better than him and had taught his son all that he knew. He's just an ungrateful awe and I'm glad I finally took the blindfold off and saw him for what he truly is. Now, I'm just going to do it and hopefully, I'll be better soon. Both physically and emotionally. Now on to the next story. Story 2. Found out from daughter that wife cheated on me with guys she met at grocery store so I did this. My wife, 33, was an expert shopper. It helps that her grandmother and mother were very materialistic people while keeping a budget. She would
Starting point is 02:30:32 hunt for the perfect sale, which is why I, 37, didn't usually jump up to go with her because she could be out for six hours or more. She would go out once a week, every Saturday, leaving the house by 6 a.m. She'd go to Saturday's market, then go to the mall, eat lunch, and probably shop more. We were married for eight years, and the whole time she was in the habit of doing this. She took our 5-year-old daughter with her sometimes. My wife was a consistent light in my life and I did not know she didn't deserve my trust. She started taking our daughter less and less often, leaving the house without waking her up or giving her the choice. I asked her why, and she said she could get back sooner without bringing her along because a lot of the
Starting point is 02:31:17 time she would start to complain and get tired long before my wife was ready to come back home. I suppose that was a reasonable explanation, but my daughter and I were both bummed because she enjoyed those trips with her mom. Our daughter actually started asking her each time if she could go with her, and she'd say no each time. She'd do something else with her the next day, or bring home something nice for her, but it wasn't the same. I let it go for a while, but eventually, I felt like I had to say something. I confronted her and told her she needed to take her with her that Saturday. She was not happy. I couldn't believe how inconvenient it was for her.
Starting point is 02:31:58 She started to accept it and actually did follow through, but that Sunday, she went out alone. Usually, we all had family time and practiced meditation. Our girl always, turned it into a game of peaking without getting caught. When the wife got back, she was really happy, like everything was fine. Then, my daughter asked a question that led to the discovery of what was really going on. She asked her mom if she met the man with the puppet today. My wife forced a laugh and said no, he's only at the market on Saturdays. I asked who this was, and before my wife responded, our daughter said he was the man
Starting point is 02:32:38 mommy kissed yesterday. I looked at her with wide eyes. She knew we had to talk. I excused myself to another room and waited for my husband. wife to set up our daughter with toys before joining me. I quizzed her until she was blue in the face, but she couldn't convince me her lies were true. She tried telling me our daughter was talking about something else, but I knew her speaking capabilities were pretty accurate. She even looked at my wife like she was going to be in trouble with Daddy. She knew it was wrong, and she wanted me to know.
Starting point is 02:33:12 So my wife eventually came clean. She said he was a nice guy that she got close to over the years she'd been going to the market. He liked her more than friends, and she didn't want to break his heart so she started giving him kisses. I didn't think there was any way she could believe this was okay. I told her she betrayed my trust by doing this, even by being friends with this guy without telling me. I'd like to know who she's involved with, even if only for safety's sake. Now I was suddenly aware of a guy she'd gotten to know for years, introduced to our daughter, and kissed. I looked her straight in the eye and asked her if she ever slept with this man or anyone else. She blushed hard, looked away, and told me no. How much more obvious it could have
Starting point is 02:33:58 been that she was lying to me. I stared at her, but she only tried asking if we could leave the room now, and I said no. I told her to tell me the truth because her whole body looked like she was lying. Her mouth got really dry, and she started to dry heave. She explained. She excused herself to our bathroom and threw up. I told her she needed to get it off her shoulders so she could feel better, but she pretended not to have anything to say. I told her I didn't want her to go to Saturday's market anymore, and she lost it. She said this was one of her greatest joys in life, and I told her that she spoiled it for
Starting point is 02:34:35 herself, because she started kissing an older guy. I wondered if she said older to try to get me to let it go like I'd picture an old lonely man. I wasn't a fool. So, for a whole month, she didn't go anywhere over the weekend. Finally, she made an excuse to go out, but she took our daughter with her to help convince me she wasn't up to no good. They'd come home with groceries or other stuff that proved they weren't at Saturday's market. I hated that this had become an issue between us now. Every time she left, I wondered if she was seeing Mr. Kisser. On the first day she didn't offer to take our daughter, I followed her. She didn't go to Saturday's market, but she did go to someone's house.
Starting point is 02:35:20 Before I got confirmation, I knew this was App's house. I could feel it in my bones. It was like my wife's energy and emotion were contagious to me. I knocked on his front door after my wife went inside. App answered it, and he asked him why I saw my wife just come inside. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I pictured this guy meeting my daughter. He looked young and confused, but before he could ask me anything, I asked if he was the puppet guy at Saturday's market. He covered his mouth for a second and asked me if I was her husband. I said yes, and yelled my wife's name. She came out and he told her to leave, then he told me she introduced herself as a widower. I felt like my heart stopped beating permanently and IW is only surviving off air and my still blood.
Starting point is 02:36:10 My wife came rushing out like she had a right to be mad, brushing past me. I followed her. She frantically tried to get in her car, but I grabbed her keys from her and ran to my car, locking the doors. She watched helplessly as I took her house key off before giving them back. She told her parents I kicked her out for no reason, so they let her stay with them and arranged to have a truck come get her stuff. They came over to visit with our daughter and asked me what really happened.
Starting point is 02:36:40 I told them the truth, and they must have made my wife's life at their house a living hell because every day she told me she hated me for telling them what happened. She moved out in just five weeks, opting to take turns sleeping on different friends' couches, rather than stay under their roof. The divorce went in my favor, and my wife is at least partially involved with our daughter. I hope you enjoy this story. Endored Phase 2 breast illness, yet my spouse deserted me for undergoing a death. dual mastectomy. Ten years later, he reappeared as I was on the brink of tying the knot again.
Starting point is 02:37:17 I encountered my husband, Chris almost 13 years ago and we were married for 10 years. In the beginning, we were just friends since we were already in relationships with other people at that time. We kept in touch with each other over the years and when I broke up with my boyfriend, Chris asked me out quite unexpectedly. Our first date went quite well and we started seeing each other more frequently. Looking back, our relationship has always been very chaotic and unhealthy from the very beginning. You see he cheated on me multiple times throughout our relationship. The first incident occurred within a month of us being together. He went away to a hiking camp with his friends, something he does every year. While he was there, he was on some dating site and talked with a
Starting point is 02:38:02 much younger girl where they exchanged inappropriate pictures with each other. I noticed a change in his behavior when he returned, so I asked him about it. He was evasive, so I decided to investigate. This is how I found out that he was chatting with this girl online and saw their messages. I confronted him immediately and he told me how his friends introduced him to the dating site. He tried to justify how it was just pictures, but I expressed that this was not acceptable to me. We had a conversation about our boundaries and in the end, I decided not to blow it out of proportion since our relationship was just starting. The second instance was when I discovered that he had continued to maintain contact with his ex-girlfriend
Starting point is 02:38:43 throughout the first four years of our relationship. She would sometimes reach out to him every time she broke up with a new guy and instead of blocking her or ignoring her, he would reply back to her and try to pacify her. When I confronted him about it, he justified this by claiming he was just giving her harmless advice so I should not be upset about that. He even went on to say how being friends with an ex is not a big deal. I was shocked to hear this and decided that it was time to talk to a therapist regarding these relationship issues that we were facing. Even though he was at first vehemently opposed to the idea, I convinced him to attend a few sessions with me.
Starting point is 02:39:20 It turned out that our communications slowly started to improve, and the relationship saw positive changes. We became even closer and closer and eventually decided to get married in an intimate setting. Every one of our close family and friends attended our happy day. During that time, our relationship felt really good, and we were totally in love with each other. We enjoyed being together and felt content with our connection. We have always split bills from the very beginning, so even after our marriage we continued to do so. My ex was struggling a bit with some life choices and what to do next in his life as he had dropped out of college years ago and had a low-paying job. His family as well was going through a very difficult period with his parents splitting and his dad moving abroad for work.
Starting point is 02:40:06 His relationship with his mother was not great either. He was unsure of his career path. I, on the other hand, was doing a degree at a very prominent college, and they'd be won varsity athlete so I had my life all figured out. He did not like me talking about my studies, so I never brought this up as I did not want to make him feel less about himself. Every day after college I would go for my part-time job so I could pay my expenses around the house. Unfortunately, one day out of nowhere, I started having some pain around my arm and my chest area during training and went in for a full body work just in case. It turns out that there was a tear in my arms which needed to have an operation.
Starting point is 02:40:47 I remember sitting feeling dejected hearing this thinking about how I was going to mispractice for a couple of weeks, but this wasn't even the worst news. My doctor checked my blood work and told me that there was some abnormality there. Upon close inspection, they found a tumor in my breast. It was cancerous, but it was stage two. I started crying and shaking, hearing this and called Chris to come to the hospital. The doctor assured us that I was still going to be okay as they had caught it early on. The revelation of my cancer diagnosis marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in our lives. In the beginning, my husband was extremely supportive.
Starting point is 02:41:26 He spent hours and hours researching my treatments and the best surgeons to debulk the tumor. We found a great surgeon in Pittsburgh, so we scheduled an appointment with him. Meeting this doctor wasn't easy, but this was the best decision of my life as he was quite experienced. He told me from the very beginning the risk of the surgery and that he may have to cut out some fat from my breast. My husband and I both didn't care as long as I was going to be okay. I went into surgery and the doctor spent 18 hours taking out the tumors from my breast. It was a successful surgery and I remember my husband crying into my arms in joy. Our happiness was short-lived as three weeks later, during our weekly test we found the cancer returning.
Starting point is 02:42:09 I collapsed in shock as I thought that we had got it in control. My husband was proactive and spent countless hours with the doctor talking to him and coming up with a game plan for my recovery. The treatment journey was arduous, filled with the harsh realities of chemotherapy, surgery, and the emotional toll of facing mortality. The toxic substances coursing through my veins were difficult to live with. During treatments, my husband and I found solace in the simplicity of companionship. Through the nausea, the hair loss, and the moments of despair, he stood by my side, offering solace and unwavering support.
Starting point is 02:42:46 Our bond deepened as we navigated the uncharted waters of sickness together. The surgery to remove the tumor again was a pivotal moment. I was clearly informed by the doctor that this time they would have to remove my entire breast. I told my doctor that I had been thinking about it and that I wanted to remove both of my breasts. My husband and the doctor were shocked to hear this. My husband started to convince me that the tumor was only in my left breast so I didn't have to remove my right, but I knew that I never wanted to go through this ever again in case the cancer spread to my right breast. As long as I had breasts, I knew that I would have to live with the fear that I might get
Starting point is 02:43:24 this cancer back someday and this terrified me. Obviously, I was angry and upset about it, but I knew that this was what I wanted. My husband was beyond upset, but this was not his decision to make. He tried to convince me several times before the surgery, but I stuck by my words. On the day I went in for the surgery, my husband started to cry and beg me saying that I didn't have to do this, but I told him that I needed to put myself. first, so I was okay with my decision. Thankfully, the surgery went well.
Starting point is 02:43:54 The prognosis, fortunately, was also optimistic, and as I emerged on the other side of treatment, I carried not only the scars of surgery but also a renewed sense of self and an appreciation for the fragility of life. My parents who had been dreading that there would be more bad news finally had a chance to rejoice. I was officially cancer-free. Throughout this time, the only thing that had changed was my husband. He wouldn't look me in the eyes and could only speak in short words.
Starting point is 02:44:23 I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was like he had changed during the whole process, and it left me feeling confused and hurt. He started picking fights with me for no apparent reason. It was like he had this wall up, and no matter what I did, he wouldn't let me in. We used to be so close, especially during my treatment, but now it felt like he was pushing me away. I tried talking to him, asking what was. going on, but he would just get defensive or avoid the conversation altogether. It hurt because I needed support, especially after everything I had been through.
Starting point is 02:44:59 Instead, I found myself dealing with tension and arguments that I couldn't understand. I began to feel this growing distance between us, and it made an already tough situation even harder to handle. I needed my husband to be there for me emotionally, but it seemed like he had checked out. The fights became a constant, lingering cloud over one. what should have been a time of healing and rebuilding. I questioned whether the strain of my illness and the decisions I had made regarding the surgery had taken a toll on our relationship.
Starting point is 02:45:28 Was he resentful or struggling with his own feelings? Amidst the physical and emotional recovery from surgery, I found myself grappling not only with the aftermath of cancer but also with the strain on our relationship. It was a difficult time, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something had fundamentally changed between us. One night, after he came home drunk, things took a turn for the worse. I could sense the tension in the air as soon as he walked through the door. I looked at him, concerned, and asked if he was okay.
Starting point is 02:46:00 Instead of a reassuring response, he just started laughing, a bitter and mocking laughter that echoed through the room. It's not like you can do something about it, he said, his words cutting through the air. I was taken aback, not understanding what had triggered such a harsh remark. I persisted, asking him what was wrong, hoping for an explanation that would shed light on the sudden animosity. He continued to laugh, the drunken haze apparent in his eyes. I kept urging him to tell me if something was troubling him, and he finally blurted out something that left me stunned. How can I be happy when I'm living with a man? He said, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Starting point is 02:46:41 He went on to say he wanted a wife, but now he had a man because I had decided to cut off my breasts. Tears streamed down my face as his hurtful words sank in. Continued, saying he hated seeing me ever since the surgery, and he wasn't attracted to me anymore. Despite my tears, I tried to explain that I had no choice, cancer is dangerous, and I didn't want to go through it again. I was lucky to come out of it alive, but I couldn't bear the thought of facing that kind of danger again. He yelled at me, saying that cutting off my breasts made me look more ugly. I kept crying, feeling the weight of his words crushing me. It was a painful realization that the person I had relied on for support during my battle with cancer now saw me in such a negative light.
Starting point is 02:47:27 The scars on my body were not just physical, they were a reflection of the emotional wounds inflicted by someone I had thought would stand by me, no matter what. That night was worse than the night I had found out that I had cancer. While my husband passed out on our sofa, I slept alone in our bed. Now that I knew my husband did not like me after my surgery, I was afraid that I would lose him forever. I couldn't sleep the entire night and kept tossing and turning in bed. It was only in the wee hours of the morning that my tired brain finally switched off. The morning after that painful confrontation was a blur of confusion and heartbreak. When I woke up, my first instinct was to find my husband, hoping that somehow the hurtful words exchanged the night before were just a terrible
Starting point is 02:48:12 nightmare. I anxiously searched the house, calling his name, but he was nowhere to be found. Descending the stairs, I noticed an eerie silence in our home. The couch, where he had passed out the night before, was empty. My heartbreak set in as I scoured every room, desperately hoping to see him and make sense of the emotional storm that had unfolded. That's when I noticed a sticky note on the fridge. My heart sank as I read the few words scrawled on that small piece of paper, I am done with you. It felt like a punch to the gut. I tried to call him over and over, but there was no answer. His belongings were gone, his car was missing from the driveway, and it was as if he had vanished into thin air. In a state of shock, I reached out to his parents, hoping they could
Starting point is 02:49:01 shed light on his abrupt disappearance. To my surprise, they were just as bewildered and shocked as I was. They had no idea where he was or what had transpired between us. It was a surreal moment of isolation, realizing that the person I had built my life around had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a void that seemed insurmountable. I called my parents and they rushed to be there for me. I told them about what had happened between me and my husband the night before. My dad was extremely angry hearing that my husband had called me a man. My mother, on the other hand, kept calling my husband and searching around the house for some clues. Fortunately, his parents arrived at the house as well.
Starting point is 02:49:43 They had heard the panic in my voice and thought it best to check up on me. We were all really, really concerned. I could hardly function and my mind kept going to the worst scenario. I can honestly say that the pain of that morning eclipsed even the darkest moments of my cancer diagnosis. The uncertainty and the suddenness of his departure left me grappling with a profound sense of loss with no closure. We went to the station and filed a police complaint, but because he was an adult who had packed all his clothes and taken his car, it was pretty much clear that he had simply left me. When I returned home that night, it felt like entering a void, a space that once brimmed
Starting point is 02:50:22 with shared laughter and warmth. Now, it echoed with the haunting silence of abandonment. Days turned into nights, and I found myself crying for hours on end, hoping against hope that he would walk back through the door, ready to apologize or explain. The house, once filled with the hum of our shared life, now felt desolate. I clung to the belief that maybe this was just a terrible misunderstanding, and he would return to make things right. I called his number incessantly, my heart sinking with each unanswered call. It was as if he had vanished from my life, leaving behind an aching void that no amount of tears
Starting point is 02:50:59 could fill. My parents, sensing the depth of my despair, decided to stay with me for a couple of days, but it was really difficult for my dad to go to his workplace as my house was pretty far from his sight. Hence I tried to stay strong in front of my parents so they wouldn't have to worry about me anymore and they eventually went back to their place. I was once again all alone and wandered around the house too sad to do anything else. The days that followed were marked by a mixture of confusion, grief, and a profound longing for answers that seemed to elude me. I couldn't believe that my husband of ten years had vanished from my life without any explanation.
Starting point is 02:51:35 Eventually, I decided that I had enough. As much as I was grieving, I wanted to get back into training and started doing online college classes so I could graduate. There was a lot of therapy, crying, and mental breakdowns, but I knew that I had to keep going forward. I was asked out by a couple of men and tried to go on a few dates, but I just couldn't get my husband out of my mind. Since then I have graduated with two degrees, and have secured a great job.
Starting point is 02:52:03 I have healed a lot through therapy and worked hard on myself to become better and stronger. I met Paul while we were working. He was a client of mine and I was never looking to date him. But throughout the time we worked together, I could see that we both were attracted to each other. After our contact was done and he was no longer a client, Paul surprised me by asking me out. I was flattered and eventually tried to decline his invitation saying that I wasn't looking to date anyone but he insisted on us going out for a coffee at least. That one meeting with Paul turned out to be a turning point in my life. After coffee, we talked about our pasts, our dreams, and the challenges we had faced.
Starting point is 02:52:44 It was refreshing to be around someone who listened without judgment, and I felt a connection that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Slowly, Paul became a source of strength and support, helping me move beyond the pain of my past. We shared laughter, dreams, and hardships. As our friendship blossomed into something more, I realized that there could potentially be a future with him. Paul's kindness, understanding, and genuine care helped me rebuild my trust and love. With his encouragement, I continued therapy, addressing the lingering scars and insecurities. It wasn't an easy journey, but his unwavering support made it less daunting.
Starting point is 02:53:24 I realized that I was slowly but surely falling in love with him. When I first came to this conclusion, I remember feeling so guilty about it that I called up my mother and started to cry to her. My mother comforted me, assuring me that seeking happiness was not wrong, especially considering my husband had been absent for so many years without any contact. Taking my mother's advice to heart, I decided it was time to face the reality of my marriage. I reached out to my husband's family, who had always supported me and kept in touch with me. We had a tearful conversation where I explained my decision to divorce my missing husband. They understood that this step was necessary for my own well-being as they had witnessed the painful journey I had endured.
Starting point is 02:54:08 I met with the lawyer to navigate the legal process of divorcing someone who had been absent for so long. The lawyer explained the concept of a default divorce, a way to end a marriage when one party has essentially disappeared for years. It was a step toward closure, a necessary formality to officially and legally move on from this marriage. It took a bit of time but eventually, I was legally devoured. divorced from my husband. It was done and dusted and I was confused about how I felt. On the one hand, I was legally single after so long but on the other hand, I still felt guilty for divorcing my husband. Nevertheless, I decided to focus on my career and my relationship with Paul who had been sweet and supportive to me throughout all this. Over the last one and a half years, we have
Starting point is 02:54:54 grown closer and closer. All is unlike anyone I have ever known. He makes me laugh in a way that reaches deep into my soul. His love is unabashed and genuine, and he never hesitates to show the world how much he cares for me. I have found an unfiltered happiness with him that has made me forget the pains of my past. My parents, who had been through the highs and lows with me,
Starting point is 02:55:18 adore him as well. In Paul, I have discovered a partner who embraces me for who I am, scars and all. So when Paul decided to propose to me three months ago, I was over the moon with joy. It was a beautiful moment, one that felt like the perfect culmination of the love and support we had built together. As he got down on one knee, my heart raced with excitement, and the tears that welled up in my eyes were tears of happiness and gratitude. When I said yes, it felt like
Starting point is 02:55:47 a declaration of not just love, but also of triumph over the challenges I had faced in the past. I couldn't wait to spend the rest of my life with Paul, the man who had brought light into my life. With the engagement rings sparkling on my finger, I couldn't contain my excitement. I immediately called my parents to share the wonderful news. Their joy mirrored mine, and we celebrated the upcoming union with laughter and tears of happiness. Paul and I wasted no time in starting to plan our wedding, excited about the prospect of building a life together. The venue, the guest list, and the details of the ceremony became shared endeavors that strengthened our bond. Today is the day I am about to get married to the man of my dreams. This is supposed to be a
Starting point is 02:56:32 happy day but here I am sitting in the washroom and crying as I type this. You see, the morning started pretty much normal. I spent the night at my parents' place as the bride and groom were not supposed to see each other before the wedding. Me, my mom and the rest of the bridesmaid squad got ready at the house and drove to the venue. While I was busy with photo shoots with my bridesmaid, husband's mom entered the venue. She looked around and spotted me. I gave her a polite smile and she waved back. She then walked towards my mother and started whispering something to her. I watched both of them head to a corner furiously whispering to each other. Ten minutes later, my mother approaches me in the middle of the photo shoot and tells me that she has something to
Starting point is 02:57:18 tell me urgently. I looked at her and I knew something was wrong. I excused myself in front of everyone with the pretense that I needed to go to my room and get a touch-up. My mother's face wore a solemn expression as she locked the door behind us. Immediately sensing something was amiss, I asked her if something had happened to Paul, my heart pounding with fear. She shook her head, and with a grave expression, she motioned for me to sit down. Taking a deep breath, I settled into a chair, my eyes fixed on my mother. I felt a nod of anxiety forming in my stomach as she began to speak. She told me that very morning, my ex-mill had received a call from my ex-husband, Chris. My eyes widened in shock as I struggled to comprehend the words she had uttered.
Starting point is 02:58:05 My mother continued saying that apparently, Chris was alive and well. He was currently living in Canada and had been concealing his whereabouts from everyone, including his parents. The revelation hit me like a physical blow. My mind had stopped functioning as I grappled with the shocking information. My mother told me that his parents were as blindsided as I was, having had no inkling of his relocation. Only his older sister had been privy to the secret, as he maintained a close relationship with her. The reason Chris had reached out to his parents was because he had found out that I was getting married and wanted to finally tell me the truth. He had apparently tried to call me several times, but my number has changed over the years,
Starting point is 02:58:47 so then he tried to call my mother, who had left her phone back home. As a left, a letter to Last attempt to reach me, he had called his parents and told them the truth. Understandably, his parents are furious at him for vanishing from everyone's lives without a trace or an explanation. His mother had begrudgingly approached my mother and told her the truth as she felt I needed to know everything before getting married just in case. Hearing the news, I felt a lot of emotions, disbelief, anger, and a strange sense of relief that my ex-husband was alive. My legs are trembling and I have since been crying while everyone is willing. waiting for me so we can proceed with my wedding. I am still confused as I am writing this. I don't understand why Chris waited so long to tell me the truth. Why didn't he just divorce me
Starting point is 02:59:33 and leave me like a normal person? All these questions are going on in my head when I should not even be thinking about my ex-husband on my wedding day. I would just like to know either for getting married to another man and not having tried harder to find my ex-husband. Update one, thank you everyone for your hundreds and hundreds of comments. I guess pretty much everyone agrees that I am not the A-hole here. Write some of your speculations. I did go through with my marriage with Paul obviously as I am completely in love with him and no one can stand in our way. Paul knows by now about Chris reaching out and he is as perplexed as me.
Starting point is 03:00:10 When I was writing this post last week, I was feeling a lot of emotions hence in the heat of the moment I was a bit confused and wanted to know if I did something wrong. I understand now with a clearer mind after reading all your comments and talking to my family that I don't have to spend another moment feeling guilty about Chris. I am glad that I have moved on to a much healthier relationship with my now husband Paul and we are very happy. Update 2, it's been a month since my last update. I had not contacted Chris anyway, but out of nowhere, he ended up sending an email to me talking about why he left and trying to justify himself.
Starting point is 03:00:45 This is what he wrote, I want to start by saying. that I owe you a sincere apology for disappearing from your life without any explanation or closure. Over the past 10 years, I've grappled with my decision and its impact on you. I want you to know that it wasn't an easy choice to leave you. I couldn't accept who you had become after your surgery, and I tried my best to stay. I never meant to hurt you and I have since regretted my decision, but I was too embarrassed to come back and beg for forgiveness. I sincerely hope that life has treated you well in all these years. You deserve nothing but happiness, and I hope that you found it, especially in your second marriage. I understand if you harbor resentment or anger
Starting point is 03:01:27 towards me. I would love the opportunity to talk further, to provide the closure you rightfully deserve. Please feel free to respond when you're ready. I'm here and willing to listen. Wishing you peace and happiness, Chris when I received Chris's email, a mix of emotions washed over me. felt a sense of disbelief and anger at his audacity to reach out after so many years. Uncertain about how to process this unexpected communication, I decided to share it with Paul. We read the email together again, acknowledging that it was extremely odd for Chris to write this email to me even though I have chosen to not engage with him. We both agreed that engaging with Chris would not serve any positive purpose in my life so I
Starting point is 03:02:10 did not reply back and simply blocked his email address. I have also talked to my parents about it and they understand my stance. With this decision, I have found a renewed sense of closure from my past. Update 3. It's been five months since my last update, and life has been on a positive trajectory. Since blocking Chris, there's been no attempt at contact, allowing me to focus on the wonderful developments in my life. Recently, I discovered that I'm pregnant, and I couldn't be happier to share this joyful news. I can't wait to be a mother and meet my baby soon. The anticipation of this moment has been a long time coming, and Paul shares in the excitement. I wanted to share this happy update with everyone in case any of you were still looking for an
Starting point is 03:02:56 update. The unexpected joy found in Paul's company has shown me that life has a way of surprising us with new beginnings. Even when we least expect it and everyone deserves to find this kind of happiness one day. I hope you enjoy this story. Jobless father took my $9,000 educational grant to cover the cost of lodging. then deceived me about it for an extended period. He later expressed suicidal intentions when I addressed the situation. Just for clarification, I am currently a college freshman. I am on a full ride to my university.
Starting point is 03:03:31 Every semester, I get a check sent to my house to pay off my housing costs, which is about $9,000. My unemployed father got evicted from my old address because he wasn't paying rent, so my family started living in a hotel. I was questioning how they were paying for the hotel, considering it was $150 a night. Turns out, my father used my college check to cash out and pay for the hotel for two months. I begged him to pay off my college housing costs for two months straight. He lied to me, telling me that it was attached to some funds, which were hard to get out,
Starting point is 03:04:06 very confusing but keep in mind I have absolutely zero financial literacy and my father never went into depth. I brushed it off, hoping that everything would work for the best. My college housing gave my father a deadline to pay off housing costs, November 1st. I was stressed for two months, unable to eat well, sleep, socialize, etc. If my dad doesn't pay it off, I may or may not have to drop out. When the deadline hit, I called my dad and asked him why he hadn't paid off my housing costs. He finally revealed that he used the check on the hotel. we were living in. I was furious and I started interrogating him like a prosecutor. He blamed the
Starting point is 03:04:49 family for being responsible for using my college money, not himself, and also blamed me. He let me allowance money for two months, telling me that it was from my relatives when it was actually from my $9,000 housing check. I asked him why he would do this and he said that he didn't want to stress me out. I cried telling him I worked way too hard in high school for me to drop out. I said that he owed me an apology three times over the phone, but he refused because he thought he had done nothing wrong since he was providing for the family. I asked him again and he said sorry in a mocking voice. I told him that he was full of shit and he started saying that he wants to put a gun to his head and kill himself and it will all be on me. This is not the first time
Starting point is 03:05:32 he has done that. I told him to do it and I hung up. My mom called me and I informed her about the situation. She told me to apologize to my dad and I told her as psychotic as I may sound. I have no remorse, especially after what he did. My mom threatened to disown me, but I somehow mended things with them for three weeks. It is currently Thanksgiving break and my father still didn't pay off my check and he said that he would get money Saturday to pay it off. My mom told me again to apologize to him after he paid my housing costs and I said I would avoid conflict. But I I think I'm way too stubborn to apologize, especially because I genuinely think I have nothing to be sorry for. My dad never fully apologized and made a joke out of me to the family.
Starting point is 03:06:20 Comments where OP has replied. Depressed, Wizard Whose name was on the check? Sounds like fraud to me if your name is on that check. Oop, I'm honestly not sure because I never physically saw the check. All I know was that it was mailed to my old address and my neighbor gave the check to my father, who proceeded to cash it out. North conclusion 331. Is this your first check? If not, what was the name in the old checks? Oop, yes, this is my very first check.
Starting point is 03:06:53 The next one is coming this January to my old address. I told my father if he didn't give it to me in January I would report him and he said he would give it to me. Although I don't completely trust him, mainly because he did something similar to my older sister resulting in her dropping out, I have a lot of leverage on him. Expression Little. Contact the office that sent out the check to see what name they put on the check and on the envelope to send to you. If he opened your mail, that's a crime, and if he cashed a check with your name on it, that's also a crime. Also, get a P.O. box and get the next one sent there.
Starting point is 03:07:29 Oop, there's also a huge part that I left out regarding this situation. My mother is an illegal immigrant and if my dad goes to jail or gets charged, then she would would have to go back to her country. I did threaten my dad with this, but my mother said that she would flat out disown me if I did. I also have little siblings too, so I would not like for them to have to take the fall for this. I think I will contact the school and ask them to put the mail somewhere safer, probably my dorm address. Update 1. First and foremost, immediately after this happened, I managed to get a separate debit card without my parents knowing. I don't have a job now, but I'm looking to get one later on in the semester.
Starting point is 03:08:11 I didn't go to the Financial Aid Center because my dad somehow managed to pay me back. I'm going under the assumption that it's through my grandmother's social security checks. Last December, after weeks of calling my father to make up for my scholarship money and pay me back, he finally sent me a check for $9,000. The check came in my dorm mail around midnight.
Starting point is 03:08:32 I was asleep by then and my dad was spam calling my phone to tell me it was in the mail. I didn't call him back until one in the afternoon because I had an exam that day. He started cursing at me, telling me how he couldn't sleep all night because I didn't answer my phone. I talked back and said, the stress you put me through for three months by lying about my scholarship check is nothing compared to the stress you went through for a day. He started insulting me in every way possible telling me that I was spoiled. I swore back saying, are youfng serious and he hung up?
Starting point is 03:09:04 Moments later, my dad made my mom call me because he didn't want to argue with me. She screamed at me saying that I should always have respect for him as a father and that I should apologize for swearing. I said that yes, I did swear at him, but he did too, calling me bunch of slurs and whatnot. She also accused me of purposely ignoring them when I made it clear several times that I was asleep and I had an exam at nine in the morning, hence not calling them at midnight. I told her that we shouldn't even have this talk because he was clearly in the wrong in this entire situation and every other kid would have gone to the financial aid center and my dad would have gotten in trouble. My mom misunderstood me for saying that I was going to
Starting point is 03:09:45 report my dad. She had a mental breakdown and hung up. Moments later, my dad called and told me to go ahead and report him because I would be going to jail instead of him because he sent me some of the money from the check, which is bullshit. I called him out on his bullshit and he said, said that he was permanently severing ties so I could learn my lesson. He hung up. I didn't call them for a week until I realized that I didn't have a place to stay for winter break, my dorm closed. I swallowed my pride and called them back to apologize. They said they'll accept me back to the family. This honestly still keeps me up at night, but I literally didn't have a choice but to stay with them over break. Over break, they've noticed that I'm way more cold
Starting point is 03:10:29 and distant towards them and they still wonder why. Luckily, I got the $9,000 check from my university to pay for this semester's housing fees. The best thing that came out of this is that I ended up reconnecting with my estranged sister, F-25. Long story short, my father financially abused my sister for years, maxing out her credit cards and leaving her $20,000 in debt. They cut all ties a year ago after my sister started dating a guy they didn't approve of. When I was on good terms with them, they painted her as the bad guy, telling me that she betrayed them by choosing her boyfriend over the entire family.
Starting point is 03:11:07 I also didn't know that my dad financially abused her. Turns out she was in the same situation I was in and ended up dropping out because my dad didn't let her take out a student loan. I talked to my sister and she said that she was honestly glad that she severed ties with them because she's finally financially independent, even if she's not financially stable. We're closer than ever and I probably consider her as a shoulder to lean on. Mentally, I'm really not doing well. I'm generally stoic but this is taking a hard emotional toll on me because my family was my world. Before college, I always knew my father was insane, but my mother was my ride or die. I told her everything.
Starting point is 03:11:48 I helped her through her marital problems, she told me everything, and the fact that she chose my abusive, unemployed father, the man that she always talked about wanting to divorce, over her daughter is heartbreaking. She still expects me to be her armchair therapist and she told me she wants me to act like how I did before. I told her overbreak that no matter what she does, she will never mend back the trust one had for her then. And my father, despite his flaws, I never expected him to use my check. He put such a huge emphasis on education and told me he wanted me to have the life he never had. and knowing he would sacrifice my education just so he could live in a fancy $150 hotel is very disheartening. Recently, I've been very isolated, I still talk to a few people, my grades are falling, and I haven't been eating or sleeping well.
Starting point is 03:12:39 Maybe this situation should be a wake-up call for me, but I've come to the point where I'm completely apathetic about everything. I refrain from drugs thankfully, but even so, I feel like my life is on autopilot. Comments where OPP has replied Me Zero Me O The best thing you can do for yourself is to complete your education Stay focused on school and strive to do your best Make friends and maintain contact with your sister Also, seek out counseling at your school
Starting point is 03:13:10 They can help you deal with your family issues Old Afternoon 2459 Lock your credit Get a P-O box Make sure you have your legal documents. Melissa 3,670. You can order a birth certificate from the state you were born in. If you have that and a license, you can go to the Social Security office and get your SS card.
Starting point is 03:13:37 OOP, if my dad gives me my legal documents. Update 2. My dad stole my college scholarship money months ago. Now he's not getting a single penny from me. As you may or may not know, I made two posts several months ago about my father using up my college money. I also want to clear up some confusion about the posts. My parents are religiously married through the Catholic Church in another country, but they never got legally married because my dad doesn't want my mother to get a green card. And yes, in some colleges like mine, the broken education system in America still use checks, but most people use direct deposit.
Starting point is 03:14:16 I am glad to say that he no longer has access to my finances and I am in low contact with them. Thanks to the advice of this subreddit, I got my social security card and other documents months before I left for college. I also managed to get my first job. I distanced myself from my parents and I took a lot of time to reflect on them and their actions. They also distanced themselves from me after I finally put my foot down and refused to give them financial assistance. They said that I was self-absorbed and once again my father told me he would kill himself if I didn't help him. And this time, instead of telling him to off himself, I told him that's a decision he would make and I can't be responsible for it. I realized no matter what I do, they'll never change.
Starting point is 03:15:02 They will always be the type of people to financially leach off of others using their suicide threats and weaponizing self-pity, but they're too emotionally stunted to see the faults of that. Their psyche is so twisted and I spent a lot of time mourning for the parents I never had. They were never meant to be parents, but they're also people. Sometimes people like them exist. As for my mother, she completely turned her back on me and said that I was a TV villain for not giving my father the money he deserved for raising me and my siblings. I told her he was never emotionally present as a father and neither was she.
Starting point is 03:15:37 Not just from the suicide threats, but also by being a threat to our rights. well-being. She used to treat me as a friend and therapist, but rarely as a daughter. She used me to complain about the emotional and mental abuse my dad inflicted on her. But at the same time, she was also the person to turn her back on me in a blink of an eye, if it meant protecting my father's feelings and making him happy. Sometimes, she went as far as to attack me or my siblings if we did anything to make him crossed. I guess I still have a lot of pity for her considering that she is an illegal immigrant in an abusive situation, but it doesn't outweigh the damage. It was impossible to communicate with her since he was her own little
Starting point is 03:16:17 world. I don't think she really loved me or saw me as a person or a child, just an outlet for her emotional dysfunction. Recently my mother called me and lied about my dad being ill so they could rake a couple of bucks from me again. I told them to find their own source of money and hung up. I check up on my little brothers every now and then. They're currently still living in the hotel. While their physical safety isn't harmed, I still struggle with the guilt of leaving them behind and I'm unclear on what the future holds for them. This past year, I learned what it meant to be independent, not just financially, but to be free from the mental control of them and making those decisions for myself. Needless to say, I'm happier, I'm surrounded with good and caring people, my grades aren't great but better, and I'm finally in a good place right now.
Starting point is 03:17:06 In the end, everything's going to be all right. And even if it's not, it's not the end. Comments where O.P. has replied. Borey's love child. Any chance of getting the money back? Oop, I got some of it back through a family friend. I'm working my ass off to make up for the remaining sum of money. Disclosing.
Starting point is 03:17:30 Nina 1876. Stop feeling guilty. You are the child. If anything, be embarrassed that your parents are pathetic. And even that's nothing to be embarrassed about. Coco, almonds, rock. Good for you. It takes a lot of strength to do what you're doing.
Starting point is 03:17:51 A lot. I know things are tough right now, but you've got the outlook and strengths to dig in and build a successful life. I hope your younger siblings have the same fortitude you do. You can try to help them in the future, but if they're not willing to help them, themselves, they could turn into your parents and drain you dry. Stay vigilant. Good luck and keep us updated. Oop. My biggest fear in the future is that my parents will use my younger siblings for their benefit and leach off of them. From what I know, that's pretty much still happening with my older siblings. Next story. Son's girlfriend called to say she's going to propose, but my son
Starting point is 03:18:30 already has a ring and plans to propose first and I'm the only one who knows both secrets. My daughter-in-law, a pediatrician named Lexi, called me today with the most wonderful news. She intends to propose to my son. Lexi is such a sweet, hardworking, thoughtful, no-nonsense woman, and my son always remarks on how loved and respected he feels by her. I have never seen him happier. It warms my heart to see him so serious with someone after all these years. She is truly the daughter I have always dreamed of. I raise my son as a son as a sister. I raise my son as a single mother for 29 years and had to be both mom and dad to him. His father walked out after his birth. Seeing him so deeply in love and respected by someone is amazing as Lexi fills me with
Starting point is 03:19:18 pride and joy. I get to be girly with her and share my love of jewelry, which I plan to leave entirely to her. The entire family adores her and they are all excited to meet her. I already call her my daughter-in-law and consider her part of the family. Little does she know that my son has already bought her a ring and plans to propose during her birthday vacation in September. I am so happy for them. I cannot wait to see their futures develop as spouses and, eventually, as parents when the time comes. My heart is overflowing with happiness and excitement for their journey ahead. Comments where Ope has replied. Backwoods Diva, we are now all shipping them and cannot wait for updates. Please try and find out the information of when she is doing it and tell
Starting point is 03:20:05 him so he can make sure her ring is there too. She's putting in that work she should show off her bling from him to LOL. Ope, she actually told me how she is proposing. It's also during the birthday vacation. She said she is creating a two-chapter book with custom art of all their firsts in chapter one and the proposal and ring in chapter two. She is very creative. Fourth to Greek Knight, this is such a wonderful story. I hope your son and future daughter-in-law have many, many happy years together. As a dad, I cannot understand how a dad can walk out on his own flesh and blood. When my son was born I got the answer that every person seeks, what is the purpose of my life? To me it was being this kid's daddy. Congrats to all of you. Ope, I was his third marriage,
Starting point is 03:20:55 he had two children in his second. The child's support was bleeding him dry, didn't want to be cruel and asked for the minimum support. Supported my son through uni law school. and his master's all by myself. Update 1, June 26, 2024. My son, Sean, recently reached out to me with a request. He asked if I could take Lexi Ring shopping with me since I'm in the process of designing a new ring for myself. He thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Lexi to see different styles and find her ideal ring. Sean shared with me that Lexi prefers something simple and not overly flashy. She told him, anything bigger than two carrots is for ego. I would just like a simple solitaire under two carrots with no fancy band and a meaningful
Starting point is 03:21:42 engraving. While Sean, being a successful environmental attorney, wanted to splurge on something beautiful and expensive for Lexi, her preferences are clear. A little backstory, when they were dating and Sean was struggling to land a big law job, Lexi supported him without a complaint. She always told him, if I was in my residency and you had your big job, you'd do the same. We just have to be patient, it will come, and one day we will laugh about it at our wedding. Lexi does enjoy expensive things, but she firmly believes that her fancy habits and tastes are hers to finance, never putting that burden on Sean. I'm taking Lexi to my jeweler this Friday, and I'm incredibly excited to see her pick out her ring. Comments where Ope has replied,
Starting point is 03:22:28 C.T.U. I am so happy for all of you. You are an amazing mill. I wish them all the luck. I know they will make great parents if they choose to have kids. Oop, funny story. Lexi has a nephew and always wanted to be a mom. She raises her nephew like her son. Sean never wanted kids. Changed his mind seeing Lexi with her nephew Mason, who also loves Sean a whole lot. c t u how do you do this every new thing you say just is more and more awesome and wholesome those two sound like amazing people and a great couple i am so happy they found each other oop me too resigned myself to never having hope for my son getting married and starting a family he said law school ruined him then he started his masters and met lexy smile update two july first twenty
Starting point is 03:23:26 24. Things have been moving along beautifully. Friday, Lexi has been looking at simple, plain bands with solitaires, ovals, pair, round, and my jeweler, Groovy Greg, has been taking notes on the pieces that caught her eye. Thankfully, when I was designing my new ring, she tried it on, and she's my size. On the flip side, Lexi got Sean's ring size from his best friend. She found a beautiful white gold band for Sean with their birthstone. Saffire. She even had it engraved, but she hasn't disclosed what it says. And yes, she had it designed by Groovy Gregg as well. She is returning to pick it up in July. Saturday, I sent photos and notes to Sean for myself and Greg, and we are designing a white gold 1.5
Starting point is 03:24:16 carat solitaire, VVS, for Lexi. Rings should be ready for pickup in August. So things are rocking and rolling on both ends. I wish I could share this with my husband or ex-husband, but I know they'll spill the beans. Thank you for listening to this old lady talk about her updates. Additional information. OOP on her son's father being at the wedding. My son told me that his father is banned from speeches at the wedding too. He has a tendency to make things about himself and I would hate for him to ruin Lexi and Sean's beautiful day because he cannot shut up. OOP on if Lexi's mother knows about the proposals altogether. Her mother is aware of everything as well. So far we are the only two who know. Except for Reddit smile. Update 3, August 5th,
Starting point is 03:25:07 2024. Lexi picked up the ring with me last Thursday, and she absolutely loves it. Since I never had a daughter, I asked her if we could go to the nail salon for manicures and pedicures before my family reunion. It was such a special bonding moment, and I couldn't help but gush to everyone who would listen about how proud I am of her and how much I love her. I even saw her tearing up a little. I've never had a good mother-in-law experience myself. My ex-mill pointed a loaded shotgun at my stomach when I was six months pregnant with Sean. Lexi has also had her share of a horrible mill, who would steal her money and speak poorly of her. It means the world to me that we can heal that wound for each other and build a loving relationship.
Starting point is 03:25:52 Sean also visited me, and we had a family reunion. I accidentally referred to Lexi as his future fiancé to my boss. I'm a bit worried that one of them, Lexi or Sean, may have heard me slip up. Fingers crossed that I didn't spoil the surprise. Sean is set to pick up the ring in two weeks, and we're all so excited. September can't come soon enough. Comments where O.P. has replied, Baby, Mama, Magnet, Women proposing is the generational change we need. Oop, you would not believe how many people believe it should be the other way around.
Starting point is 03:26:29 Have received rude messages saying she's cucking him. I raised Sean to treat women as his equal. If he feels cucked, then I failed him fundamentally. Stimston 555, I've been following since the first post. in a world with so much darkness and hate it warms my heart to read a post filled with love and joy. O.P. When the engagements happen, you will have to pay the ring tax. A photo of their ring fingers with their new rings on them. Until then keep smiling. Boop, we'll do. I promise to share her proposal book and artwork, with her permission of course, as well. Update 4. New Update, September 13th, 2024. Lexi showed me her completed proposal book yesterday. The book is so beautiful and thoughtful, I know Sean is going to be blown away when he sees it. Meanwhile, Sean is still figuring out his proposal plan. He mentioned that the weather might mess with his original idea, so he's got a bit of reworking to do. I know he'll come up with something great. Had a little run-in with my ex-husband and his wife recently at a concert. Funny enough, he also suspects Sean will propose soon. We both agree that Sean's relationship with Lexi has always been different, so much more mature and meaningful than his
Starting point is 03:27:48 past ones. His wife, however, wasn't too pleased. She's the only one who hasn't met Lexi yet, and she seemed a bit sour about it. She even pulled me aside to ask what Lexi is really like. I just told her the truth. Lexi is the perfect match for Sean. I would never speak poorly of her because, one, there's nothing negative to say, and, two, I've been in those shoes before, dealing with in-laws who weren't kind, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I'm just so excited for them. Hopefully, I'll be able to share photos of the art book after they've proposed already.
Starting point is 03:28:26 Can't wait. Comments where OP has replied. Commenter, hopefully, the ex's wife won't be the mill from hell. Oop, my son had a tough time growing up because of her. Once she became his fiancé, things only got worse. She treated him poorly and constantly left him out. It got to the point where Sean would beg to come back home to me. One thing I'll never forget is when she told my ex that 11-year-old Sean couldn't be in her wedding
Starting point is 03:28:54 because she didn't want any ugly people there. The fact that my ex went along with it made it even worse. Commenter, I am supposed he did not cut your ex out of his life. as soon as he could. Being left out of the wedding is unforgivable, so do you think your ex will be excluded from your son's wedding? Boop, yep, we talked about it. No ugly people allowed here either. I hope you enjoy this story. Jobless father took my $9,000 university grant funds to cover a lodging bill, then deceived me about it for several months. He later expressed suicidal thoughts when I addressed the situation. I am currently a college freshman.
Starting point is 03:29:34 I am on a full ride to my university. Every semester, I get a check sent to my house to pay off my housing costs, which is about $9,000. My unemployed father got evicted from my old address because he wasn't paying rent, so my family started living in a hotel. I was questioning how they were paying for the hotel, considering it was $150 a night. Turns out, my father used my college check to cash out and pay for the hotel for two months. I begged him to pay off my college housing costs for two months straight. He lied to me, telling me that it was attached to some funds, which were hard to get out,
Starting point is 03:30:13 very confusing but keep in mind I have absolutely zero financial literacy and my father never went into depth. I brushed it off, hoping that everything would work for the best. My college housing gave my father a deadline to pay off housing costs, November 1st. I was stressed for two months, unable to eat well, sleep, socialized, etc. If my dad doesn't pay it off, I may or may not have to drop out. When the deadline hit, I called my dad and asked him why he hadn't paid off my housing costs. He finally revealed that he used the check on the hotel we were living in. I was furious and I started interrogating him like a prosecutor. He blamed the family for being responsible for using my college money,
Starting point is 03:30:58 not himself, and also blamed me. He let me allowance money for two months, telling me that it was from my relatives when it was actually from my $9,000 housing check. I asked him why he would do this and he said that he didn't want to stress me out. I cried telling him I worked way too hard in high school for me to drop out. I said that he owed me an apology three times over the phone, but he refused because he thought he had done nothing wrong since he was providing for the family. I asked him again and he said sorry in a mocking voice. I told him that he was full of shit and he started saying that he wants to put a
Starting point is 03:31:34 gun to his head and kill himself and it will all be on me. This is not the first time he has done that. I told him to do it and I hung up. My mom called me and I informed her about the situation. She told me to apologize to my dad and I told her as psychotic as I may sound. I have no remorse, especially after what he did. My mom threatened to disown me but I somehow mended things with them for three weeks. It is currently Thanksgiving break and my father still didn't pay off my check and he said that he would get money Saturday to pay it off. My mom told me again to apologize to him after he paid my housing costs, and I said I would avoid conflict. But I think I'm way too stubborn to apologize, especially because I genuinely think
Starting point is 03:32:19 I have nothing to be sorry for. My dad never fully apologized and made a joke out of me to the family. Comments were Op has replied. Depressed, Wizard. Whose name was on the check? It sounds like fraud to me if your name is on that check. Oop, I'm honestly not sure because I never physically saw the check. All I know was that it was mailed to my old address and my neighbor gave the check to my father, who proceeded to cash it out. North Conclusion 331. Is this your first check?
Starting point is 03:32:53 If not, what was the name in the old checks? Oop, yes, this is my very first check. The next one is coming this January to my old address. I told my father if he didn't give it to me in January I would report him and he said he would give it to me. Although I don't completely trust him, mainly because he did something similar to my older sister resulting in her dropping out, I have a lot of leverage on him. Expression little. Contact the office that sent out the check to see what name they put on the check and on the envelope to send to you. If he opened your mail, that's a crime, and if he cashed a check with your name on it, that's also a crime.
Starting point is 03:33:31 Also, get a P.O. box and get the next one sent there. Oop, there's also a huge part that I left out regarding this situation. My mother is an illegal immigrant and if my dad goes to jail or gets charged, then she would have to go back to her country. I did threaten my dad with this, but my mother said that she would flat out disown me if I did. I also have little siblings too, so I would not like for them to have to take the fall for this. I think I will contact the school and ask them to put the mail.
Starting point is 03:34:01 somewhere safer, probably my dorm address. Update 1. First and foremost, immediately after this happened, I managed to get a separate debit card without my parents knowing. I don't have a job now, but I'm looking to get one later on in the semester. I didn't go to the financial aid center because my dad somehow managed to pay me back. I'm going under the assumption that it's through my grandmother's social security checks. Last December, after weeks of calling my father to make up for my scholarship money and pay me back, he finally sent me a check for $9,000. The check came in my dorm mail around midnight. I was asleep by then and my dad was spam calling my phone to tell me it was in the mail. I didn't call him back until one in the afternoon
Starting point is 03:34:46 because I had an exam that day. He started cursing at me, telling me how he couldn't sleep all night because I didn't answer my phone. I talked back and said, the stress you put me through for three months by lying about my scholarship check is nothing compared to the stress you went through for a day. He started insulting me in every way possible telling me that I was spoiled. I swore back saying, are you FNG serious? And he hung up. Moments later, my dad made my mom call me because he didn't want to argue with me. She screamed at me saying that I should always have respect for him as a father and that I should apologize for swearing. I said that yes, I did swear at him, but he did too, calling me a bunch of slurs and whatnot. She also accused me of purposely
Starting point is 03:35:31 ignoring them when I made it clear several times that I was asleep and I had an exam at nine in the morning, hence not calling them at midnight. I told her that we shouldn't even have this talk because he was clearly in the wrong in this entire situation and every other kid would have gone to the financial aid center and my dad would have gotten in trouble. My mom misunderstood me for saying that I was going to report my dad. She had a mental breakdown and hung up. Moments later, my dad called and told me to go ahead and report him because I would be going to jail instead of him because he sent me some of the money from the check, which is bullshit. I called him out on his bullshit and he said that he was permanently severing ties so I could
Starting point is 03:36:10 learn my lesson. He hung up. I didn't call them for a week until I realized that I didn't have a place to stay for winter break, my dorm closed. I swallowed my pride and called them back to apologize. They said they'll accept me back to the family. This honestly still keeps me up at night, but I literally didn't have a choice but to stay with them over break. Over break, they've noticed that I'm way more cold and distant towards them and they still wonder why. Luckily, I got the $9,000 check from my university to pay for this semester's housing fees. The best thing that came out of this is that I ended up reconnecting with my estranged sister, F-25. Long-street. Story short, my father financially abused my sister for years, maxing out her credit cards and
Starting point is 03:36:57 leaving her $20,000 in debt. They cut all ties a year ago after my sister started dating a guy they didn't approve of. When I was on good terms with them, they painted her as the bad guy, telling me that she betrayed them by choosing her boyfriend over the entire family. I also didn't know that my dad financially abused her. Turns out she was in the same situation I was in and ended up dropping out because my dad didn't let her take out a student loan. I talked to my sister and she said that she was honestly glad that she severed ties with them because she's finally financially independent, even if
Starting point is 03:37:31 she's not financially stable. We're closer than ever and I probably consider her as a shoulder to lean on. Mentally, I'm really not doing well. I'm generally stoic, but this is taking a hard emotional toll on me because my family was my world. Before college, I always knew my father was insane, but my mother was my ride or die. I told her everything. I helped her through her marital problems, she told me everything, and the fact that she chose my abusive, unemployed father, the man that she always talked about wanting to divorce over her daughter is heartbreaking. She still expects me to be her armchair therapist and she told me she wants me to act like how I did before. I told her overbreak that no matter what she does, she will never mend back the
Starting point is 03:38:17 trust one had for her then. And my father, despite his flaws, I never expected him to use my check. He put such a huge emphasis on education and told me he wanted me to have the life he never had. And knowing he would sacrifice my education just so he could live in a fancy $150 hotel is very disheartening. Recently, I've been very isolated, I still talk to a few people, my grades are falling, and I haven't been eating or sleeping well. Maybe this situation should be be a wake-up call for me, but I've come to the point where I'm completely apathetic about everything. I refrain from drugs thankfully, but even so, I feel like my life is on autopilot. Comments where Ope has replied, Me Zero Me O. The best thing you can do for yourself is to
Starting point is 03:39:05 complete your education. Stay focused on school and strive to do your best. Make friends and maintain contact with your sister. Also, seek out counseling at your school. They can help you deal with your family issues. Old afternoon 2459. Lock your credit. Get a P.O. box. Make sure you have your legal documents. Melissa 3,670.
Starting point is 03:39:33 You can order a birth certificate from the state you were born in. If you have that and a license, you can go to the Social Security office and get your SS card. OPE, if my dad gives me my legal documents. Update 2 My dad stole my college scholarship money months ago Now he's not getting a single penny from me As you may or may not know I made two posts several months ago about my father using up my college money
Starting point is 03:40:01 I also want to clear up some confusion about the posts My parents are religiously married through the Catholic Church in another country but they never got legally married because my dad doesn't want my mother to get a green card And yes, in some colleges like mine, the broken education system in America still use checks, but most people use direct deposit. I am glad to say that he no longer has access to my finances and I am in low contact with them. Thanks to the advice of this subreddit, I got my social security card and other documents months before I left for college. I also managed to get my first job. I distanced myself from my parents and I took a lot of time to reflect on them and their actions.
Starting point is 03:40:43 They also distanced themselves from me after I finally put my foot down and refused to give them financial assistance. They said that I was self-absorbed and once again my father told me he would kill himself if I didn't help him. And this time, instead of telling him to off himself, I told him that's a decision he would make and I can't be responsible for it. I realized no matter what I do, they'll never change. They will always be the type of people to financially leach off of others using their suicide threats and weaponizing self-being. but they're too emotionally stunned it to see the faults of that. Their psyche is so twisted and I spent a lot of time mourning for the parents I never had. They were never meant to be parents, but they're also people.
Starting point is 03:41:26 Sometimes people like them exist. As for my mother, she completely turned her back on me and said that I was a TV villain for not giving my father the money he deserved for raising me and my siblings. I told her he was never emotionally present as a father and neither was she. not just from the suicide threats, but also by being a threat to our well-being. She used to treat me as a friend and therapist, but rarely as a daughter. She used me to complain about the emotional and mental abuse my dad inflicted on her. But at the same time, she was also the person to turn her back on me in a blink of an eye,
Starting point is 03:42:02 if it meant protecting my father's feelings and making him happy. Sometimes, she went as far as to attack me or my siblings if we did anything to make him crossed. I guess I still have a lot of pity for her considering that she is an illegal immigrant in an abusive situation, but it doesn't outweigh the damage. It was impossible to communicate with her since he was her own little world. I don't think she really loved me or saw me as a person or a child, just an outlet for her emotional dysfunction. Recently my mother called me and lied about my dad being ill so they could rake a couple of bucks from me again. I told them to find their own source of money and hung up. I check up on my little brothers every now and then.
Starting point is 03:42:44 They're currently still living in the hotel. While their physical safety isn't harmed, I still struggle with the guilt of leaving them behind and I'm unclear on what the future holds for them. This past year, I learned what it meant to be independent, not just financially, but to be free from the mental control of them and making those decisions for myself. Needless to say, I'm happier,
Starting point is 03:43:06 I'm surrounded with good and caring people, my grades aren't great but better, and I'm finally in a good place right now. In the end, everything's going to be all right. And even if it's not, it's not the end. Comments where OPP has replied. Boris Love Child. Any chance of getting the money back? Oh, O.P. I got some of it back through a family friend.
Starting point is 03:43:30 I'm working my ass off to make up for the remaining sum of money. Disclosing Nina 1876. 6. Stop feeling guilty. You are the child. If anything, be embarrassed that your parents are pathetic. And even that's nothing to be embarrassed about. Coco, almonds, rock. Good for you. It takes a lot of strength to do what you're doing. A lot. I know things are tough right now, but you've got the outlook and strengths to dig in and build a successful life. I hope your younger siblings have the same fortitude you do. You can try to help them in the future,
Starting point is 03:44:11 but if they're not willing to help themselves, they could turn into your parents and drain you dry. Stay vigilant. Good luck and keep us updated. OOP, my biggest fear in the future is that my parents will use my younger siblings for their benefit and leach off of them. From what I know, that's pretty much still happening with my older siblings. Next story. Son's girlfriend called to say she's going to propose, but my son already has a ring and plans to propose first and I'm the only one who knows both secrets. My daughter-in-law, a pediatrician named Lexi, called me today with the most wonderful news. She intends to propose to my son. Lexi is such a sweet, hardworking, thoughtful, no-nonsense woman, and my son always remarks on how loved and respected he feels by her.
Starting point is 03:45:00 I have never seen him happier. It warms my heart to see him so serious with someone after all these years. She is truly the daughter I have always dreamed of. I raised my son as a single mother for 29 years and had to be both mom and dad to him. His father walked out after his birth. Seeing him so deeply in love and respected by someone is amazing as Lexi fills me with pride and joy. I get to be girly with her and share my love of jewelry, which I plan to leave entirely to her. The entire family adores her and they are all excited to meet her. I already call her my daughter-in-law and consider her part of the family. Little does she know that my son has already bought her a ring and plans to propose during
Starting point is 03:45:45 her birthday vacation in September. I am so happy for them. I cannot wait to see their futures develop as spouses and, eventually, as parents when the time comes. My heart is overflowing with happiness and excitement for their journey ahead. Comments where Ope has replied. Backwards diva, we are now all shipping them and cannot wait for updates. Please try and find out the information of when she is doing it and tell him so he can make sure her ring is there too. She's putting in that work she should show off her bling from him to LOL. Ope, she actually told me how she is proposing.
Starting point is 03:46:23 It's also during the birthday vacation. She said she is creating a two-chapter book with custom art of all their firsts in chapter one and the proposal and ring in chapter two. She is very creative. fourth to Greek night. This is such a wonderful story. I hope your son and future daughter-in-law have many, many happy years together. As a dad, I cannot understand how a dad can walk out on his own flesh and blood. When my son was born I got the answer that every person seeks, what is the purpose of my life? To me it was being this kid's daddy. Congrats to all of you. Ope, I was his third marriage. He had two
Starting point is 03:47:03 children in his second. The child's support was bleeding him dry, didn't want to be cruel and asked for the minimum support. Supported my son through uni law school, and his master's all by myself. Update 1, June 26, 2024. My son, Sean, recently reached out to me with a request. He asked if I could take Lexi Ring shopping with me since I'm in the process of designing a new ring for myself. He thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Lexi to see different styles and find her ideal ring. Sean shared with me that Lexi prefers something simple and not overly flashy. She told him, anything bigger than two carrots is for ego. I would just like a simple solitaire under two carrots with no fancy band and a meaningful engraving.
Starting point is 03:47:51 While Sean, being a successful environmental attorney, wanted to splurge on something beautiful and expensive for Lexi, her preferences are clear. A little backstory, when they were dating and Sean was struggling to land a big law job, Lexi supported him without a complaint. She always told him, if I was in my residency and you had your big job, you'd do the same. We just have to be patient, it will come, and one day we will laugh about it at our wedding. Lexi does enjoy expensive things, but she firmly believes that her fancy habits and tastes are hers to finance, never putting that burden on Sean. I'm taking Lexi to my jeweler this Friday, and I'm incredibly excited to see her pick out her ring. Comments where Ope has replied. C.T.U, I am so happy for all of you.
Starting point is 03:48:40 You are an amazing mill. I wish them all the luck. I know they will make great parents if they choose to have kids. Oop, funny story. Lexi has a nephew and always wanted to be a mom. She raises her nephew like her son. Sean never wanted kids. Changed his mind seeing Lexi with her nephew Mason, who also loves Sean a whole lot. C.T.U. How do you do this? Every new thing you say just is more and more awesome and wholesome. Those two sound like amazing people and a great couple. I am so happy they found each other. Boop, me too. Resigned myself to never having hope for my son getting married and starting a family. He said law school ruined him. Then he started his masters and met Lexi smile. Update 2, July 1st, 2024. Things have been moving along beautifully.
Starting point is 03:49:38 Friday, Lexi has been looking at simple, plain bands with solitaires, ovals, pear, round, and my jeweler, Groovy Gregg, has been taking notes on the pieces that caught her eye. Thankfully, when I was designing my new ring, she tried it on, and she's my size. On the flip side, Lexi got Sean's ring size from his best friend. She found a beautiful white gold band for Sean with their birthstones, Sapphire. She even had it engraved, but she hasn't disclosed what it says. And yes, she had it designed by Groovy Gregg as well. She is returning to pick it up in July.
Starting point is 03:50:16 Saturday, I sent photos and notes to Sean for myself and Greg, and we are designing a white gold 1.5-carat solitaire, VVS, for Lexi. Ring should be ready for pickup in August. So things are rocking and rolling on both ends. I wish I could share this with my husband or ex-husband, but I know they'll spill the beans. Thank you for listening to this old lady talk about her updates. Additional information. Uppan her son's father being at the wedding. My son told me that his father is banned from speeches at the wedding too. He has a tendency to make things about himself and I would hate for him to ruin Lexi and Sean's beautiful day because he cannot shut up. Upon if Lexi's mother knows about the proposals altogether.
Starting point is 03:51:04 Her mother is aware of everything as well. So far we are the only two who know. Except for Reddit Smile. Update 3. 2024. Lexi picked up the ring with me last Thursday, and she absolutely loves it. Since I never had a daughter, I asked her if we could go to the nail salon for manicures and pedicures before my family reunion. It was such a special bonding moment, and I couldn't help but gushed to everyone who would listen about how proud I am of her and how much I love her. I even saw her tearing up a
Starting point is 03:51:38 little. I've never had a good mother-in-law experience myself. My ex-mill pointed a loaded shotgun at my stomach when I was six months pregnant with Sean. Lexi has also had her share of a horrible mill, who would steal her money and speak poorly of her. It means the world to me that we can heal that wound for each other and build a loving relationship. Sean also visited me, and we had a family reunion. I accidentally referred to Lexi as his future fiancé to my boss. I'm a bit worried that one of them, Lexi or Sean, may have heard me slip up. Fingers crossed that I didn't spoil the surprise. Sean is set to pick up the ring in two weeks, and we're all so excited.
Starting point is 03:52:21 September can't come soon enough. Comments where Oop has replied, Baby, Mama, Magnet, Women proposing is the generational change we need. Oop, you would not believe how many people believe it should be the other way around. have received rude messages saying she's cucking him. I raised Sean to treat women as his equal. If he feels cucked, then I failed him fundamentally. Stimston 555, I've been following since the first post.
Starting point is 03:52:49 In a world with so much darkness and hate it warms my heart to read a post filled with love and joy. O.P., when the engagements happen, you will have to pay the ring tax. A photo of their ring fingers with their new rings on them. Until then keep smiling. Boop will do. I promise to share her proposal book and artwork, with her permission of course, as well. Update 4. New Update, September 13th, 2024. Lexi showed me her completed proposal book yesterday. The book is so beautiful and thoughtful, I know Sean is going to be blown away when he sees it. Meanwhile, Sean is still figuring out his proposal plan. He mentioned that the weather
Starting point is 03:53:32 might mess with his original idea, so he's got a bit of reworking to do. I know he'll come up with something great. Had a little run-in with my ex-husband and his wife recently at a concert. Funny enough, he also suspects Sean will propose soon. We both agree that Sean's relationship with Lexi has always been different, so much more mature and meaningful than his past ones. His wife, however, wasn't too pleased. She's the only one who hasn't met Lexi yet, and she seems to seemed a bit sour about it. She even pulled me aside to ask what Lexi is really like. I just told her the truth. Lexi is the perfect match for Sean. I would never speak poorly of her because, one, there's nothing negative to say, and, two, I've been in those shoes before,
Starting point is 03:54:21 dealing with in-laws who weren't kind, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I'm just so excited for them. Hopefully, I'll be able to share photos of the art book after they've proposed already. Can't wait. Comments where Ope has replied. Comment her, hopefully, the ex's wife won't be the mill from hell. Oop, my son had a tough time growing up because of her. Once she became his fiancé, things only got worse, she treated him poorly and constantly left him out. It got to the point where Sean would beg to come back home to me. One thing I'll never forget is when she told my that 11-year-old Sean couldn't be in her wedding because she didn't want any ugly people there. The fact that my ex went along with it made it even worse.
Starting point is 03:55:08 Comment her, I am supposed he did not cut your ex out of his life as soon as he could. Being left out of the wedding is unforgivable, so do you think your ex-will-beckes will be excluded from your son's wedding? Oop, yep, we talked about it. No ugly people allowed here either. I hope you enjoy this story. acquaintance informed me that his buddy was being asked by another person to abandon his spouse and child to become a provider of financial support. I maintained his confidence for 12 months
Starting point is 03:55:37 until his spouse exposed the situation. Already knew. I, 38F, met my friend Dave, 42M, about four years ago in an online gaming forum. During the entire time we talked, I became friends with his wife Brenda, 43F, and he became friends with my fiancée Mickle, 38M. I live by the rule in a relationship that if there is conversation that I wouldn't feel comfortable showing my significant other, then I don't need to be having that conversation. At no point did Dave ever cross a line with me, nor was there ever inappropriate conversation. This is important. About a year and a half ago, summertime, Mikkel got a big promotion and we hosted a fun weekend long celebration at our home. We invited Dave and Brenda, who live five hours from us, and this was the first time we actually met them in person.
Starting point is 03:56:30 I instantly connected with Brenda, as she was so authentic and sweet. We all got along well, and even started talking about doing future get-togethers and vacations. It seemed perfect. At this time my company was doing major layoffs and I was looking for a new career. Brenda has worked at a remote company for over a decade and recommended I apply. After a few intense interviews, I was hired. Quick side note, Dave had been injured in work-related accident that had gone to court, he sued and won. He was permanently disabled because of the accident and can no longer work at his profession.
Starting point is 03:57:08 That, along with a large life insurance policy from his parents, he is financially set for life. He stays home and raises their daughter, Leah, five, while Brenda does her remote work from the house as well. So, a little over a year ago, during the fall, a few months after the celebration weekend, Dave and Brenda were getting ready to take their daughter Leah, 5, on a vacation. Before they left for the airport, Dave said he needed to talk to me, it was urgent, so I stepped away to take the call. Dave then told me he had literally nobody else to talk to this about, and was deeply depressed, and needed to confide in me as a friend.
Starting point is 03:57:46 I really wish he hadn't. He told me that the night before he had gotten into a huge fight with who he calls his best friend, Rachel, 41F. I had heard about Rachel but never met her, and didn't know too much about her, to be honest. What I did know, Dave, Brenda and Rachel had been friends in college, approximately 20-year-long friendship. She had visited at Dave and Brenda's house several times over the years. And that Rachel allegedly had been in a string of bad relationships of which Dave had had to bail her out financial. financially a few times. That's about it. Here comes the information that I wish Dave hadn't told me, as it has completely changed how I view my friend. Dave told me that Rachel confessed to him
Starting point is 03:58:30 the night before that she knew he was attracted to her. Yes, she is gorgeous. Dave said he has always been attracted to her physically, but mentally her personality, specifically her shallowness, was a huge turnoff for him. Some unkind things were said about Brenda letting herself go since having Leah, which disgusted me. He then said Rachel confessed that she is frustrated with her never-ending chain of bad relationships and wants to finally settle down. She knows he is wealthy and can give her the life she feels she deserves. She wants him to leave Brenda and Leah, move to Rachel's city, by her a large house, and let her be his trophy wife. I choked back a laugh at this because I literally thought it was a joke. Seriously? She admits to not being physically a
Starting point is 03:59:18 attracted to him. Okay, who says things like that? But no, she can satisfy him and he can give her the lifestyle she deserves. She just demands that he has to completely cut off the life he is now, including all friends and family, and be with her. What is worse, Rachel has been planning this for literally years. Sitting in their home, eating their food, drinking their wine, holding Leah, laughing with Brenda, all while planning this. I was floored. I asked what Brenda thought of all this. He said he didn't tell her. I asked him how Rachel took it when he told her to F off.
Starting point is 03:59:57 He said he didn't. He doesn't want to lose her as a friend and he even considered her proposition. I felt sick. I told him I was shocked and to me, even if he decides not to take Rachel up on it, this is a betrayal to Brenda. Dave explained that while his and my conversations consisted of gaming, stupid memes, and planning potential couples' vacations, his conversations with Rachel were emotional and raw. They spoke for hours on end, every single day, while he was caring for Leah, and while
Starting point is 04:00:28 Brenda was working in the next room. Okay, you'll. Stop. He asked my opinion, and I told him he has two options. Either leave Brenda, or completely break off all contact with Rachel and focus on his marriage. But since he asked, in my opinion Brenda needed to know, especially since she considered Rachel a friend, and knowing that Rachel wants to screw over Brenda and Leah. Seriously typing this disgusts me. After the call ended, I told Meekl about it. He was as shocked as I was, but asked what I was going to do. I just sat there trying to digest what I had just heard. Dave, Brenda and Leah went on their vacation. During this time, we didn't communicate. When he got back, he told me that he had cut Rachel off, but refused to tell Brenda about it. Okay, fine, whatever. I don't agree with
Starting point is 04:01:24 his action to not tell her, but it's not my life, not my relationship. He asked for advice and I gave it. I told him that in my eyes, he had betrayed his wife, whether physically or not, and I still felt that Brenda deserved to know. Almost immediately I felt myself pulling away from Dave. My image of him was damaged. When I interact with Brenda online for work, I'm professional and friendly, but it's painful keeping this secret.
Starting point is 04:01:52 However, as time passed I began to think that perhaps this was over. Dave had just made a stupid mistake and was just thinking about what could be. He didn't actually leave her, right? And most importantly, he cut Rachel out. Dave and I begin talking a bit more. I actually thought maybe things can go back to the way they were. Since didn't actually physically cheat, maybe it's best that Brenda doesn't know, for her own mental health and happiness.
Starting point is 04:02:21 Maybe we can move past this. So many thoughts going through my mind. So many ways of rationalizing this. The mental gymnastics were Olympics-level impressive. Then about a month ago he drops the bone. He tells me that Rachel and he are talking again. She allegedly begged him for forgiveness and cried that she is going through another horrible breakup and needs his friendship, or else she doesn't know what she might do.
Starting point is 04:02:48 He said he is going to keep her at arm's length, but she needs him. He will just be there for her a little bit, but it won't be like it was before. Oh, holy night. To my chagrin, love that word, as the weeks pass he begins to mention her more and more. I tell him I don't want to hear about her, and when he keeps going I finally snap and tell him not to mention her to me at all. I'm so pissed that he is talking to her again, and that he doesn't care about how me knowing this is putting more guilt and strain in my mind especially when I have to interact with his wife. It's completely unfair that he told me about his situation ship with
Starting point is 04:03:23 Rachel, knowing that I consider Brenda a friend, and that we work together every day. I begged him to tell Brenda about it. She has the right to decide if she was wants to stay. And most of all that he is actively still friends with a woman who wishes hurt and pain on his wife and little girl. How do you sleep at night, sir? Dave still talks about planning vacations together with Mickle and I, but I don't even respond. Honestly, I don't see how I can sit at dinner with them and keep quiet, especially if Rachel were to get brought up in conversation, and especially if wine is involved. And let's be honest, there will be wine. I have one of those faces that speaks my mind without saying a word, which is why I do better working remote,
Starting point is 04:04:07 versus client facing. I dread the day when slash if either Dave or Brenda say that Rachel is coming to visit them again. I can pretend it won't happen, but let's be honest. Dave is a complete moron who managed to somehow miraculously prevent his marriage from going up in flames, only to soak himself in gasoline and open the door to the walking, talking, gorgeous yet shallow lit match. Reddit, I want to cut him out completely because I am so disgusted by his actions, but I know Brenda will be upset and drill me about it, especially since they have been planning a trip to Europe for next year and wanting us to come. Should I just tell her that we had a falling out? Should I find a way to hint to Brenda not to trust Rachel? I didn't even want to know any of this.
Starting point is 04:04:55 And I'm so pissed that he dumped this on me. We were friends, but not that type of friend. As for Brenda, I would want to know if I were friends with and playing host to a girl who wanted to steal my husband and the father of my child. But I'm also concerned about my job, my livelihood. She's been with the company over 10 years and I've only been a year. I've kept this secret from her for so long. If I say something, can it affect my employment? Should I just pull away from them and when asked make some lame excuse like I am too busy? Edit, I wanted to clarify a few things.
Starting point is 04:05:32 When I say friend I mean we are more than mere acquaintances, but we aren't besties. I've always been closer to Dave than Brenda strictly because he's the one who I game with. However, Dave and I never had deep conversations before he unloaded this secret on me. We talked about L'O.T.R., Harry Potter, going to festivals, and eventually us joining them on vacations, we haven't so far. Company was too tight for us to join them before Mekel's promotion, and before I was given this job opportunity. So vacations were something for the future. We've only ever met once in person, for the promotion weekend last summer, but have continuously made plans to visit, or meet up in the
Starting point is 04:06:13 city. Due to funds and other hiccups, the plans always fell through. Our friendship was something that we had built to get away from the stress of life. Lighthearted and meant to be fun. As for Brenda, she recommended me for the position at her work, but I had to earn the position. She isn't my boss, but she definitely has seniority. Before the conversation with Dave, I had high hopes for Brenda and I'd be coming closer and us all being good friends down the road. Unfortunately, since this happened last year, I have kept my distance and didn't nurture my relationship with Brenda. I have no proof. The conversation where he told me everything was over the phone, and I didn't record.
Starting point is 04:06:54 it. Plus I'm in a two-party state, so I think I could get in trouble for that. If I tell Brenda it will be my word against his. And if she goes to him, he can deny everything, or even try to spin it against me. This is where I worry it could affect my job. My job is my biggest concern at this point. I do not want to lose my job. I don't want my job to become awkward. I would love to be able to give Brenda a heads up about the situation, but also I can't afford to lose my job. I cannot stress this enough. If I knew I could warn her without harming my own situation, I would. It may sound like my mind is made up, but it's not. I just wanted to add those for clarification and hopes that there is something that can be done. Comments where op has replied,
Starting point is 04:07:44 Dear underscore Parsnup underscore 6802. You give him one week to tell her or you will. Tell him that he is emotionally cheating on his wife and she deserves to know so she can decide if he's worth staying with. You let him know that you gave him the opportunity to make things right by cutting off Rachel and he chose not to. He chose to disrespect his wife by continuing to have a relationship with someone who wants to cause her harm. I'd be honest and let him know the fact that he would even entertain Rachel's offer of a superficial relationship where she'll have sex with him in exchange for money. That's what her offer amounts to and him abandoning his little. girl discuss you and you have lost respect for him as a person. Time to be firm about it. Either way your friendship with him is over so you may as well be a girl's girl and let his
Starting point is 04:08:30 wife know what she's married to. At least Rachel will not step foot back in their home. Oh-op, thank you. This is exactly how I feel. I think I needed to hear this from someone outside the situation. Butterfly Wing's 71, great advice and make copies off all online conversations. texts, etc. in case he tries to erase or edit them. That way he can't twist things or lie about anything and if there is divorce, Brenda will approve to smoke his ass in a divorce. And if he is stupid enough to get his trophy wife, she probed bankrupt him in a few years. Update, hello Reddit. First of all, I want to send a huge thank you to all who took the time to read and comment on my post. I read all of your replies and took most into consideration. I mentioned that
Starting point is 04:09:20 I would wait until after Thanksgiving to make my decision as I didn't want to ruin the holiday for Brenda and Leah. During that time I decided that if I lose my job then it would suck, but I know I can get another. I have to do what's right and what is also best for my mental health. Yesterday with Mickle's support, I sent out a group message to them both saying hope you guys had a happy Thanksgiving. To my surprise Brenda replied with ya not so much. I asked what happened and she said that Rachel's mom was in the hospital with pneumonia and Dave went to be with her for moral support, and that she was left hosting alone. Dave didn't reply.
Starting point is 04:09:58 Mickle told me that this was the perfect time, and he would support me whatever I chose to do. So I sent I'm amazed how forgiving you are Brenda. I don't think I could be so chill. Dave replied with? But Brenda immediately called me and I put her on speaker. She asked what I meant and I said after what happened last year. With Dave and Rachel. Before you guys left for vacation.
Starting point is 04:10:23 She told me to go on, and that's when I knew he had not in fact told her. So I told her everything. I also told her I was sorry, and had tried to convince him to tell her, but that I didn't know if anything more had happened so maybe there is a chance to fix this. I told her that since Rachel was back in their lives, I assumed they moved past it, maybe since they've been close friends since college. She seemed eerily calm and said something like, oh no, Rachel never went to college. She met Dave online about 10 years ago. She's never been to
Starting point is 04:10:57 college or even had a real job. She asked if there was anything else. Read it, I started freaking out, lost any remaining confidence I had, and told her that the reason I hadn't said anything was because I didn't have any proof and since working with her I had been worried to say anything about it because I didn't want to risk my job, but not anymore. I was spiraling. Brenda said she had to go and hung up. I just sat there feeling sick. Two whole hours later Brenda called me back. Some of you called it.
Starting point is 04:11:29 When confronting Dave and Rachel, they told her that I had actually propositioned him, and that I was jealous of his and Rachel's friendship, and I wondered what Brenda had. I started shaking and crying. At this point Meekle interrupted her and said he had heard parts of the original conversation. Not all, but enough to know. know that what I had told him afterward was the truth. She tried interrupting him, but he cut her off. He said that this had been tearing me up and he was sick of it. He wished her the best, and hoped she could remain professional at work, but after this call he wants Dave out of our
Starting point is 04:12:02 life for good. Then he hung up. About 30 minutes later I got a text from Brenda. She apologized for us being dragged into this, said she's mortified that I know, and says Meekle didn't let her finish. She was just telling us what they said, and then she drops this epic bombshell. She already knows what's up, and has since last year. She just had no idea until then that I knew. Y'all get cookies if you called that, BTW. She says the way he acted last year on the vacation, like a heartbroken lovesick puppy, was a huge red flag, and she felt deep down something wasn't right with him and Rachel. As soon as they got back home she started digging, looking for through his computer, his phone, and iPad. It's not just Rachel, there's more. She's the only one
Starting point is 04:12:52 he's met up with. None of the others wanted him in person, just his money. I asked if she's okay or if she's worried about Dave coming back, but Brenda said she already has a lawyer and has been spending the past several months getting her affairs in order. She was going to give him the divorce papers after Thanksgiving, but with him abandoning them like that, she instead took advantage of his absence to change the locks and start packing his stuff. My information along with their lies just made it easier for her. This chick is so much more badass than I knew. I don't know if changing locks is legal but good for her, I guess. She apologized again for Dave and I told her I was sorry I didn't say something earlier. She told me that if she didn't already know about Dave,
Starting point is 04:13:37 and hadn't read a lot of our messages, which she said were pretty boring, ouch, L-O-L, she probably wouldn't have believed me. It was an impossible situation. I told her that if she needs to talk we are here. If not, then I'll just be her co-worker. Either way, I'm done with Dave. Fuck Dave. Next story, fiancé told her friend she's not excited by me and just wants to settle down, because I'm safe. Then I realized she was just dating me because my parents are rich. I, 29M, know this may sound like a huge overreaction on my part, but my head has been ringing ever since this happened. I've been engaged to my fiancé, 28F, for a few months now. We had dated for just shy of two years prior to that. It would be cliche to say everything was going great, but for the most part it
Starting point is 04:14:29 was good. My family really took a liking to her which was also really great. Now I've never been the one to think too much about how I'm viewed as a partner, but all of that changed recently. I basically overheard her on the phone, telling her friend that if she wants to find the one, excitement isn't important. She basically said underscore, me, isn't exciting, but he makes me feel safe and that's when I realized I wanted to settle down with him this hit me kind of hard. Read it, I've read these types of posts before. You know, the whole she goes for bad boys then settles with a safe schmuck type of thing.
Starting point is 04:15:05 But I don't think that's what she meant. So the day after I just straight up told her that I overheard her that I overheard her. her talking about me and that I don't understand what she meant by not finding my exciting. She then told me that it's true that she doesn't find me exciting, but that doesn't matter. I honestly felt very hurt. Maybe my ego is fragile. Ike. But it was a surprise to me because I felt like the way I see myself in my head was colliding with how she sees me, and it made me feel spaced out. I asked her what she means by not finding my exciting, and she didn't seem to know how to even answer. She could see I was upset and as pathetic as this sounds.
Starting point is 04:15:45 I made an excuse to leave and said, we'll talk about it later. Ever since then, my head has been spinning. I ride motorcycles. I have tattoos. I go to the gym. I do MMA as a hobby. So how is it that I'm not the exciting guy? I've always seen myself as being that exciting guy.
Starting point is 04:16:07 My ex was basically obsessed with me and constantly made it clear she found me. me exciting. But M.W. Now Fiancey doesn't see me as exciting for whatever reason. I was honestly shocked because I felt my sense of self kind of crumble. And what made it worse is I'm excited by her. When I see her, I want to rip her clothes off, I want to do things, I think about her. But she seemingly doesn't see me the same way at all? As crazy as this sounds, I have considered calling off the engagement entirely. Am I being crazy here? Update, the last few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions. There were a lot of interesting perspectives from both male and female posters.
Starting point is 04:16:51 It seems that the female posters said that being seen as safe is a really great compliment. Whereas the male posters said I should run for the hills. Certainly an intriguing insight into how men and women see things differently. So I ended up talking to my fiancé about what she meant. She seemed really nervous and knew that. that she had upset me. I have to admit, I was quite nervous too. It's not easy when your sense of self has crumbled. Learning that you aren't seen in the way you think you are, is a very tough feeling. I can't describe it, but it made me really feel fragile. In the truest sense of the
Starting point is 04:17:30 word. I started by telling her that I was really upset about her comment because, frankly, I'd always thought I was that exciting guy to her. I told her that in my mind, I was the guy who makes her heart skip a beat. So I had to brace myself and ask again what she meant when she said I wasn't exciting. She looked like she wanted to cry because I guess she could sense I was also upset. She said that she didn't want to hurt my feelings but that I make her feel very safe and secure, and that with me, I'm not exciting in the sense that I don't give her thrills like her exes used to man, that hurt but I was still confused. She was being really vague and not really clear in what she meant. I had to ask again what she meant by
Starting point is 04:18:11 thrills and she just began crying and apologizing. She tried to hug me but I again walked out. I seemed to do this when things get emotional, so I decided to take some shrooms and spend the day outside at a nearby lake. This helped me clear my mind and come to some devastating realizations about myself. I think what I realized was that I was lying to myself. Another commenter said it, which I didn't want to admit, which is I'm more into her than she is into me. I didn't disclose this on my first thread, but she never initiates sex. I don't think she's done that once. With my exes, they always initiated with me. You see, my fiancé is beautiful, to the point where I wonder how I landed her. But you see, that was the issue. Because I was so attracted to her,
Starting point is 04:19:00 I wanted her approval. I know that sounds pathetic, but I was able to overlook red flags such as her lack of initiating sex. I thought if I stayed with her, she'd like me the way I like her. Now here's the kicker. I thought that, if I proposed to her, then over time I could win her over. I've been with women who were madly into me, and my fiancé just didn't behave like them at all. In addition to never initiating, she never complimented me much. It was always one-sided. A lot of this begs to question, why would she even be with me? I think that, she saw me as someone who could provide stability. And I guess, maybe she thought my exterior, tattoos, motorcycles, M.MA, craft beer, was a facade.
Starting point is 04:19:48 I mean, maybe she was kind of right. Not that I don't enjoy those things, I do. But I am able to have that lifestyle because my parents are wealthy doctors. Maybe she thought I was cosplaying as a bad boy, and that in actuality I am a loaded rich kid who provides stability. The other insight I had was that, truth be told, I didn't want to actually get married. I'd definitely do one day, but I didn't really think it through. I thought to myself that if I propose, I will grow accustomed to the idea of getting married. But the truth is, I kind of want to continue my lifestyle as it is.
Starting point is 04:20:27 Which involves riding my motorcycle, fixing muscle cars, traveling across the country, going to festivals, etc. do I want to get married one day of course but I want to be with a woman who is really crazy about me someone who compliments me a lot initiate sex etc so I ended up talking with her later on and telling her that I want to call things off and end things I won't bore with details but yes she cried a lot even got angry said I wasted her time I told her that it wasn't anything she did but she didn't by that and kept pressing. She told me that I misunderstood her comment, but I told her she couldn't even clarify what she thought. It ended with me telling her that I have nothing against her, but that I am just not ready for marriage. I told her that the lifestyle I want to continue
Starting point is 04:21:18 in addition to me not feeling the connection I thought I had with her, was why. It ended quite predictably, but I think going forward I'm going to see a therapist to sort my insecurities as well as find someone more compatible with myself. I hope you enjoy this story. acquaintance informed me that his buddy was being asked by another person to abandon his spouse and child to become a provider of financial support. I maintained his confidence for 12 months until his spouse exposed the situation. Already knew. I, 38F, met my friend Dave, 42M, about four years ago in an online gaming forum. During the entire time we talked, I became friends with his wife Brenda, 43F, and he became friends with my fiancée Mickle, 38M. I live by the rule in a
Starting point is 04:22:06 relationship that if there is conversation that I wouldn't feel comfortable showing my significant other, then I don't need to be having that conversation. At no point did Dave ever cross a line with me, nor was there ever inappropriate conversation. This is important. About a year and a half ago, summertime, Mikkel got a big promotion and we hosted a fun weekend long celebration at our home. We invited Dave and Brenda, who live five hours from us, and this was the first time we actually met them in person. I instantly connected with Brenda, as she was so authentic and sweet. We all got along well, and even started talking about doing future get-togethers and vacations.
Starting point is 04:22:47 It seemed perfect. At this time my company was doing major layoffs and I was looking for a new career. Brenda has worked at a remote company for over a decade and recommended I apply. After a few intense interviews, I was hired. Quick side note, Dave had been injured in work-related accident that had gone to court, he sued and won. He was permanently disabled because of the accident and can no longer work at his profession. That, along with a large life insurance policy from his parents, he is financially set for life. He stays home and raises their daughter, Leah, five, while Brenda does her remote work from the house as well.
Starting point is 04:23:26 So, a little over a year ago, during the fall, a few months after the celebration weekend, Dave and Brenda were getting ready to take their daughter Leah, five, on a vacation. Before they left for the airport, Dave said he needed to talk to me, it was urgent, so I stepped away to take the call. Dave then told me he had literally nobody else to talk to this about, and was deeply depressed, and needed to confide in me as a friend. I really wish he hadn't. He told me that that the night before he had gotten into a huge fight with who he calls his best friend, Rachel, 41F. I had heard about Rachel but never met her, and didn't know too much about her,
Starting point is 04:24:07 to be honest. What I did know, Dave, Brenda and Rachel had been friends in college, approximately 20-year-long friendship. She had visited at Dave and Brenda's house several times over the years. And that Rachel allegedly had been in a string of bad relationships of which Dave had had to bail her out financially a few times. That's about it. Here comes the information that I wish Dave hadn't told me, as it has completely changed how I view my friend. Dave told me that Rachel confessed to him the night before that she knew he was attracted to her. Yes, she is gorgeous. Dave said he has always been attracted to her physically, but mentally her personality, specifically her shallowness, was a huge turnoff for him. Some unkind things were said about Brenda letting herself go
Starting point is 04:24:54 since having Leah, which disgusted me. He then said Rachel confessed that she is frustrated with her never-ending chain of bad relationships and wants to finally settle down. She knows he is wealthy and can give her the life she feels she deserves. She wants him to leave Brenda and Leah, move to Rachel's city, by her a large house, and let her be his trophy wife. I choked back a laugh at this because I literally thought it was a joke. Seriously? She admits to not being physically attracted to him. Okay, who says things like that? But no, she can satisfy him and he can give her the lifestyle she deserves. She just demands that he has to completely cut off the life he is now, including all friends and family, and be with her. What is worse, Rachel has been
Starting point is 04:25:43 planning this for literally years. Sitting in their home, eating their food, drinking their wine, holding Leah, laughing with Brenda, all while planning this. I was floored. I asked what Brenda thought of all this. He said he didn't tell her. I asked him how Rachel took it when he told her to F off. He said he didn't. He doesn't want to lose her as a friend and he even considered her proposition. I felt sick.
Starting point is 04:26:12 I told him I was shocked and to me, even if he decides not to take Rachel up on it, this is a betrayal to Brenda. Dave explained that while his and my conversations consisted of gaming, stupid memes, and planning potential couple's vacations, his conversations with Rachel were emotional and raw. They spoke for hours on end, every single day, while he was caring for Leah, and while Brenda was working in the next room. Okay, you'll. Stop. He asked my opinion, and I told him he has two options. Either leave Brenda, or completely break off all contact with Rachel and focus on his marriage. But since he asked, in my opinion, Brenda needed to know. especially since she considered Rachel a friend, and knowing that Rachel wants to screw over Brenda and Leah.
Starting point is 04:27:01 Seriously typing this disgusts me. After the call ended, I told Meekl about it. He was as shocked as I was, but asked what I was going to do. I just sat there trying to digest what I had just heard. Dave, Brenda and Leah went on their vacation. During this time, we didn't communicate. When he got back, he told me that he had cut Rachel off, but refused to tell Brenda about it. Okay, fine, whatever. I don't agree with his action to not tell her, but it's not my life, not my relationship. He asked for advice and I gave it. I told him that in my eyes, he had betrayed his wife, whether physically or not, and I still felt that Brenda deserved to know. Almost immediately I felt myself pulling away from Dave. My image of him was damaged.
Starting point is 04:27:52 When I interact with Brenda online for work, I'm professional and friendly, but it's painful keeping this secret. However, as time passed I began to think that perhaps this was over. Dave had just made a stupid mistake and was just thinking about what could be. He didn't actually leave her, right? And most importantly, he cut Rachel out. Dave and I begin talking a bit more. I actually thought maybe things can go back to the way they were.
Starting point is 04:28:21 didn't actually physically cheat, maybe it's best that Brenda doesn't know, for her own mental health and happiness. Maybe we can move past this. So many thoughts going through my mind. So many ways of rationalizing this. The mental gymnastics were Olympics level impressive. Then about a month ago he drops the bomb. He tells me that Rachel and he are talking again. She allegedly begged him for forgiveness and cried that she is going through another horrible breakup and needs his friendship, or else she doesn't know what she might do. He said he is going to keep her at arm's length, but she needs him. He will just be there for her a little bit, but it won't be like it was before. Oh, holy night. To my chagrin, love that word, as the week's pass he begins
Starting point is 04:29:08 to mention her more and more. I tell him I don't want to hear about her, and when he keeps going I finally snap and tell him not to mention her to me at all. I'm so pissed that he is talking to her again, and that he doesn't care about how me knowing this is putting more guilt and strain in my mind especially when I have to interact with his wife. It's completely unfair that he told me about his situation ship with Rachel, knowing that I consider Brenda a friend, and that we work together every day. I've begged him to tell Brenda about it. She has the right to decide if she wants to stay. And most of all that he is actively still friends with a woman who wishes hurt and pain on his wife and little girl. How do you sleep at night, sir? Dave still talks about planning vacations together with Mickle and I, but I don't even respond.
Starting point is 04:29:55 Honestly, I don't see how I can sit at dinner with them and keep quiet, especially if Rachel were to get brought up in conversation, and especially if wine is involved. And let's be honest, there will be wine. I have one of those faces that speaks my mind without saying a word, which is why I do better working remote, versus client-facing. I dread the day when slash if either Dave or Brenda say that Rachel is coming to visit them again. I can pretend it won't happen, but let's be honest. Dave is a complete moron who managed to somehow miraculously prevent his marriage from going up in flames, only to soak himself in gasoline and open the door to the walking, talking, gorgeous yet shallow lit match. Reddit, help me. I want to cut him out completely because I am so disgusted by his actions, but I know Brenda will be
Starting point is 04:30:44 upset and drill me about it, especially since they have been planning a trip to Europe for next year and wanting us to come. Should I just tell her that we had a falling out? Should I find a way to hint to Brenda not to trust Rachel? I didn't even want to know any of this. And I'm so pissed that he dumped this on me. We were friends, but not that type of friend. As for Brenda, I would want to know if I were friends with and playing host to a girl who wanted to steal my husband. And the father of my child. But I'm also concerned about my job, my livelihood. She's been with the company over ten years and I've only been a year. I've kept this secret from her for so long. If I say something, can it affect my employment? Should I just pull away from them and when asked
Starting point is 04:31:33 make some lame excuse like I am too busy? Edit, I wanted to clarify a few things. When I say friend I mean we are more than mere acquaintances, but we aren't besties. I've always always been closer to Dave than Brenda strictly because he's the one who I game with. However, Dave and I never had deep conversations before he unloaded this secret on me. We talked about LoT.R., Harry Potter, going to festivals, and eventually us joining them on vacations, we haven't so far. Company was too tight for us to join them before Meekyll's promotion, and before I was given this job opportunity. So vacations were something for the future. We've only ever met once in person, promotion weekend last summer, but have continuously made plans to visit or meet up in the city.
Starting point is 04:32:20 Due to funds and other hiccups, the plans always fell through. Our friendship was something that we had built to get away from the stress of life. Lighthearted and meant to be fun. As for Brenda, she recommended me for the position at her work, but I had to earn the position. She isn't my boss, but she definitely has seniority. Before the conversation with Dave, I had high hopes for Brenda I be coming closer and us all being good friends down the road. Unfortunately since this happened last year, I have kept my distance and didn't nurture my relationship with Brenda. I have no proof. The conversation where he told me everything was over the phone, and I didn't record it. Plus I'm in a two-party state, so I think I could get in
Starting point is 04:33:04 trouble for that. If I tell Brenda it will be my word against his. And if she goes to him, he can deny everything, or even try to spin it against me. This is where I worry it could affect my job. My job is my biggest concern at this point. I do not want to lose my job. I don't want my job to become awkward. I would love to be able to give Brenda a heads up about the situation, but also I can't afford to lose my job.
Starting point is 04:33:32 I cannot stress this enough. If I knew I could warn her without harming my own situation, I would. It may sound like my mind is made up, but it's not. I just wanted to add those for clarification and hopes that there is something that can be done. Comments where Op has replied, Dear underscore Parsonop underscore 6802. You give him one week to tell her or you will. Tell him that he is emotionally cheating on his wife and she deserves to know so she can decide if he's worth staying with. You let him know that you gave him the opportunity to make things right by cutting off Rachel and he chose not to.
Starting point is 04:34:09 He chose to disrespect his wife by continuing to have a relationship with someone who wants to cause her harm. I'd be honest and let him know the fact that he would even entertain Rachel's offer of a superficial relationship where she'll have sex with him in exchange for money. That's what her offer amounts to, and him abandoning his little girl discuss you and you have lost respect for him as a person. Time to be firm about it. Either way your friendship with him is over so you may as well be a girl's girl and let his wife know what she's married to. At least Rachel will not step foot back in their home. OOP, thank you. This is exactly how I feel.
Starting point is 04:34:47 I think I needed to hear this from someone outside the situation. Butterfly Wing's 71, great advice and make copies off all online conversations, texts, etc. in case he tries to erase or edit them. That way he can't twist things or lie about anything and if there is divorce, Brenda will approve to smoke his ass in a divorce. and if he is stupid enough to get his trophy wife, she probed bankrupt him in a few years. Update, hello Reddit. First of all, I want to send a huge thank you to all who took the time to read and comment on my post.
Starting point is 04:35:22 I read all of your replies and took most into consideration. I mentioned that I would wait until after Thanksgiving to make my decision as I didn't want to ruin the holiday for Brenda and Leah. During that time I decided that if I lose my job then it would suck, but I know I can get enough. I have to do what's right, and what is also best for my mental health. Yesterday with Mickle's support, I sent out a group message to them both saying hope you guys had a happy Thanksgiving. To my surprise, Brenda replied with Yeah, not so much. I asked what happened, and she said that Rachel's mom was in the hospital with pneumonia and Dave went to be with her for moral support, and that she was left hosting alone.
Starting point is 04:36:02 Dave didn't reply. Mickle told me that this was the perfect time, and he would support me whatever I chose to do. So I sent I'm amazed how forgiving you are Brenda. I don't think I could be so chill. Dave replied with. But Brenda immediately called me and I put her on speaker. She asked what I meant and I said after what happened last year with Dave and Rachel. Before you guys left for vacation. She told me to go on and that's when I knew he had not in fact told her. So I told her everything. I also told her I was sorry and had tried to convince him to tell her, but that I didn't know if anything more had happened so maybe there is a chance to fix this. I told her that since Rachel was back in their lives, I assumed they moved past it, maybe since they've been close
Starting point is 04:36:51 friends since college. She seemed eerily calm and said something like, oh no, Rachel never went to college. She met Dave online about 10 years ago. She's never been to college or even had a real job. She asked if there was anything else. Read it, I started freaking out, lost any remaining confidence I had, and told her that the reason I hadn't said anything was because I didn't have any proof and since working with her I had been worried to say anything about it because I didn't want to risk my job, but not anymore. I was spiraling. Brenda said she had to go and hung up.
Starting point is 04:37:27 I just sat there feeling sick. Two whole hours later Brenda called me back. Some of you called it. When confronting Dave and Rachel, they told her that I had actually propositioned him, and that I was jealous of his and Rachel's friendship, and I wondered what Brenda had. I started shaking and crying. At this point Meekyll interrupted her and said he had heard parts of the original conversation. Not all, but enough to know that what I had told him afterward was the truth.
Starting point is 04:37:57 She tried interrupting him, but he cut her off. He said that this had been tearing me up and he was sick of it, he wished her the best, and hoped she could remain professional at work, but after this call he wants Dave out of our life for good. Then he hung up. About 30 minutes later I got a text from Brenda. She apologized for us being dragged into this, said she's mortified that I know, and says Meekle didn't let her finish. She was just telling us what they said, and then she drops this epic bombshell. She already knows what's up, and has since last year. She just had no idea until then that I knew. Y'all get cookies if you called that, BTW."
Starting point is 04:38:38 She says the way he acted last year on the vacation, like a heartbroken lovesick puppy, was a huge red flag, and she felt deep down something wasn't right with him and Rachel. As soon as they got back home she started digging, looking through his computer, his phone, and iPad. It's not just Rachel, there's more. She's the only one he's met up with. None of the others wanted him in person, just his money. I asked if she's okay or if she's worried about Dave coming back, but Brenda said she already has a lawyer and has been spending the past several months getting her affairs in order. She was going to give him the divorce papers after Thanksgiving, but with him abandoning
Starting point is 04:39:17 them like that, she instead took advantage of his absence to change the locks and start packing his stuff. My information along with their lies just made it easier for her. This chick is so much more badass than I knew. I don't know if changing locks is legal but good for her, I guess. She apologized again for Dave and I told her I was sorry I didn't say something earlier. She told me that if she didn't already know about Dave, and hadn't read a lot of our messages, which she said were pretty boring, ouch, LOL, she probably wouldn't have believed me.
Starting point is 04:39:50 It was an impossible situation. I told her that if she needs to talk we are here. If not, then I'll just be her co-worker. Either way, I'm done with Dave. Fuck Dave. Next story, fiancé told her friend she's not excited by me and just wants to settle down, because I'm safe. Then I realized she was just dating me because my parents are rich.
Starting point is 04:40:15 I, 29M, know this may sound like a huge overreaction on my part, but my head has been ringing ever since this happened. I've been engaged to my fiancé, 28F, for a few months now. We had dated for just shy of two years prior to that. It would be cliche to say everything was going great, but for the most part it was good. My family really took a liking to her which was also really great. Now I've never been the one to think too much about how I'm viewed as a partner, but all of that changed recently.
Starting point is 04:40:47 I basically overheard her on the phone, telling her friend that if she wants to find the one, excitement isn't important. She basically said underscore, me, isn't exciting, but he makes me feel safe and that's when I realized I wanted to settle down with him this hit me kind of hard. Read it, I've read these types of posts before. You know, the whole she goes for bad boys then settles with a safe schmuck type of thing. But I don't think that's what she meant. So the day after I just straight up told her that I overheard her talking about me and that I don't understand what she meant by not finding my exciting. She then told me that it's true that she doesn't find me exciting, but that doesn't matter. I honestly felt very hurt. Maybe my ego is
Starting point is 04:41:31 fragile? Ike. But it was a surprise to me because I felt like the way I see myself in my head was colliding with how she sees me, and it made me feel spaced out. I asked her what she means by not finding my exciting, and she didn't seem to know how to even answer. She could see I was a upset and as pathetic as this sounds, I made an excuse to leave and said, we'll talk about it later. Ever since then, my head has been spinning. I ride motorcycles. I have tattoos. I go to the gym. I do MMA as a hobby. So how is it that I'm not the exciting guy? I've always seen myself as being that exciting guy. My ex was basically obsessed with me and constantly made it clear she found me exciting.
Starting point is 04:42:19 But M.W. Now Fiancey, doesn't see me as exciting for whatever reason. I was honestly shocked because I felt my sense of self kind of crumble. And what made it worse is I'm excited by her. When I see her, I want to rip her clothes off. I want to do things, I think about her. But she seemingly doesn't see me the same way at all? As crazy as this sounds, I have considered calling off the engagement entirely. Am I being crazy here? update the last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions there were a lot of interesting perspectives
Starting point is 04:42:54 from both male and female posters it seems that the female posters said that being seen as safe is a really great compliment whereas the male posters said i should run for the hills certainly an intriguing insight into how men and women see things differently so i ended up talking to my fiance about what she meant. She seemed really nervous and knew that she had upset me. I have to admit, I was quite nervous too. It's not easy when your sense of self has crumbled. Learning that you aren't seen in the way you think you are, is a very tough feeling. I can't describe it, but it made me really feel fragile. In the truest sense of the word. I started by telling her that I was really upset about her comment because, frankly, I'd always thought I was that exciting guy to
Starting point is 04:43:43 her. I told her that in my mind, I was the guy who makes her heart skip a beat. So I had to brace myself and ask again what she meant when she said I wasn't exciting. She looked like she wanted to cry because I guess she could sense I was also upset. She said that she didn't want to hurt my feelings but that I make her feel very safe and secure, and that with me, I'm not exciting in the sense that I don't give her thrills like her exes used to man, that hurt but I was still confused. She was being really vague and not really clear in what she meant. I had to ask again what she meant by thrills
Starting point is 04:44:18 and she just began crying and apologizing. She tried to hug me, but I again walked out. I seemed to do this when things get emotional, so I decided to take some shrooms and spend the day outside at a nearby lake. This helped me clear my mind and come to some devastating realizations about myself. I think what I realized was that I was lying to myself. Another commenter said it, which I didn't want to admit, which is I'm more into her than she is into me. I didn't disclose this on my first thread, but she never initiates sex.
Starting point is 04:44:50 I don't think she's done that once. With my exes, they always initiated with me. You see, my fiancé is beautiful, to the point where I wonder how I landed her. But you see, that was the issue. Because I was so attracted to her, I wanted her approval. I know that sounds pathetic, but I was able to overlook red flags such as her lack of initiating sex. I thought if I stayed with her, she'd like me the way I like her. Now here's the kicker.
Starting point is 04:45:21 I thought that, if I proposed to her, then over time I could win her over. I've been with women who were madly into me, and my fiancé just didn't behave like them at all. In addition to never initiating, she never complimented me much. It was always one-sided. A lot of this begs to question, why would she even be with me? I think that, she saw me as someone who could provide stability. And I guess, maybe she thought my exterior, tattoos, motorcycles, MMA, craft beer, was a facade. I mean, maybe she was kind of right.
Starting point is 04:45:58 Not that I don't enjoy those things, I do. But I am able to have that lifestyle because my parents are wealthy doctors. Maybe she thought I was cosplaying as a bad boy, and that in actuality I am a loaded rich kid who provides stability. The other insight I had was that, truth be told, I didn't want to actually get married. I'd definitely do one day, but I didn't really think it through. I thought to myself that if I propose, I will grow accustomed to the idea of getting married. But the truth is, I kind of want to continue my lifestyle as it is.
Starting point is 04:46:33 which involves riding my motorcycle, fixing muscle cars, traveling across the country, going to festivals, etc. Do I want to get married one day? Of course. But I want to be with a woman who is really crazy about me. Someone who compliments me a lot, initiate sex, etc. So I ended up talking with her later on and telling her that I want to call things off and end things. I won't bore with details but yes she cried a lot, even got angry, said I wasted her time. I told her that it wasn't anything she did, but she didn't buy that and kept pressing. She told me that I misunderstood her comment, but I told her she couldn't even clarify what she thought. It ended with me telling her that I have nothing against her, but that I am just not ready for marriage. I told her that the lifestyle
Starting point is 04:47:23 I want to continue in addition to me not feeling the connection I thought I had with her was why. It ended quite predictably, but I think going forward I'm going to see a therapist to sort my insecurities as well as find someone more compatible with myself. I hope you enjoy this story. Jobless father took my $9,000 educational grant to cover the cost of lodging, then deceived me about it for an extended period. He later expressed suicidal intentions when I addressed the situation. Just for clarification, I am currently a college freshman. I am on a full ride to my University. Every semester, I get a check sent to my house to pay off my housing costs, which is about $9,000. My unemployed father got evicted from my old address because he wasn't paying rent,
Starting point is 04:48:11 so my family started living in a hotel. I was questioning how they were paying for the hotel, considering it was $150 a night. Turns out, my father used my college check to cash out and pay for the hotel for two months. I begged him to pay off my college housing costs. I begged him to pay off my college housing for two months straight. He lied to me, telling me that it was attached to some funds, which were hard to get out, very confusing but keep in mind I have absolutely zero financial literacy and my father never went into depth. I brushed it off, hoping that everything would work for the best. My college housing gave my father a deadline to pay off housing costs, November 1st. I was stressed for two months, unable to eat well, sleep, socialize, etc. If my dad,
Starting point is 04:48:58 dad doesn't pay it off, I may or may not have to drop out. When the deadline hit, I called my dad and asked him why he hadn't paid off my housing costs. He finally revealed that he used the check on the hotel we were living in. I was furious and I started interrogating him like a prosecutor. He blamed the family for being responsible for using my college money, not himself, and also blamed me. He let me allowance money for two months, telling me that it was from my relatives when it was actually from my $9,000 housing check. I asked him why he would do this and he said that he didn't want to stress me out. I cried telling him I worked way too hard in high school for me to drop out. I said that he owed me an apology three times over the phone,
Starting point is 04:49:43 but he refused because he thought he had done nothing wrong since he was providing for the family. I asked him again and he said sorry in a mocking voice. I told him that he was full of shit and he started saying that he wants to put a gun to his head and kill himself and it will all be on me. This is not the first time he has done that. I told him to do it and I hung up. My mom called me and I informed her about the situation. She told me to apologize to my dad and I told her as psychotic as I may sound. I have no remorse, especially after what he did. My mom threatened to disown me but I somehow mended things with them for three weeks. It is currently Thanksgiving break and my father still didn't pay off my check and he said that he would get money Saturday to pay
Starting point is 04:50:28 it off. My mom told me again to apologize to him after he paid my housing costs and I said I would avoid conflict. But I think I'm way too stubborn to apologize, especially because I genuinely think I have nothing to be sorry for. My dad never fully apologized and made a joke out of me to the family. Comments where OP has replied. Depressed, Wizard. Whose name was on the check? Sounds like fraud to me if your name is on that check. Oop, I'm honestly not sure because I never physically saw the check. All I know was that it was mailed to my old address and my neighbor gave the check to my father, who proceeded to cash it out. North Conclusion 331.
Starting point is 04:51:12 Is this your first check? If not, what was the name in the old checks? Oop, yes, this is my very first check. The next one is coming this January to my old address. to my old address. I told my father if he didn't give it to me in January I would report him and he said he would give it to me. Although I don't completely trust him, mainly because he did something similar to my older sister resulting in her dropping out, I have a lot of leverage on him. Expression Little. Contact the office that sent out the check to see what name they put
Starting point is 04:51:44 on the check and on the envelope to send to you. If he opened your mail, that's a crime, and if he cashed a check with your name on it, that's also a crime. Also, get a P.O. box and get the next one sent there. Oop, there's also a huge part that I left out regarding this situation. My mother is an illegal immigrant and if my dad goes to jail or gets charged, then she would have to go back to her country. I did threaten my dad with this, but my mother said that she would flat out disown me if I did. I also have little siblings too, so I would not like for them to have to take the fall for this.
Starting point is 04:52:19 I think I will contact the school and ask them to put the mail somewhere safer, probably my dorm address. Update 1. First and foremost, immediately after this happened, I managed to get a separate debit card without my parents knowing. I don't have a job now, but I'm looking to get one later on in the semester. I didn't go to the financial aid center because my dad somehow managed to pay me back. I'm going under the assumption that it's through my grandmother's social security checks. Last December, after weeks of calling my father to make up for my scholarship money and pay me back, he finally sent me a check for $9,000. The check came in my dorm mail around midnight. I was asleep by then and my dad was spam calling my phone to tell me it was in the mail.
Starting point is 04:53:05 I didn't call him back until one in the afternoon because I had an exam that day. He started cursing at me, telling me how he couldn't sleep all night because I didn't answer my phone. I talked back and said, the stress you put me through for three months by lying about my scholarship check is nothing compared to the stress you went through for a day. He started insulting me in every way possible telling me that I was spoiled. I swore back saying, are you FNG serious? And he hung up. Moments later, my dad made my mom call me because he didn't want to argue with me. She screamed at me saying that I should always have respect for him as a father and that I should apologize for swearing. I said that yes, I did swear at him, but he did too,
Starting point is 04:53:48 calling me a bunch of slurs and whatnot. She also accused me of purposely ignoring them when I made it clear several times that I was asleep and I had an exam at nine in the morning, hence not calling them at midnight. I told her that we shouldn't even have this talk because he was clearly in the wrong in this entire situation and every other kid would have gone to the financial aid center and my dad would have gotten in trouble. My mom misunderstood me for saying that I was going to report my dad. She had a mental breakdown and hung up. Moments later, my dad called and told me to go ahead and report him
Starting point is 04:54:21 because I would be going to jail instead of him because he sent me some of the money from the check, which is bullshit. I called him out on his bullshit and he said that he was permanently severing ties so I could learn my lesson. He hung up. I didn't call them for a week until I realized that I didn't have a place to stay. for winter break, my dorm closed. I swallowed my pride and called them back to apologize. They said they'll accept me back to the family. This honestly still keeps me up at night,
Starting point is 04:54:50 but I literally didn't have a choice but to stay with them over break. Over break, they've noticed that I'm way more cold and distant towards them and they still wonder why. Luckily, I got the $9,000 check from my university to pay for this semester's housing fees. The best thing that came out of this that I ended up reconnecting with my estranged sister, F-25. Long story short, my father financially abused my sister for years, maxing out her credit cards and leaving her $20,000 in debt. They cut all ties a year ago after my sister started dating a guy they didn't approve of. When I was on good terms with them, they painted her as the bad guy,
Starting point is 04:55:30 telling me that she betrayed them by choosing her boyfriend over the entire family. I also didn't know that my dad financially abused her, Turns out she was in the same situation I was in and ended up dropping out because my dad didn't let her take out a student loan. I talked to my sister and she said that she was honestly glad that she severed ties with them because she's finally financially independent, even if she's not financially stable. We're closer than ever and I probably consider her as a shoulder to lean on. Mentally, I'm really not doing well. I'm generally stoic but this is taking a hard emotional toll on me because my family was my world. Before college, I always knew my father was insane, but my mother was my ride or die.
Starting point is 04:56:14 I told her everything. I helped her through her marital problems, she told me everything, and the fact that she chose my abusive, unemployed father, the man that she always talked about wanting to divorce, over her daughter is heartbreaking. She still expects me to be her armchair therapist, and she told me she wants me to act like how I did before. I told her overbreak that no matter what she does, she will never be. mend back the trust one had for her then. And my father, despite his flaws, I never expected
Starting point is 04:56:44 him to use my check. He put such a huge emphasis on education and told me he wanted me to have the life he never had. And knowing he would sacrifice my education just so he could live in a fancy $150 hotel is very disheartening. Recently, I've been very isolated, I still talk to a few people, my grades are falling, and I haven't been eating or sleeping well. Maybe this is situation should be a wake-up call for me, but I've come to the point where I'm completely apathetic about everything. I refrain from drugs thankfully, but even so, I feel like my life is on autopilot. Comments where OPP has replied, Me Zero Me O. The best thing you can do for yourself is to complete your education. Stay focused on school and strive to do your best. Make friends and
Starting point is 04:57:34 maintain contact with your sister. Also, seek out counseling. at your school. They can help you deal with your family issues. Old afternoon 2459. Lock your credit. Get a PO box. Make sure you have your legal documents. Melissa 3,670. You can order a birth certificate from the state you were born in. If you have that and a license, you can go to the social security office and get your SS card. OOP, if my dad gives me my legal document. Update 2. My dad stole my college scholarship money months ago. Now he's not getting a single penny from me. As you may or may not know, I made two posts several months ago about my father using up my college money. I also want to clear up some confusion about the posts.
Starting point is 04:58:28 My parents are religiously married through the Catholic Church in another country, but they never got legally married because my dad doesn't want my mother to get a green card. And yes, in Some colleges like mine, the broken education system in America still use checks, but most people use direct deposit. I am glad to say that he no longer has access to my finances and I am in low contact with them. Thanks to the advice of this subreddit, I got my social security card and other documents months before I left for college. I also managed to get my first job. I distanced myself from my parents and I took a lot of time to reflect on them and their actions. They also distanced themselves from me after I finally put my foot down and refused to give them financial assistance.
Starting point is 04:59:13 They said that I was self-absorbed and once again my father told me he would kill himself if I didn't help him. And this time, instead of telling him to off himself, I told him that's a decision he would make and I can't be responsible for it. I realized no matter what I do, they'll never change. They will always be the type of people to financially leach off of others using their suicide threats and weaponize self-pity, but they're too emotionally stunned to see the faults of that. Their psyche is so twisted and I spent a lot of time mourning for the parents I never had. They were never meant to be parents, but they're also people. Sometimes people like them exist. As for my mother, she completely turned her back on me and said that I was a TV villain for not giving my father the money he deserved
Starting point is 04:59:58 for raising me and my siblings. I told her he was never emotionally present as a father and neither was she. not just from the suicide threats, but also by being a threat to our well-being. She used to treat me as a friend and therapist, but rarely as a daughter. She used me to complain about the emotional and mental abuse my dad inflicted on her. But at the same time, she was also the person to turn her back on me in a blink of an eye, if it meant protecting my father's feelings and making him happy. Sometimes, she went as far as to attack me or my siblings if we did anything to make him crossed. I guess I still have a lot of pity for her considering that she is an illegal immigrant in an abusive
Starting point is 05:00:39 situation, but it doesn't outweigh the damage. It was impossible to communicate with her since he was her own little world. I don't think she really loved me or saw me as a person or a child, just an outlet for her emotional dysfunction. Recently my mother called me and lied about my dad being ill so they could rake a couple of bucks from me again. I told them to find their own source of money and hung up. I check up on my little brothers every now and then. They're currently still living in the hotel. While their physical safety isn't harmed, I still struggle with the guilt of leaving them behind and I'm unclear on what the future holds for them. This past year, I learned what it meant to be independent, not just financially, but to be free from the mental
Starting point is 05:01:22 control of them and making those decisions for myself. Needless to say, I'm happier, I'm surrounded with good and caring people, my grades aren't great but better, and I'm finally in a good place right now. In the end, everything's going to be all right. And even if it's not, it's not the end. Comments where O.P. has replied, Bori's love child. Any chance of getting the money back? Oop, I got some of it back through a family friend. I'm working my ass off to make up for the remaining sum of money. Disclosing. Nina A. H. 1876. Stop feeling guilty. You are the child. If anything, be embarrassed that your parents are pathetic. And even that's nothing to be embarrassed about. Coco, almonds, rock. Good for you.
Starting point is 05:02:16 It takes a lot of strength to do what you're doing. A lot. I know things are tough right now, but you've got the outlook and strengths to dig in and build a successful life. I hope your younger siblings have the same fortitude you do. You can try to help them in the future, but if they're not willing to help themselves, they could turn into your parents and drain you dry. Stay vigilant. Good luck and keep us updated. Oop. My biggest fear in the future is that my parents will use my younger siblings for their benefit and leach off of them. From what I know, that's pretty much still happening with my older siblings. Next story. Son's girlfriend called to say she's going to propose, but my son already has a ring and plans to propose first and I'm the only one who
Starting point is 05:03:02 knows both secrets. My daughter-in-law, a pediatrician named Lexi, called me today with the most wonderful news. She intends to propose to my son. Lexi is such a sweet, hardworking, thoughtful, no-nonsense woman, and my son always remarks on how loved and respected he feels by her. I have never seen him happier. It warms my heart to see him so serious with someone after all these years. She is truly the daughter I have always dreamed of. I raised my son as a single mother for 29 years and had to be both mom and dad to him. His father walked out after his birth. Seeing him so deeply in love and respected by someone is amazing as Lexi fills me with pride and joy. I get to be girly with her and share my love of jewelry, which I plan to leave
Starting point is 05:03:51 entirely to her. The entire family adores her and they are all excited to meet her. I already call her my daughter-in-law and consider her part of the family. Little does she know that my son has already bought her a ring and plans to propose during her birthday vacation in September. I am so happy for them. I cannot wait to see their futures develop as spouses and, eventually, as parents when the time comes. My heart is overflowing with happiness and excitement for their journey ahead. Comments where Ope has replied, Backwoods, Diva, we are now all shipping them and cannot wait for updates.
Starting point is 05:04:30 Please try and find out the information of when she is doing it and tell him so he can make sure her ring is there too. She's putting in that work she should show off her bling from him to LOL. Ope, she actually told me how she is proposing. It's also during the birthday vacation. She said she is creating a two-chapter book with custom art of all their firsts in Chapter 1 and the proposal and ring in Chapter 2. She is very creative. Fourth to Greek night, this is such a wonderful story. I hope your son and future daughter-in-law have many, many happy years together.
Starting point is 05:05:05 As a dad, I cannot understand how a dad can walk out on his own flesh and blood. When my son was born I got the answer that every person seeks, what is the purpose of my life? To me it was being this kid's daddy. Congrats to all of you. Ope, I was his third marriage, he had two children in his second. The child's support was bleeding him dry, didn't want to be cruel and asked for the minimum support. Supported my son through uni, law school, and his master's all by myself. Update 1, June 26, 2024.
Starting point is 05:05:40 My son, Sean, recently reached out to me with a request. He asked if I could take Lexi Ring shopping with me since I'm in the process of designing a new ring for myself. He thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Lexi to see different styles. and find her ideal ring. Sean shared with me that Lexi prefers something simple and not overly flashy. She told him, anything bigger than two carrots is for ego. I would just like a simple solitaire under two carrots with no fancy band and a meaningful engraving. While Sean, being a successful environmental attorney, wanted to splurge on something beautiful and expensive for Lexi, her preferences are clear. A little backstory, when they were dating and Sean was struggling to land a big
Starting point is 05:06:24 law job, Lexi supported him without a complaint. She always told him, if I was in my residency and you had your big job, you'd do the same. We just have to be patient, it will come, and one day we will laugh about it at our wedding. Lexi does enjoy expensive things, but she firmly believes that her fancy habits and tastes are hers to finance, never putting that burden on Sean. I'm taking Lexi to my jeweler this Friday, and I'm incredibly excited to see her pick out her ring. Comments where Ope has replied. C.T.U. I am so happy for all of you. You are an amazing mill.
Starting point is 05:07:03 I wish them all the luck. I know they will make great parents if they choose to have kids. Oop, funny story. Lexi has a nephew and always wanted to be a mom. She raises her nephew like her son. Sean never wanted kids. Changed his mind seeing Lexi with her nephew Mason, who also loves Sean a whole lot.
Starting point is 05:07:24 c t u how do you do this every new thing you say just is more and more awesome and wholesome those two sound like amazing people and a great couple i am so happy they found each other boop me too resigned myself to never having hope for my son getting married and starting a family he said law school ruined him then he started his masters and met lexy smile update two july first twenty Things have been moving along beautifully. Friday, Lexi has been looking at simple, plain bands with solitaires, ovals, pear, round, and my jeweler, Groovy Greg, has been taking notes on the pieces that caught her eye. Thankfully, when I was designing my new ring, she tried it on, and she's my size. On the flip side, Lexi got Sean's ring size from his best friend. She found a beautiful white gold band for Sean with their birthstones. Sapphire. She even had it engraved, but she hasn't disclosed what it says. And yes, she had it
Starting point is 05:08:32 designed by Groovy Greg as well. She is returning to pick it up in July. Saturday, I sent photos and notes to Sean for myself and Greg, and we are designing a white gold 1.5-carat Solitaire, VVS, for Lexi. Rings should be ready for pickup in August. So things are rocking and rolling on both ends. I wish I could share this with my husband or ex-husband, but I know they'll spill the beans. Thank you for listening to this old lady talk about her updates. Additional information. OOP on her son's father being at the wedding. My son told me that his father is banned from speeches at the wedding too.
Starting point is 05:09:13 He has a tendency to make things about himself and I would hate for him to ruin Lexi and Sean's beautiful day because he cannot shut up. OOP on if Lexi's mother knows about the proposals altogether. Her mother is aware of everything as well. So far we are the only two who know. Except for Reddit Smile. Update 3, August 5th, 2024. Lexi picked up the ring with me last Thursday, and she absolutely loves it.
Starting point is 05:09:42 Since I never had a daughter, I asked her if we could go to the nail salon for manicures and pedicures before my family reunion. It was such a special bonding moment, and I couldn't help but gushed to everyone who would listen about how proud I am of her and how much I love her. I even saw her tearing up a little. I've never had a good mother-in-law experience myself. My ex-mill pointed a loaded shotgun at my stomach when I was six months pregnant with Sean. Lexi has also had her share of a horrible mill, who would steal her money and speak poorly of her. It means the world to me that we can heal that wound for each other and build a loving relationship.
Starting point is 05:10:19 Sean also visited me, and we had a family reunion. I accidentally referred to Lexi as his future fiancé to my boss. I'm a bit worried that one of them, Lexi or Sean, may have heard me slip up. Fingers crossed that I didn't spoil the surprise. Sean is set to pick up the ring in two weeks, and we're all so excited. September can't come soon enough. Comments where OP has replied, Baby, Mama, Magnet, Women proposing is the generational change we need.
Starting point is 05:10:53 Oop, you would not believe how many people believe it should be the other way around. Have received rude messages saying she's cucking him. I raised Sean to treat women as his equal. If he feels cucked, then I failed him fundamentally. Stinson 555, I've been following since the first post. In a world with so much darkness and hate it warms my heart to read a post filled with love and joy. O.P. When the engagements happen, you will have to pay the ring tax. A photo of their ring fingers with their new rings on them. Until then keep smiling. Boop, we'll do. I promise to share her
Starting point is 05:11:31 proposal book and artwork, with her permission, of course, as well. Update 4. New Update, September 13th, 2024. Lexi showed me her completed proposal book yesterday. The book is so beautiful and thoughtful, I know Sean is going to be blown away when he sees it. Meanwhile, Sean is still figuring out his proposal plan. He mentioned that the weather might mess with his original idea, so he's got a bit of reworking to do. I know he'll come up with something great. Had a little run-in with my ex-husband and his wife recently at a concert. Funny enough, he also suspects Sean will propose soon. We both agree that Sean's relationship with Lexi has always been different, so much more mature and meaningful than his past ones. His wife, however,
Starting point is 05:12:19 wasn't too pleased. She's the only one who hasn't met Lexi yet, and she seemed a bit sour about it. She even pulled me aside to ask what Lexi is really like. I just told her the truth. Lexi is the perfect match for Sean. I would never speak poorly of her because, one, there's nothing negative to say, and, two, I've been in those shoes before, dealing with in-laws who weren't kind, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I'm just so excited for them. Hopefully, I'll be able to share photos of the art book after they've proposed already. Can't wait. Comments where O.P. has replied. Commenter, hopefully, the ex's wife won't be the mill from hell. Oop, my son had a tough time growing up because of her. Once she became his fiancé,
Starting point is 05:13:09 things only got worse, she treated him poorly and constantly left him out. It got to the point where Sean would beg to come back home to me. One thing I'll never forget is when she told my ex that 11-year-old Sean couldn't be in her wedding because she didn't want any ugly people there. The fact that my ex went along with it made it even worse. Commenter, I am supposed he did not cut your ex out of his life as soon as he could. Being left out of the wedding is unforgivable, so do you think your ex will be excluded from your son's wedding? Oop, yep, we talked about it.
Starting point is 05:13:43 No ugly people allowed here either. I hope you enjoy this story. Jobless father took my $9,000 university grant funds to cover a lodging bill, then deceived me about it for several months. He later expressed suicidal thoughts when I addressed the situation. I am currently a college freshman. I am on a full ride to my university. Every semester, I get a check sent to my house.
Starting point is 05:14:08 house to pay off my housing costs, which is about $9,000. My unemployed father got evicted from my old address because he wasn't paying rent, so my family started living in a hotel. I was questioning how they were paying for the hotel, considering it was $150 a night. Turns out, my father used my college check to cash out and pay for the hotel for two months. I begged him to pay off my college housing costs for two months straight. He lied to me, telling me that it was attached to some funds, which were hard to get out, very confusing but keep in mind I have absolutely zero financial literacy and my father never went into depth. I brushed it off, hoping that everything would work for the best. My college housing gave my father a deadline to pay off housing costs,
Starting point is 05:14:56 November 1st. I was stressed for two months, unable to eat well, sleep, socialize, etc. If my dad doesn't pay it off, I may or may not have to drop out. When the deadline hit, I called my dad and asked him why he hadn't paid off my housing costs. He finally revealed that he used the check on the hotel we were living in. I was furious and I started interrogating him like a prosecutor. He blamed the family for being responsible for using my college money, not himself, and also blamed me. He let me allowance money for two months, telling me that it was from my relatives when it was actually from my $9,000 housing check. I asked him why he would do this and he said that he didn't want to stress me out.
Starting point is 05:15:41 I cried telling him I worked way too hard in high school for me to drop out. I said that he owed me an apology three times over the phone, but he refused because he thought he had done nothing wrong since he was providing for the family. I asked him again and he said sorry in a mocking voice. I told him that he was full of shit and he started saying that he wants to put a gun to his head and kill himself and it will all be on me. This is not the first time he has done that. I told him to do it and I hung up.
Starting point is 05:16:11 My mom called me and I informed her about the situation. She told me to apologize to my dad and I told her as psychotic as I may sound. I have no remorse, especially after what he did. My mom threatened to disown me but I somehow mended things with them for three weeks. It is currently Thanksgiving break and my father still didn't pay off my check. and he said that he would get money Saturday to pay it off. My mom told me again to apologize to him after he paid my housing costs, and I said I would avoid conflict.
Starting point is 05:16:43 But I think I'm way too stubborn to apologize, especially because I genuinely think I have nothing to be sorry for. My dad never fully apologized and made a joke out of me to the family. Comments were Op has replied. Depressed, Wizard. Whose name was on the check? Sounds like fraud to me if you're not. your name is on that check.
Starting point is 05:17:05 Oop, I'm honestly not sure because I never physically saw the check. All I know was that it was mailed to my old address and my neighbor gave the check to my father, who proceeded to cash it out. North Conclusion 331. Is this your first check? If not, what was the name in the old checks? Oop, yes, this is my very first check. The next one is coming this January to my old address.
Starting point is 05:17:32 I told my father if he didn't give it to me in January I would report him and he said he would give it to me. Although I don't completely trust him, mainly because he did something similar to my older sister resulting in her dropping out, I have a lot of leverage on him. Expression Little. Contact the office that sent out the check to see what name they put on the check and on the envelope to send to you. If he opened your mail, that's a crime, and if he cashed a check with your name on it, that's also a crime. Also, get a P.O. box and get the next one sent there. Oop, there's also a huge part that I left out regarding this situation. My mother is an illegal immigrant and if my dad goes to jail or gets charged, then she would
Starting point is 05:18:13 have to go back to her country. I did threaten my dad with this, but my mother said that she would flat out disown me if I did. I also have little siblings too, so I would not like for them to have to take the fall for this. I think I will contact the school and ask them to put the mail somewhere safer, probably my dorm address. Update 1. First and foremost, immediately after this happened, I managed to get a separate debit card without my parents knowing. I don't have a job now, but I'm looking to get one later on in the semester. I didn't go to the financial aid center because my dad somehow managed to pay me back. I'm going under the assumption that it's
Starting point is 05:18:52 through my grandmother's social security checks. Last December, after weeks of calling my father to make up for my scholarship money and pay me back. He finally sent me a check for $9,000. The check came in my dorm mail around midnight. I was asleep by then and my dad was spam calling my phone to tell me it was in the mail. I didn't call him back until one in the afternoon because I had an exam that day. He started cursing at me, telling me how he couldn't sleep all night because I didn't answer my phone. I talked back and said, the stress you put me through for three months by lying about my scholarship check is nothing compared to the stress you went through for a day. He started insulting me in every way possible telling me that I was spoiled. I swore back saying are you FNG serious and he
Starting point is 05:19:38 hung up? Moments later, my dad made my mom call me because he didn't want to argue with me. She screamed at me saying that I should always have respect for him as a father and that I should apologize for swearing. I said that yes, I did swear at him, but he did too, calling me a bunch of slurs and whatnot. She also accused me of purposely ignoring them when I made it clear several times that I was asleep and I had an exam at nine in the morning, hence not calling them at midnight. I told her that we shouldn't even have this talk because he was clearly in the wrong in this entire situation and every other kid would have gone to the financial aid center and my dad would have gotten in trouble. My mom misunderstood me for saying that I was going to report my dad. She had a mental breakdown and
Starting point is 05:20:23 hung up. Moments later, my dad called and told me to go ahead and report him because I would be going to jail instead of him because he sent me some of the money from the check, which is bullshit. I called him out on his bullshit and he said that he was permanently severing ties so I could learn my lesson. He hung up. I didn't call them for a week until I realized that I didn't have a place to stay for winter break, my dorm closed. I swallowed my pride and called them back to apologize. They said they'll accept me back to the family. This honestly still keeps me up at night, but I literally didn't have a choice but to stay with them over break. Over break, they've noticed that I'm way more cold and distant towards them and they still wonder why. Luckily,
Starting point is 05:21:08 I got the $9,000 check from my university to pay for this semester's housing fees. The best thing that came out of this is that I ended up reconnecting with my estranged sister, F-25. Long-steader. Story short, my father financially abused my sister for years, maxing out her credit cards and leaving her $20,000 in debt. They cut all ties a year ago after my sister started dating a guy they didn't approve of. When I was on good terms with them, they painted her as the bad guy, telling me that she betrayed them by choosing her boyfriend over the entire family. I also didn't know that my dad financially abused her. Turns out she was in the same situation I was in and ended up dropping out because my dad didn't let her take out a student loan. I talked to my sister
Starting point is 05:21:53 and she said that she was honestly glad that she severed ties with them because she's finally financially independent, even if she's not financially stable. We're closer than ever and I probably consider her as a shoulder to lean on. Mentally, I'm really not doing well. I'm generally stoic but this is taking a hard emotional toll on me because my family was my world. Before college, I always knew my father was insane, but my mother was my ride or die. I told her everything. I helped her through her marital problems. She told me everything, and the fact that she chose my abusive, unemployed father,
Starting point is 05:22:30 the man that she always talked about wanting to divorce, over her daughter is heartbreaking. She still expects me to be her armchair therapist, and she told me she wants me to act like how I did before. I told her overbreak that no matter what she does, she will never mend back the trust one had for her then. And my father, despite his flaws, I never expected him to use my check. He put such a huge emphasis on education and told me he wanted me to have the life he never had. And knowing he would sacrifice my education just so he could live in a fancy $150 hotel is very disheartening. Recently, I've been very isolated, I still talk to a few people, my grades are falling, and I haven't been eating or sleeping well. Maybe this situation should be a wake-up call.
Starting point is 05:23:16 for me, but I've come to the point where I'm completely apathetic about everything. I refrain from drugs thankfully, but even so, I feel like my life is on autopilot. Comments where Ope has replied, Me Zero Me O. The best thing you can do for yourself is to complete your education. Stay focused on school and strive to do your best. Make friends and maintain contact with your sister. Also, seek out counseling at your school. They can help you deal with your family issues.
Starting point is 05:23:49 Old afternoon 2459. Lock your credit. Get a PO box. Make sure you have your legal documents. Melissa 3,670. You can order a birth certificate from the state you were born in. If you have that and a license, you can go to the Social Security office and get your SS card. OPE, if my dad gives me my legal documents.
Starting point is 05:24:15 date two. My dad stole my college scholarship money months ago. Now he's not getting a single penny from me. As you may or may not know, I made two posts several months ago about my father using up my college money. I also want to clear up some confusion about the posts. My parents are religiously married through the Catholic Church in another country, but they never got legally married because my dad doesn't want my mother to get a green card. And yes, In some colleges like mine, the broken education system in America still use checks, but most people use direct deposit. I am glad to say that he no longer has access to my finances and I am in low contact with them. Thanks to the advice of this subreddit, I got my social security card and other documents months before I left for college. I also managed to get my first job. I distanced myself from my parents and I took a lot of time to reflect on them and their actions. They also distanced them from me after I finally put my foot down and refused to give them financial assistance. They said that I was self-absorbed and once again my father told me he would kill himself
Starting point is 05:25:23 if I didn't help him. And this time, instead of telling him to off himself, I told him that's a decision he would make and I can't be responsible for it. I realized no matter what I do, they'll never change. They will always be the type of people to financially leach off of others using their suicide threats and weaponizing self-biddy, but they're too emotionally stunned it to see the faults of that. Their psyche is so twisted and I spent a lot of time mourning for the parents I never had. They were never meant to be parents, but they're also people. Sometimes people like them exist. As for my mother, she completely turned her back on me and said that I was a TV villain for not giving my father the money he deserved for raising me and my
Starting point is 05:26:05 siblings. I told her he was never emotionally present as a father and neither was she. Not just from the suicide threats, but also by being a threat to our well-being. She used to treat me as a friend and therapist, but rarely as a daughter. She used me to complain about the emotional and mental abuse my dad inflicted on her. But at the same time, she was also the person to turn her back on me in a blink of an eye, if it meant protecting my father's feelings and making him happy. Sometimes, she went as far as to attack me or my siblings if we did anything to make him crossed. I guess I still have a lot of pity for her considering that she is an illegal immigrant in an abusive situation, but it doesn't outweigh the damage. It was impossible to communicate with her since he was
Starting point is 05:26:50 her own little world. I don't think she really loved me or saw me as a person or a child, just an outlet for her emotional dysfunction. Recently my mother called me and lied about my dad being ill so they could rake a couple of bucks from me again. I told them to find their own source of money and hung up. I check up on my little brothers every now and then. They're currently still living in the hotel. While their physical safety isn't harmed, I still struggle with the guilt of leaving them behind and I'm unclear on what the future holds for them. This past year, I learned what it meant to be independent, not just financially, but to be free from the mental control of them and making those decisions for myself. Needless to say, I'm happier, I'm
Starting point is 05:27:34 surrounded with good and caring people, my grades aren't great but better, and I'm finally in a good place right now. In the end, everything's going to be all right. And even if it's not, it's not the end. Comments where OPP has replied. Boris Love Child. Any chance of getting the money back? Oh, O. P, I got some of it back through a family friend. I'm working my ass off to make up for the remaining sum of money. Disclosing. Nina 1876 Stop feeling guilty. You are the child. If anything, be embarrassed that your parents are pathetic. And even that's nothing to be embarrassed about. Coco, almonds, rock. Good for you. It takes a lot of strength to do what you're doing. A lot. I know things are tough right now,
Starting point is 05:28:28 but you've got the outlook and strengths to dig in and build a successful life. I hope you're younger siblings have the same fortitude you do. You can try to help them in the future, but if they're not willing to help themselves, they could turn into your parents and drain you dry. Stay vigilant. Good luck, and keep us updated. OOP, my biggest fear in the future is that my parents will use my younger siblings for their benefit and leach off of them. From what I know, that's pretty much still happening with my older siblings. Next story. Son's girlfriend called to say she's going to propose, but my son already has a ring and plans to propose first and I'm the only one who knows both secrets. My daughter-in-law, a pediatrician named Lexi, called me today
Starting point is 05:29:14 with the most wonderful news. She intends to propose to my son. Lexi is such a sweet, hardworking, thoughtful, no-nonsense woman, and my son always remarks on how loved and respected he feels by her. I have never seen him happier. It warms my heart to see him so serious with someone after all these years. She is truly the daughter I have always dreamed of. I raised my son as a single mother for 29 years and had to be both mom and dad to him. His father walked out after his birth. Seeing him so deeply in love and respected by someone is amazing as Lexi fills me with pride and joy. I get to be girly with her and share my love of jewelry, which I plan to leave entirely to her. The entire family adores her and they are all
Starting point is 05:30:02 excited to meet her. I already call her my daughter-in-law and consider her part of the family. Little does she know that my son has already bought her a ring and plans to propose during her birthday vacation in September. I am so happy for them. I cannot wait to see their futures develop as spouses and, eventually, as parents when the time comes. My heart is overflowing with happiness and excitement for their journey ahead. Comments where Ope has replied. Backwards diva, we are now all shipping them and cannot wait for updates. Please try and find out the information of when she is doing it and tell him so he can make sure her ring is there too.
Starting point is 05:30:43 She's putting in that work she should show off her bling from him to LOL. Ope, she actually told me how she is proposing. It's also during the birthday vacation. She said she is creating a two-chapter book with custom art of all their firsts in chapter one and the proposal and ring in chapter two. She is very creative. fourth to Greek night. This is such a wonderful story. I hope your son and future daughter-in-law have many, many happy years together. As a dad, I cannot understand how a dad can walk out on his own
Starting point is 05:31:17 flesh and blood. When my son was born I got the answer that every person seeks, what is the purpose of my life? To me it was being this kid's daddy. Congrats to all of you. Ope, I was his third marriage. He had two children in his second. The child's support was bleeding him dry, didn't want to be cruel and asked for the minimum support. Supported my son through uni law school, and his master's all by myself. Update 1, June 26, 2024. My son, Sean, recently reached out to me with a request. He asked if I could take Lexi Ring shopping with me since I'm in the process of designing a new ring for myself. He thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Lexi to see different styles and find her ideal ring. Sean shared with me that Lexi prefers something simple and not
Starting point is 05:32:07 overly flashy. She told him, anything bigger than two carrots is for ego. I would just like a simple solitaire under two carrots with no fancy band and a meaningful engraving. While Sean, being a successful environmental attorney, wanted to splurge on something beautiful and expensive for Lexi, her preferences are clear. A little backstory, when they were dating and Sean was struggling to land a big law job, Lexi supported him without a complaint. She always told him, if I was in my residency and you had your big job, you'd do the same. We just have to be patient, it will come, and one day we will laugh about it at our wedding.
Starting point is 05:32:47 Lexi does enjoy expensive things, but she firmly believes that her fancy habits and tastes are hers to finance, never putting that burden on Sean. I'm taking Lexi to my jeweler this Friday, and I'm incredibly excited to see her pick out her ring. Comments where Ope has replied. C.T.U. I am so happy for all of you. You are an amazing mill. I wish them all the luck.
Starting point is 05:33:13 I know they will make great parents if they choose to have kids. Oop, funny story. Lexi has a nephew and always wanted to be a mom. she raises her nephew like her son. Sean never wanted kids. Changed his mind seeing Lexi with her nephew Mason, who also loves Sean a whole lot. C.T.U. How do you do this?
Starting point is 05:33:35 Every new thing you say just is more and more awesome and wholesome. Those two sound like amazing people and a great couple. I am so happy they found each other. Boop, me too. Resigned myself to never having hope for my son getting married and starting a family. He said law school ruined him. Then he started his masters and met Lexi smile. Update 2, July 1st, 2024. Things have been moving along beautifully. Friday, Lexi has been looking at simple, plain bands with solitaires, ovals, pear, round, and my jeweler, Groovy Greg, has been
Starting point is 05:34:15 taking notes on the pieces that caught her eye. Thankfully, when I was designing my new ring, she tried it on, and she's my size. On the flip side, Lexi got Sean's ring size from his best friend. She found a beautiful white gold band for Sean with their birthstones, Sapphire. She even had it engraved, but she hasn't disclosed what it says. And yes, she had it designed by Groovy Greg as well. She is returning to pick it up in July. Saturday, I sent photos and notes to Sean for myself and Greg, and we are designed.
Starting point is 05:34:50 a white gold 1.5 carat solitaire, VVS, for Lexi. Ring should be ready for pickup in August. So things are rocking and rolling on both ends. I wish I could share this with my husband or ex-husband, but I know they'll spill the beans. Thank you for listening to this old lady talk about her updates. Additional information. Oop on her son's father being at the wedding.
Starting point is 05:35:16 My son told me that his father is banned from speeches at the wedding too. He has a tendency to make things about himself and I would hate for him to ruin Lexi and Sean's beautiful day because he cannot shut up. Boop on if Lexi's mother knows about the proposals altogether. Her mother is aware of everything as well. So far we are the only two who know. Except for Reddit Smile. Update 3, August 5, 2024.
Starting point is 05:35:44 Lexi picked up the ring with me last Thursday, and she absolutely loves it. Since I never had a daughter, I asked her if we could go to the nail salon for manicures and pedicures before my family reunion. It was such a special bonding moment, and I couldn't help but gushed to everyone who would listen about how proud I am of her and how much I love her. I even saw her tearing up a little. I've never had a good mother-in-law experience myself. My ex-mill pointed a loaded shotgun at my stomach when I was six months pregnant with Sean. Lexi has also had her share of a horrible mill, who would see her. steal her money and speak poorly of her.
Starting point is 05:36:21 It means the world to me that we can heal that wound for each other and build a loving relationship. Sean also visited me, and we had a family reunion. I accidentally referred to Lexi as his future fiancé to my boss. I'm a bit worried that one of them, Lexi or Sean, may have heard me slip up. Fingers crossed that I didn't spoil the surprise. Sean is set to pick up the ring in two weeks, and we're all so excited. September can't come soon enough.
Starting point is 05:36:51 Comments where Oop has replied. Baby, Mama, Magnet, Women proposing is the generational change we need. Oop, you would not believe how many people believe it should be the other way around. Have received rude messages saying she's cucking him. I raised Sean to treat women as his equal. If he feels cucked, then I failed him fundamentally. Stimston 555, I've been following since the first post. In a world with so much darkness and hate it warms my heart to read a post filled with love and joy.
Starting point is 05:37:24 O.P., when the engagements happen, you will have to pay the ring tax. A photo of their ring fingers with their new rings on them. Until then, keep smiling. Poop, we'll do. I promise to share her proposal book and artwork, with her permission of course, as well. Update 4. New Update, September 13th, 2024. Lexi showed me her completed proposal book yesterday. The book is so beautiful and thoughtful, I know Sean is going to be blown away when he sees it.
Starting point is 05:37:55 Meanwhile, Sean is still figuring out his proposal plan. He mentioned that the weather might mess with his original idea, so he's got a bit of reworking to do. I know he'll come up with something great. Had a little run-in with my ex-husband and his wife recently at a concert. Funny enough, he also suspects Sean will propose soon. We both agree that Sean's relationship with Lexi has always been different, so much more mature and meaningful than his past ones. His wife, however, wasn't too pleased. She's the only one who hasn't met Lexi yet, and she seemed a bit sour about it. She even pulled me aside to ask
Starting point is 05:38:34 what Lexi is really like. I just told her the truth. Lexi is the perfect match for Sean. I would never speak poorly of her because, one, there's nothing next to you. to say, and, two, I've been in those shoes before, dealing with in-laws who weren't kind, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I'm just so excited for them. Hopefully, I'll be able to share photos of the art book after they've proposed already. Can't wait. Comments where Ope has replied. Comment her, hopefully, the ex's wife won't be the mill from hell. Oop, my son had a tough time growing up because of her. Once she became his fiancé, things only got worse, she treated him poorly and constantly left him out. It got to the point where Sean would beg to come back home
Starting point is 05:39:23 to me. One thing I'll never forget is when she told my ex that 11-year-old Sean couldn't be in her wedding because she didn't want any ugly people there. The fact that my ex went along with it made it even worse. Comment her, I am supposed he did not cut your ex out of his life as soon as he could. Being left out of the wedding is unforgivable, so do you think your ex will be excluded from your son's wedding? Boop, yep, we talked about it. No ugly people allowed here either. I hope you enjoy this story.
Starting point is 05:39:55 Following an extended period of separation due to professional commitments, I learned that my spouse was in a romantic relationship with her new executive and resigned from her position to reunite with me after he ended the affair. As a 43-year-old male, I have been living in Chicago for the last two years for job purposes. My wife, Jill, 39F, and our nine-year-old son are put in our hometown in Houston. Pre-pandemic, I used to run a garage with my friend while Jill worked as an executive. We didn't make much, but it was manageable. We lived in our own house. I had inherited it from my family. My parents retired early from their day job and went to live on our countryside farm to
Starting point is 05:40:39 lead their lives in peace amidst nature. My father loads up his truck every two weeks with all the dairy products, fruits, veggies, and potatoes, depending on the season, grown on his farm and ships it to us. So yeah, we save a lot there. Life was smooth. Bam! COVID hit and we lost everything. Everyone went indoors, there were no cars on the road, and people were selling off their vehicles because they couldn't pay their mortgages. Our garage followed the same fate, we had to shut it down and closed the lease because we couldn't pay the rent. Jill's company also got shut and she lost her job. Our only hope was the grains, vegetables, and milk we were getting from my parents' farm. Yes, we had savings but that was wearing out sooner than we thought. The government and local
Starting point is 05:41:31 communities sponsored groceries and other essentials and it saved people like us. When things started opening up, I thought to take up a job because setting up the garage all over again in that condition was not possible. But to my dismay, most of the garages were permanently shut down because the owners could not pay the mortgage. The ones that were running were not hiring new employees or any employee for that matter. The business was low and the owners themselves were running the show. Same was the case for Jill, she too didn't get back her job. After a lot of struggle and cold reach, finally one of my distant cousins told me that there was a vacancy at his workplace but that was in Chicago. It was a job at a car manufacturing unit, the pay was
Starting point is 05:42:16 good, and besides I had no other option than to take this job. We had almost no savings left and there was no hope of finding a job in Houston. I left for the job, leaving my wife and son at home. The company gave me food and shelter and I got 15 days leave every six months to visit my family. For the first year, it was smooth. Despite the distance, Jill and I were still very close. She always motivated me to work harder so that I could move them to Chicago. I was living in a dormitory provided by the company. Though the factory was located in the suburbs, it was still expensive to bring family here.
Starting point is 05:42:57 We both knew that it was a long journey but we were hopeful to be living together shortly. After my long working hours, talking to Jill was. the only thing that kept me refreshed and going. Things have started changing after my last home visit. Six to seven months back, Jill got a job at a startup company. I didn't notice any evident change except that she was not available for me every day. It was understandable. Earlier she was a homemaker so she could make time for me every time I called. Now with her job, this was unrealistic to expect. However, I noticed some changes in her when I went home during my last vacation.
Starting point is 05:43:38 She was way too guarded about herself and her phone. She was not talking freely and I felt like she was careful about whatever she spoke. This wasn't the case earlier. Yeah, before that, when she first started her job, she had a tough time with her boss. She's a secretary at a CEO's office. She works for a startup run by young just out of college graduates who are very rude to their employees. Jill couldn't take the harshness and resigned after a few months. After her resignation and her long email about a toxic workplace, her CEO called her back,
Starting point is 05:44:16 promising to mend his ways. A lot of employees were leaving the company because of his bad attitude. Her earnings were a cushion for us. She used to save most of it because I provided all the household expenses despite her job. It expedited our process of living together. She withdrew the resignation and rejoined. Things got better for her and she told me that her boss was now way more polite and respectful. It looked sorted. Fast forward to three months back, Jill told me that her boss, the CEO, was going for a five-day investor's summit in Dublin and he wanted Jill to accompany him. She denied it initially because she couldn't leave our son alone for five days, but her boss has offered to let our son accompany them at the company's expense.
Starting point is 05:45:04 Honestly, I have no idea how these corporate companies operate, how they could afford to spend so much on unnecessary stuff like this kind of travel but anyways, I left it for Jill to decide. She said it was important for her career and she went. I may sound possessive but I felt uneasy about her trip but didn't say anything. She called me regularly and kept me updated during the trip. I face-timed with my son daily and we did that too during the trip as well. He was very excited to visit a new place. It was his first time outside Houston.
Starting point is 05:45:40 Eventually, I eased up. There was no evident change in Jill after the trip, nothing that I read in the confessions here, like ignoring me or becoming cold, etc. I wouldn't have been writing this if I didn't go home last month. I didn't tell her the exact date of my visit, I wanted to give her a surprise. I had done this before as well,
Starting point is 05:46:01 but this time she was more shocked than happy to see me at the door. Her face didn't light up on seeing me, it was grim, though she pretended to be excited but you know, you can make out this subtle change in your partner. Then she was very guarded about her phone and about her own being overall. When you meet your partner after six months, obviously you want to get intimate. Every time she used to pounce on me on the same very night of my visit. But this time, she seemed reluctant. I asked her what happened.
Starting point is 05:46:34 She said nothing. She behaved like a virgin schoolgirl who just coordinated the entire action, feeling guarded about herself and without taking any initiative. I don't know, I felt she was scared about something I might find out. I confronted her, but she didn't acknowledge that there was anything unusual. But over the next few days, she became normal. Not very proud to say this, but I snooped into her phone that very night after she said, slept. No, there was nothing. The chats with her boss had nothing except work-related stuff.
Starting point is 05:47:09 No suspicious phone calls and the gallery was clean. When she was out for work, I asked my son the details about the Dublin trip and nothing came out from there either. I came back to work after the holidays, happy and satisfied. A week ago, Jill again told me she was going for a two-day work trip with her boss to Florida, and this time without our son. He has his exams which he can't miss so he will be living with my in-laws for those two days. I don't know guys if I'm being a jerk here, but I really don't have a good feeling about all this. I asked her who all were going. She said it was just her and her boss.
Starting point is 05:47:49 Her company has two founders, but she goes with just one of them every time, I find it very weird. I don't know if I'm being a moron to suspect her, but I just don't want to ignore the red flags early on and get fooled. Has anyone been in this situation before? Any advice slash pro tips highly appreciated? Update 1, Hello All, it's been quite a while since my last post. I connected with a lot of men who were deployed outside their hometown and they faced a similar situation. Seeing my circumstances, most of them suggested that I give Jill the benefit of the doubt because I couldn't find any substantial evidence suggesting her cheating. I did that.
Starting point is 05:48:29 After her trip to Dublin and Florida, she went on many more work trips to cities like Amsterdam, Seattle, etc. Surprisingly, never in Chicago, where I live. A month ago, I got my second promotion, a long-awaited one with a substantial hike. I was so delighted when it was announced. I immediately called up Jill and told her about this, but her reaction was far from being happy. And you know why? because this meant she and my son could move in with me. I asked her if she was not happy that I got my long-awaited promotion.
Starting point is 05:49:06 I worked here for four years, double shifts on most of the days to earn my promotion so that I could be with my family again. She said she was happy about the promotion but was not sure about shifting to a new place. She said she had worked so hard to rebuild her career and now she didn't want to waste it again. I suggested she could get a new job in Chicago, but she didn't like that idea. She said she was expecting a promotion and had worked her ass off to make a name for herself in the company and now she couldn't leave it without a promotion. It didn't go down well with me because she was pushing back a lot. I mean if I had the chance I would have definitely left my job to live with my family.
Starting point is 05:49:47 Her salary was a quarter compared to mine and she could have got a similar paying job easily here, yet she was not ready to leave her job. It led to several fights and arguments between us, but she shifted her reason towards our son that his school and curriculum would be disrupted. My son is a soccer enthusiast and has been getting trained at a community club. I assured her I would find him a good training club here, but she was reluctant saying shifting here would mean a complete disruption in our son's life. Some of her reasons made sense, but I felt she never wanted to share a house with me. Finally, we came to a conclusion that we would wait for another year, save some more money, and then think about this decision. Due to three months into this
Starting point is 05:50:30 and Jill tells me that she wants to move to Chicago with me. I asked her what happened all of a sudden. She said she had just changed her mind and our son needed me. Few moths back, when we were fighting over this, she reasoned out that we shouldn't disrupt our son's curriculum. At that time, son's class academic year had just ended and it would have been easier for us to get him admitted to a new school in Chicago. Now his new academic session has started and it would be so difficult to get him admitted mid-year. I told her to wait for this year and they could come next year but she got adamant about living together. I asked her about her job and she said she was ready to quit the job. Family is more important than anything else. I really don't know what is driving this
Starting point is 05:51:17 change in her, but I definitely suspect something fishy. She has even got to a point where she's ready to delay our son's academic session by a year. I discussed this with some of my local colleagues here and they assured me that they would help me in getting my son admitted mid-session. I'm planning everything else to bring them here with me, house setup, car, school, etc. But deep down I feel she is not doing this for me. There's something else. I'll update the thread if I'm successful in getting through the truth, else it might just be my overthinking. Update 2, Hello Everyone. So, it came out that my wife was indeed cheating on me and I found out everything when she shifted with me in Chicago.
Starting point is 05:52:01 As I mentioned in my last update, she suddenly told me that she wanted to move with me and that she was ready to quit her job. I was both happy and suspicious about the entire thing, but I made all the arrangements for them. My cousin who referred me to this job helped me in getting my son admitted to the same academic year. He also helped me procure an affordable rental apartment. So, Jill and my son shifted with me and I couldn't be happier. Whatever suspicions and doubts I had in my mind, it all vanished when we started living together. It was a happy time. However, as time passed, I realized that Jill was not the same woman I had married.
Starting point is 05:52:42 Yes, time changes all of us, but it was not a good change. She became snappy and guarded. Whenever I confronted her, she said she was missing our hometown, friends, and family there. I too was living away from family for so long. I kind of empathized with her, but one night, I found her weeping over the phone. I eavesdropped on the conversation and realized that she was pleading with someone to take her back. So, instead of hiding or investigating anything, I just confronted her after she was done with the call. Yes, I heard it all and it was quite clear.
Starting point is 05:53:21 I'm glad that she didn't lie or manipulate the situation. She confessed everything. It happened so that her young boss fucked her, quite literally. It started on their first Dublin trip. After a successful investment deal, they got so happy and drunk that they lost control and did that. After that, they did it every night after our son fell asleep. This disgusted me so much that I wanted to punch her fucking face right there. They continued to fuck even after the trip and every business trip, they have been together,
Starting point is 05:53:55 it was more of a fucking trip. That was the reason she didn't want to leave her job. However, when she told her boss that I wanted her to be here with me but she had refused because of him, he got scared and told her that he wasn't serious about those physical things. He asked her to prioritize her family over him. She flipped out. Though she knew, it was just for fun, somewhere she felt hurt that he wasn't as involved as she was.
Starting point is 05:54:23 He even showed her the woman he had been dating casually. So, Jill was basically his sex toy. Isn't this evident? It goes without saying that he wasn't going to marry her or ever get serious about her. I don't know what she was thinking before trading off her marriage for her. cheap sex. When the CEO didn't reciprocate Jill's feelings, she took it to her ego and quit the job. This time he didn't even bother to ask her the reason and released her. Looked like he desperately wanted to get rid of her and her resignation made things better for him. She thought he would
Starting point is 05:54:59 beg and plead with her to stay. Why would he? He is the owner of the company. He can have many girls lined up for him. Why would he run after her? Jill was an easy source of energy. for him and he exploited it. She was a fool to take him seriously. Now, she is calling and pleading with him to take her back and he is asking her to move on. It amazed to know that she was ready to be his mistress. She was telling this over the call. I asked her how she was able to pull this cheating for so long. She said their conversations were face to face, and they worked from the same cabin for eight to ten hours a day. Makes sense. That was the reason I couldn't find anything on her phone.
Starting point is 05:55:44 Neither she texted or called him during my 15 days' home visit. They were together for half of the day, why do they still need to talk over the phone? Her boss was anyways not emotionally involved in her so talking wasn't needed. He wanted actions and she used to give him that in his cabin. Yes, she told me that. They had regular sex in his cabin, bolting the doors and switching off the cabin camera. The revelation made my head so heavy. I asked her to leave me alone.
Starting point is 05:56:16 It was already morning by the time our confrontation was over. I slept through the day. When I woke up in the evening, I saw that she had made my favorite food. She acted so normal and said we could start over fresh. I said no way, I was here, working my ass off day and night for a better life for my family and she was there getting down for her CEO. She acted shocked when I uttered the word divorce. She was like, how could you do that to me?
Starting point is 05:56:45 I left everything for you, I stood by you in the struggle days when you made nothing and now when you're earning well, how could you abandon me? She did support me in distress, but she also faltered and cheated on me. I too did my part of being a good husband. Long distance was difficult for me too, I too was craving for family and sex life, but I didn't choose infidelity. She did. She kept saying sorry and making all sorts of promises, but I didn't back off. I told I'd be booking tickets for her return and would send the divorce papers soon.
Starting point is 05:57:20 Thank God, I had a pre-nup with her which is going to save a lot for me. Details for next update. Currently, I'm not in a stable mind frame. I left the house and have been living in the company's dorm. We'll make the final update after sorting out this mess. Update 3. Hello everyone. Thanks for all the support. People commented that I missed the red flag and that wives cheat in long-distance relationships. Not taking any offense but guys, I was alert from the start, noticed the slightest change in her behavior, and discussed that
Starting point is 05:57:55 openly. I called her daily and had transparent conversations every now and then. I even checked her phone whenever I visited home. I don't know what else I should have been. done to avoid the cheating. So yeah, my divorce proceedings have started. I had booked their tickets to return back home. My son is too small to live alone without his mother and with my working condition, it's not possible for me to take care of him. Besides, he was away from me for so many years, it's not the best thing to keep him with me. I'm hoping when he grows mature and understands things, he will understand me. Jill pleaded with me that she had lost everything and didn't have any means to live on her own. I offered to let her stay in the house until I was
Starting point is 05:58:42 back in our hometown. We had a pre-nup that she cannot claim my property in a divorce popping out of cheating. So she cannot have my house. I agreed to the child support for my son. So she gets nothing from the divorce. Even after she for Houston, she kept contacting me, asking for one last chance to fix our relationship. She was hopeful that I would forgive her for the sake of our son. Now, yes, people do that. They forgive their cheating partner for the sake of their children. Call me egoistic or whatever, I wasn't ready to take her back just to give my son a false illusion of a happy marriage. Finally, after a lot of tussle, the divorce was finalized. She got away with nothing. She lost her job.
Starting point is 05:59:32 The boss has not given good feedback in her relieving letter, he mentioned her being flaky who resigns at the drop of a hat without any reason. She resigned twice in her tenure without reason. So she is not getting offers from good companies. Also, the market condition of the corporate industry is not so good for the last one year. She sometimes sends me voicemails that I have ruined her life. I don't care. Neither I have blocked her. I want her to know that I hear everything she says. Still, I'm unmoved by her misery. I want her to know that I don't love her anymore. Now on to the next story. Story 2. Caught my wife cheating on me with her a fair partner while we were on a camping trip. My wife, 26, was extremely competitive with her twin sister. I, 32 male, noticed pretty quickly that she compared their jobs, houses, community involvement, style, self-discipline, and even spouses. Yes, she even compared me to her brother-in-law. In these comparisons, she usually claimed herself the higher achiever,
Starting point is 06:00:43 and her sister merely a close second, but in certain things, my wife wasn't as confident and looked to me for reassurance. To my dismay, she didn't seem totally convinced that I was the better catch. After talking about her brother-in-law's career in law enforcement and weightlifting dedication, she got quiet and inevitably started giving me hints that she wanted me to do some of the things he was doing. I was fit and lean, working as a van driver and handyman in a small, privately owned construction company. I wasn't making very much money, but it was enough to pay half the household bills. My wife covered the other half with her various social media platform sponsors and a part-time
Starting point is 06:01:24 job as a make-up saleswoman. When she started comparing me to her sister's husband, I lost it. I told her she was lucky she had such an easy way to earn money and that she owed it to the fact that she was born with a beautiful face, and learned how to charm and manipulate people. She was pretty upset with me after that, and didn't want to listen when I said I was working really hard and it was only a matter of time before I got a pay increase. It wasn't long after this interaction that I noticed my wife's increased interaction with her brother-in-law. They were commenting on each other's posts and pictures on social media. I knew he was texting her because I saw a preview of his text pop up on my wife's phone
Starting point is 06:02:05 before she grabbed it. Everything came to a head when I saw them at a cookout together. My wife's entire family was there, so it was crowded, but out of all the people my wife could have been catching up with, she was standing side by side with her brother-in-law. As soon as I went to the bathroom, she disappeared to find him. By the time I found her, they were smiling and talking intimately. Irritated, I scanned the crowd for my sister-in-law. She was oblivious to what her sister and husband were doing.
Starting point is 06:02:37 Since my wife was distracted, I went through her purse to find her phone. I took it to the bathroom and had time to read and screenshot a plethora of messages that spelled out their emotional and lustful affair. My wife admired him for his bravery and self-discipline, physical fitness, and flattered him in a variety of ways. Some things she never even said to me. They send each other nudes, and that's when my hand started shaking. Their most recent messages were plans to meet at a cheap motel in four days, when their
Starting point is 06:03:09 spouses would be working. I couldn't believe what I was reading because my wife as I knew her would never be so heartless or inconsiderate enough to have an affair with her own sister's husband. Yet, it was clearly happening. I waited until after the cookout to text the most crucial screenshots to my sister-in-law, along along with a message that suggested we wait to ambush them at the motel with additional family members. She was completely shocked and devastated, so it took some persuasion to get her to agree to keep it a secret until then. When the day came, she and I, plus ten other family members, including
Starting point is 06:03:44 their parents and members of APPS family, sat in our cars and waited for them to check in. They were riding an APPS car, looking as giddy as a newlywed couple. As soon as they started walking towards their room, key card in hand, all of us got out and started walking towards them. I remember I was the one that got their attention first, followed by the rest of the family. When they saw us, it looked like they were struck by lightning. They froze, gasped, locked up, and needed to change their drawers. My wife's sister started screaming at them, which made her husband drop to his knees, trying to reach for her hand in desperation. My wife did not know what to say.
Starting point is 06:04:28 She didn't like being wrong, and she was clearly wrong in this, for her entire family to see. She just started saying they didn't do anything, over and over again, trying to yell louder than the other family members and myself. I finally showed her the picture she sent to APPS, and that made her shut up, but she still didn't want to accept this shame and guilt. She turned and tried to speed walk away, but her uncle stopped her and called her a whole homewrecker, scolding her for ruining her sister's life. He demanded she face her and take accountability for her actions, but she just screamed and kicked when he wouldn't let her go.
Starting point is 06:05:05 She ran down the street crying because she didn't drive to the motel. APPS was willing to do anything to win back the love of his wife, but she refused to maintain a broken marriage with someone she couldn't trust. I felt the same way, and even though my wife wasn't begging my forgiveness at the time, she called me howling when she received divorce papers. With the screenshots an entire family as my witness, she couldn't claim her innocence, and she finally broke down. She admitted she made the worst mistake of her life, and that she never should have been comparing her sister's life to her own. Even though they both regretted it, my wife and APPS were shunned from the family, never to be contacted
Starting point is 06:05:47 again. Without her mom, sister, or dad, my ex went down a metaphorical hole and never maintained the image that paid her so well before. She started smoking and drinking, while I got a huge promotion to assistant lead in a growing construction company. I hope you enjoy this story. Spouse pleaded with me to have intimate relations with her acquaintance to add excitement, eventually I consented but discovered Spouse was already engaging in infidelity with the acquaintance as partner. I am 35, wedded. Ellie, F. 34, five years back. We're a working individual and just an average couple. We worked hard on the weekdays and got smashed on weekends, that has been our life.
Starting point is 06:06:34 However, it has steadily changed in the last three months. One Sunday, we were just relaxing by ourselves when suddenly my wife started showing pictures of her friends and asked me to rate them. I looked at her in surprise. She asked me to take it as a sport, it would be fun. I took it as casual fun. So, we both indulged in this creepy stuff of raiding her friends. I gave her the disclaimer that it was just for fun and I didn't mean anything.
Starting point is 06:07:03 She patted me in assurance. In that game, I ended up giving the highest score to her friend, Lily F. 33. My wife and Lily were gym partners before becoming friends. Later, Lily's husband, Joshua M. 36, and I met, and always were a little bit. all four of us vived along well. We usually hang out together. A couple of days later, out of the blue, my wife asked me if I would sleep with Lily if given a chance. I was taken aback. I reminded her of the disclaimer I gave before playing that game. I know how women are. They're experts in building a castle out of thin air. She calmed me down, stating that she
Starting point is 06:07:48 wasn't digging on me. She said that if I find her hot, I should get to explore with her. I was stunned. I clarified that I didn't find Lily hot. It's just that she was better looking than most of the other friends of Ellie. I know, shallow, but it was just a game. She insisted for the next few days that I should at least have one wild encounter with Lily. She reasoned I would eventually hook up with her if I had any minutest feelings for her. She thought it was better to satisfy my desire openly than cheat on her back. I told her I never intended to sleep with Lily, I'd never seen Lily in that light. However, she didn't seem to buy it at all.
Starting point is 06:08:31 A few days later, one of the weekends, we were having a house party at Lily's and Joshua's place. It was just four of us, I and my wife, Joshua, and his wife, Lily. We were bored with the games and decided to have a movie night. IDK whose plan it was to watch 2 plus 2, but we ended up watching that crap. For people who haven't watched this movie, it's about couples swapping to spice up the relationship. As the after effect of the film and the alcohol, all four of us looked at each other to see if there could be a possibility of the same between us. But, thank God nothing happened, and we all burst out in hysteric laughter.
Starting point is 06:09:12 I almost forgot that incident as soon as Monday kicked in. However, the same wasn't true for my wife. A few days into the week, while having a casual dinner table conversation, she brought up our experience of that night. She hinted that it would have been great to try a couple swaps. I smirked and laughed at it, thinking it all to be a joke. My laughter turned into a shock when she said that she was serious. I asked if she already had someone in mind to explore this idea of a couple swap. She said, well, we can explore it with Joshua and Lily.
Starting point is 06:09:48 I looked severely at her suggestion and said she couldn't be serious about that. I declined it, saying it would ruin two families, ours and theirs. She nodded and said that she wasn't that serious either. But that movie had put an idea into her head and that she would get over it in a while. I acknowledged it and moved on from that discussion. However, as time passed, she insisted we... spice up our married life. It is understandable that after being together with the same person for seven years, sexual life does become routine, but that's the game of marriage. You trade off
Starting point is 06:10:25 thrill for more meaningful feelings like stability, love, and care. I asked her up front if she wanted to have an open relationship. She outright denied it, suggesting all this just to strengthen our bond and nothing else. I assured her I loved her and didn't want to be anyone else but her. Days passed, but Ellie was stuck to her point. She didn't miss any single opportunity to give me a subtle hint that I should sleep with Lily. One evening, Ellie came excited from the gym. She told me that she had spoken to Lily about my desire. She was surprised to know that Lily and Joshua were also in thought about exploring their
Starting point is 06:11:05 sexual life. I flustered. I asked her what made her discuss this topic with Lily. She said it was normal for women to discuss bed with their friends. I don't know, guys, maybe I'm just old school. I'd never discuss minds with any of my guy friends. I had done it in the past, maybe in some casual relationship, but never in detail, especially about my wife.
Starting point is 06:11:32 She added that she told Lily about how I thought her to be hot and guess what. Lily blushed. She said this with a sheer sense of achievement. I shrugged and said it was normal for anyone to blush to know that someone finds them hot. But she said that maybe Lily also desired to hook up with me. To be honest, the way she pestered, I sensed that something was fishy. So, I sleuthed her phone, I checked her chats and social media account, but it was all clean, except for spam messages from some random guy.
Starting point is 06:12:05 I felt guilty for suspecting her. Ellie has a very cheerful and bubbly personality who likes to speak her heart without filter, and I loved her for that. I was actually being awful to her since the time she started nagging me to sleep with Lily. Upon finding her phone to be clean, I hated myself for being mean to her. I thought she loved me to the extent that she was okay to let me sleep with someone. I felt blessed. Over the next month, we regularly met Joshua and Lily over drinks or dinner, sometimes in our houses and outside. It was just usual. However, what was unusual, I actually felt infatuated with Lily, and there were several reasons for that.
Starting point is 06:12:49 Whenever we met, Ellie would subtly tease me, and sometimes Joshua, too, joined in teasing me, while Lily blushed all this while with intense eye contact. I mean, who wouldn't get a butterfly in this situation? But every time this conversation came up, I made it clear that I didn't intend to put my finger on Lily, literally, the reason why I'm writing this is because I'm at a fix now. Next week, we have a long weekend because the bank holiday falls on a Friday. My wife and Lily had planned that we all get a mini vacation at a beach resort. We have done this kind of mini trip with Joshua and Lily, but it is different this time. My wife, Ellie, insists I sleep with Lily on this vacation. I've adamantly declined it, but she says we can always
Starting point is 06:13:36 retreat if things are uncomfortable. I asked Ellie what if she gets hurt and possessive about it. She said that we can't know our true selves until we try. I don't know what to do. I would be lying if I said that I'm not thrilled, but I'm equally nervous. This would ruin my marriage, but my wife thinks it will help us bond well. She says that it is way more common than I think. I know that couples try out different means to spice up their life, but no one talks about openly. So, I don't know how it works. Looking for suggestions from people who have explored this and how the experience was. Should we really involve a third human being to spice up our life? Update 1, Hey people. You know what? You guys were right, she was indeed cheating on me
Starting point is 06:14:27 already. After getting some sound advice from a few of you, I decided to play along and see where it leads. Of course, I didn't want to sleep with Lily, but I pretended in front of Ellie that I was okay to try this. I wanted to see what would unfold once I consented to her. She was delighted that I had finally agreed. On the supposed weekend, all four of us drove to the resort, which was 60 miles away. On the way, while Ellie and Joshua were enjoying the scenic beauty, I noticed, Lily was lost and nervous for most of the journey. I was also not feeling great, but I was somehow faking it. I had no evidence of foul play, just my gut feeling. I couldn't pass the verdict just with my instincts. It was Friday, and we reached there
Starting point is 06:15:17 somewhere in the afternoon. The plan was to sunbathe until the evening, attend a party arranged by the resort, and later we would explore our darkest fantasy. In short, it was all arranged for me and Lily to hook up. After freshening up, we relished a decadent lunch and spent the rest of of the afternoon slumbering under the sun. I tried speaking to Lily privately, but she didn't acknowledge that she was uncomfortable, she smirked, saying she was looking forward to the night. The party was wild, but I tried to stay in control to be alert for the next action plan. Sensing my anxiety and alertness, Joshua comforted me, saying it was all fine and Lily wanted to have fun with me, she was attracted to my physique. Now that I know the truth, I feel disgusted at his move.
Starting point is 06:16:04 I didn't know what time it was when we left the party, and I found myself in a room with Lily. We both sat awkwardly four, I don't know how long. She broke the ice and asked how we should start. I asked her if we really need to. She stared at me with a confused look. I asked her if she really wanted to sleep with me. She admitted that she had a slight crush on me but never wanted to sleep with me until her
Starting point is 06:16:31 husband Joshua planted this idea in her head. I sensed something was wrong, so I asked her if she wanted to sleep with me. I was dumbfounded to hear that she was manipulated in a similar way as I was. It started with Ellie telling her about the game in which I rated Lily the highest. Ellie also told Lily we were seeking ways to spice up our married life. The same day, Joshua came home and said he felt blessed to have such a desirable wife that even I wanted to make out with her. Lily thought I told Joshua about all this, but it wasn't me. It was, of course, Ellie who had told him, or it was just their plan.
Starting point is 06:17:11 Since then, Joshua has been planning this idea in Lily's mind. He asked her if she would like to make out with me. She denied it multiple times, but he said that it would spice up and strengthen their relationship. She admitted that she liked my physique, but not to the extent that she would sleep with me. I cleared the air that I never wanted to sleep with her. I narrated my side of the story, and she was shocked because all she knew until then was that I wanted her. By then, we knew that it was them. Lily asked Joshua whether he and Ellie would do something similar, to which he denied.
Starting point is 06:17:49 He said he wanted Lily to experience it first, and if everything goes well, he'll think. I remember not conversing with Ellie because I didn't want to enter this game. I told her I suspected Ellie of cheating when she pestered me for that hookup and checked her phone, but it came out clean. We decided that it was the best time to uncover the truth. I wanted to bang open the room and confront them immediately, but Lily insisted on catching them red-handed. She was adamant about ruining them.
Starting point is 06:18:20 So, on the night we were supposed to be hooking up, we devised a plan to destroy Ellie and Joshua. They both were supposed to be outside, waiting for us. We knew they won't indulge in anything at that point because we could quit last moment and walk out of the room, they couldn't take the risk. So, when we both went out, we saw them watching something on the iPad. They were sitting cozily but not intimate. We said we had changed our minds and didn't want to hook up. Both turned pale.
Starting point is 06:18:52 They asked us what was the reason for backing out. I said we didn't feel right, it wasn't supposed to be forced. They ran short of words to express their disappointment. I told them my client requested a sudden meeting the next day, so we would have to leave early. I asked Ellie to continue the vacation with Lily and Joshua. But none of them wanted to stay further. We drove back home the next morning. All four of us were silent for most of the time during the return journey.
Starting point is 06:19:22 After reaching home, I changed and left the house. I drove to a coffee shop away from the house. After an hour of leaving the house, I got a call from Lily that Joshua had also left the house, citing some urgent work. We both knew what his critical work was. Lily said she had asked her another friend to follow Joshua and would update me about their location. Rightly so, they were found at my house. While leaving the house, I told her I'd come home late in the evening, and they couldn't miss this opportunity. I hurriedly drove back to pick Lily up, raging angrily to catch the duo
Starting point is 06:20:01 red-handed. I used my key to unlock the apartment, and they were lying naked. Lily was swift to capture their photos while they struggled to wrap themselves up. I raced into the room, through Ellie's belongings outside the apartment, and asked her to leave the house immediately. They both pleaded with us to listen to them. Joshua kept saying they were trying to experiment like we did last night. I pulled him by his collar and asked him since when he was fucking my wife. Ellie tried to free him, but I pushed her away. He said that it was the first time they had explored. I choked him harder, grinding my teeth, asking for a confession. I stared at Ellie with a red eye and said I didn't mind rotting in jail by killing that
Starting point is 06:20:47 parasite. I made it clear that either of them confesses the truth or I strangle Joshua. Ellie agreed while howling and begged me to stop. They confessed that they had an affair for over a year. They were seen hand in hand by two of my friends and one of Lily's, but fortunately for them, none informed us anything. However, Joshua and Ellie were scared of being exposed someday, so they plotted to involve us eventually in the game of couple swap and legalized their adultery. I asked her how come her phone was clean when I checked it. She sobbed and admitted that they used to communicate only through emails which she used a sign and only when required. They didn't chat often and used that email to communicate regarding the time and location of their meetup.
Starting point is 06:21:34 It was just a cold physical relationship between Ellie and Joshua. Lily left the house after hearing everything. Joshua followed her. I asked Ellie to leave the house immediately. She tried to hug me, sobbing and pleading with me. I made it clear that reconciliation is not on the table. She tried to fool me, I couldn't let her run over me. She left the house only when I threatened to involve her parents.
Starting point is 06:22:02 I messaged Lily to send me the pictures she had taken of them. I forwarded those to Ellie's sister and told her everything. She confirmed that Ellie didn't go to her parents' house. After a week, I emailed her the divorce papers. Since I didn't know her location, the lawyer sent the physical copy to her parents' house. They called me in panic. I looped in Ellie's sister on the call and asked her to narrate everything. After receiving the email, Ellie spammed my phone with her pleadings.
Starting point is 06:22:34 She used to send me messages earlier, asking for a reconciliation, but the frequency increased after the email. Lily, on the other hand, involved her parents in the matter. Lily's father was a businessman, and Joshua handled one of his business units. So, when the truth came out, Joshua was kicked out of work, and Lily's father used all his connections to block every possible job for Joshua in his field. It's been a month since the D-Day. My divorce proceedings are on. Ellie is contesting it, asking for a share in my house.
Starting point is 06:23:10 I'm distraught with the cheating and the way the duo tried to involve us in the dirty game. I'll update if anything develops, else consider this the final one. Update 2, I didn't think of updating it, but I've some news. I know some of you would expect me and Lily to get together. No, that didn't happen. Like mentioned earlier, neither I nor Lily wanted to hook up. We both were just fools to be manipulated into it. Gladly, we escaped last minute.
Starting point is 06:23:41 My divorce got settled, and Ellie didn't get a penny. My lawyer argued that if she claimed the property share, we would also revise the divorce terms and claim alimony for my mental distraught. I tell you, if you pay your lawyers well enough, they can bargain for good returns. She gave up and signed the papers. I don't remember if I mentioned that Joshua was working at his Phil's company, and with this news, he was kicked out. He wasn't able to secure any decent paying job in his field.
Starting point is 06:24:12 After leaving my house, Ellie rented a dingy apartment where she offered Joshua to stay with her. However, he declined, stating that his fill would destroy him further. Besides, he never loved her. Ellie was living under a bubble that Joshua loved her, but he didn't. Joshua clarified that it was all for fun, without strings attached, as per their initial agreement. These revelations came out during Lily's divorce, where Joshua confessed that he, was manipulated by Ellie. He never loved her, he loved Lily. He begged Lily and her father for a last chance, but they rebuked him and forced him into a divorce. It didn't hurt me to see
Starting point is 06:24:55 my ex-wife getting exposed and humiliated in a courtroom. I felt justice was served hot as she deserved. She was abandoned by everyone she knew, her husband, her lover, her friend, and her family. her parents and siblings despise her. I don't know about her work status. This kind of news spreads like wildfire. I wanted to send those pictures to some her colleagues as well, but I held back. I don't know about her present status, but I know she can't afford her previous lifestyle with her income. She jeopardized our stable relationship for a cheap thrill and now got what she deserved. I have enrolled in counseling. I was getting disturbing thoughts about the night Ellie had planned for my hookup. The therapy is helping me move on, but I think it will take
Starting point is 06:25:46 some more time to mentally wipe her out. My friends insist I meet other women, but I don't think I'm ready to date. Any advice or tips is highly appreciated. Thanks, much. Now on to the next story. Story two. Daughter told me about my wife that she cheated on me with guys she met at grocery store. I, 34 male, was dating my fiancé, 32, for three years before I proposed. She grew up in a very sheltered household, so I was the first man she dated and slept with. We grew up in the country away from it all, so we felt old-fashioned compared to how a lot of people live their lives, but that's how we liked it. Our families were proud and there wasn't any drama. After she said yes, we started looking for a house to buy. It figures that the first house we
Starting point is 06:26:39 look at is being shown by an extremely attractive man, and I say that as heterosexual as possible. I wasn't worried at first, I thought my wife to be loved and respected me, but when I saw the way she looked at this stranger, it was like she saw all the future possibilities if she married him instead. She asked him lots of questions about his personal life and seemed completely intrigued that life brought them together. I felt left in the dust. This couldn't have been all in my head. She wasn't just being friendly. When we left the house tour, I asked her what that was all about, and she played dumb. She acted like I didn't just see her flirting with this guy like her life depended on it. I told her what I saw and she said I must be an extremely jealous person to have
Starting point is 06:27:25 seen something that wasn't happening. Well, I told her we weren't buying that house because I didn't like that guy, and I wasn't comfortable with her seeing him ever again. Since that day, she started asking me more questions about her appearance and what my goals were in life. I think she started wondering if I was good enough to be with her. She started talking about how great it would be to make as much money as a realtor and to be able to be dressed up and just show houses seemed so easy. I told her I didn't want her to work at the same realty place as that guy. Little did I know, she was already texting him and applied to the company. Two weeks later, she told me she was hired as a bank teller. She started going to work each day and I didn't even go to the bank
Starting point is 06:28:10 she was supposedly working at until a week after she started. I later on figured out that she wasn't there. I called her to see where she was, and she answered in a cheery voice, but when I told her her I was looking for her at the bank, she panicked. She started stuttering and saying she was out to lunch, but I told her not to lie to me. I said I already went inside and no one knew who she was. She was speechless. She finally said I had to promise not to be mad, and she told me she actually became a realtor of course she was working at the realty place I told her not to. Then, before I even admitted how mad I was, she told me we were invited to Ab's house for dinner. The man that showed us the first house.
Starting point is 06:28:56 I felt like I was losing my fiancé, and there was nothing I could do but play along. She swore they were only friends, and I didn't have any concrete proof otherwise. I wouldn't be able to divorce her without knowing I wasn't jumping to conclusions. So we went to his house. It was a bachelor's mansion and it made me sick. There was another couple invited over, so at least it wasn't just the three of us, but he mostly spoke to my wife all night long. When I couldn't hold it anymore I went to the bathroom and when I came back out, they were gone. I asked the other couple where they went and they
Starting point is 06:29:32 said outside, but they didn't look certain. I went outside and started speedwalking around the house to find them, but I couldn't. I started yelling like a crazy person and felt like my woman shouldn't have put me in this situation. When I went back inside, I must have looked panicked. I think the girl felt bad for me because she said she saw them go upstairs. I took three steps at a time and found that only one bedroom door was locked. I banged on it, demanding to see my fiancé, and it was about 30 seconds until he opened the door. All he said was he was sorry, old habits die hard when it comes to locking the door. But a few things crumbled his lie to pieces.
Starting point is 06:30:16 First off, he had my fiancé's shade of lipstick on his lip. Her face was bright red, and she was trying to casually stand and hold her wine glass like she wasn't just caught in the act. App called for the other couple as if he was upset with them for failing to guard the stairs like he asked, but it turned out they left. I walked into the room and sniffed around, even smelling my fiance's neck. She held her breath, said I was being weird, and asked me if we could go back downstairs now. I ignored her and continued looking for clues. for clues. She stammered and said he was just showing her the space in his walk-in closets. I looked into her shameful eyes and asked how she had the nerve to lie to me, disobey me,
Starting point is 06:31:00 and sleep with the guy I wanted her to avoid. At that moment, I knew she wasn't worth my commitment. As if all the things leading up to this weren't fishy enough. I told her she wasn't the hot stuff she thought she was, and she deserved to live a meaningless life, without the sacred relationship between a man and a woman that I tried to have with her. App was super quiet and awkward. He looked completely different from the confidence-selling man my fiancé was so infatuated with. I got in his terrified face and yelled that I should beat him to a pulp for taking my woman
Starting point is 06:31:34 from me. He was so scared of that happening, that he already called the police to request an officer's presence. I left before they got there. App didn't realize that by doing that, he provided. me with a police report I obtained a copy of, where they each admitted they were having an affair, and I caught them. I was able to use this to publicly shame them. They became the faces of sleazy salespersons you didn't want to trust around your own spouse. They lost their jobs and
Starting point is 06:32:04 family support, while I dodged a lifelong mistake. It still freaks me out that she started an affair with the first attractive man she came in contact with as an engaged woman. I hope you enjoy this story. Acquaintance informed me that his pal was being enticed by another woman to abandon his spouse and child in exchange for financial support. I safeguarded this information for 12 months, until the spouse herself disclosed it. Already knew. I, 38F, met my friend Dave, 42M, about four years ago in an online gaming forum. During the entire time we talked, I became friends with his wife Brenda. 43F, and he became friends with my fiancée Mickle, 38M.
Starting point is 06:32:49 I live by the rule in a relationship that if there is conversation that I wouldn't feel comfortable showing my significant other, then I don't need to be having that conversation. At no point did Dave ever cross a line with me, nor was there ever inappropriate conversation. This is important. About a year and a half ago, summertime, Mikkel got a big promotion and we hosted a fun weekend-long celebration at our home. We invited Dave and Brenda, who live five hours from us, and this was the first time we actually met them in person. I instantly connected with Brenda, as she was so authentic and sweet. We all got along well, and even started talking about doing future get-togethers and vacations.
Starting point is 06:33:31 It seemed perfect. At this time my company was doing major layoffs and I was looking for a new career. Brenda has worked at a remote company for over a decade and recommended I apply. After a few intense interviews, I was hired. Quick side note, Dave had been injured in work-related accident that had gone to court, he sued and won. He was permanently disabled because of the accident and can no longer work at his profession. That, along with a large life insurance policy from his parents, he is financially set for life. He stays home and raises their daughter, Leah, five, while Brenda does her remote work from the house as well. So, a little over a year ago, during the fall, a few months after the celebration weekend,
Starting point is 06:34:17 Dave and Brenda were getting ready to take their daughter Leah, 5, on a vacation. Before they left for the airport, Dave said he needed to talk to me, it was urgent, so I stepped away to take the call. Dave then told me he had literally nobody else to talk to this about, and was deeply depressed, and needed to confide in me as a friend. I really wish he hadn't. He told me that the night before he had gotten into a huge fight with who he calls his best friend, Rachel, 41F. I had heard about Rachel but never met her, and didn't know too much about her, to be honest.
Starting point is 06:34:53 What I did know, Dave, Brenda and Rachel had been friends in college, approximately 20-year-long friendship, she had visited at Dave and Brenda's house several times over the years. And that Rachel allegedly had been in a string of bad relationships of which Dave had had to bail her out financially a few times. That's about it. Here comes the information that I wish Dave hadn't told me, as it has completely changed how I view my friend. Dave told me that Rachel confessed to him the night before that she knew he was attracted to her. Yes, she is gorgeous. Dave said he has always been attracted to her physically, but mentally her personality, specifically her shallowness, was a huge turnoff for him. Some unkind things were said about Brenda letting herself go
Starting point is 06:35:39 since having Leah, which disgusted me. He then said Rachel confessed that she is frustrated with her never-ending chain of bad relationships and wants to finally settle down. She knows he is wealthy and can give her the life she feels she deserves. She wants him to leave Brenda and Leah, move to Rachel's city, by her a large house, and let her be his trophy wife. I choked back a laugh at this because I literally thought it was a joke. Seriously? She admits to not being physically attracted to him. Okay, who says things like that? But no, she can satisfy him and he can give her the lifestyle she deserves. She just demands that he has to completely cut off the life he is now, including all friends and family, and be with her. What is worse, Rachel has been planning
Starting point is 06:36:27 this for literally years. Sitting in their home, eating their food, drinking their wine, holding Leah, laughing with Brenda, all while planning this. I was floored. I asked what Brenda thought of all this. He said he didn't tell her. I asked him how Rachel took it when he told her to F off. He said he didn't. He doesn't want to lose her as a friend and he even considered her proposition. I felt sick.
Starting point is 06:36:56 I told him I was shocked and to me, even if he decides not to take Rachel up on it, this is a betrayal to Brenda. Dave explained that while his and my conversations consisted of gaming, stupid memes, and planning potential couples' vacations, his conversations with Rachel were emotional and raw. They spoke for hours on end, every single day, while he was caring for Leah, and while Brenda was working in the next room. Okay, you'll. Stop. He asked my opinion, and I told him he has two options. Either leave Brenda, or completely break off all contact with Rachel and focus on his marriage. But since he asked, in my opinion Brenda needed to know.
Starting point is 06:37:39 especially since she considered Rachel a friend, and knowing that Rachel wants to screw over Brenda and Leah. Seriously typing this disgusts me. After the call ended, I told Meekl about it. He was as shocked as I was, but asked what I was going to do. I just sat there trying to digest what I had just heard. Dave, Brenda and Leah went on their vacation. During this time we didn't communicate. When he got back, he told me that he had cut Rachel off.
Starting point is 06:38:09 but refused to tell Brenda about it. Okay, fine, whatever. I don't agree with his action to not tell her, but it's not my life, not my relationship. He asked for advice and I gave it. I told him that in my eyes, he had betrayed his wife, whether physically or not, and I still felt that Brenda deserved to know.
Starting point is 06:38:30 Almost immediately I felt myself pulling away from Dave. My image of him was damaged. When I interact with Brenda online for work, I'm professional and friendly, but it's painful keeping this secret. However, as time passed I began to think that perhaps this was over. Dave had just made a stupid mistake and was just thinking about what could be. He didn't actually leave her, right? And most importantly, he cut Rachel out.
Starting point is 06:38:58 Dave and I begin talking a bit more. I actually thought maybe things can go back to the way they were. Since didn't actually physically cheat, maybe it's best that Brenda doesn't know, for her own mental health and happiness. Maybe we can move past this. So many thoughts going through my mind. So many ways of rationalizing this. The mental gymnastics were Olympics level impressive. Then about a month ago he drops the bomb. He tells me that Rachel and he are talking again. She allegedly begged him for forgiveness and cried that she is going through another horrible breakup and needs his friendship, or else she doesn't know what she might do.
Starting point is 06:39:39 He said he is going to keep her at arm's length, but she needs him. He will just be there for her a little bit, but it won't be like it was before. Oh, holy night. To my chagrin, love that word, as the week's pass he begins to mention her more and more. I tell him I don't want to hear about her, and when he keeps going I finally snap and tell him not to mention her to me at all. I'm so pissed that he is talking to her again, and that he doesn't care about how me knowing this is putting more guilt and strain in my mind especially when I have to
Starting point is 06:40:09 to interact with his wife. It's completely unfair that he told me about his situationhip with Rachel, knowing that I consider Brenda a friend, and that we work together every day. I begged him to tell Brenda about it. She has the right to decide if she wants to stay. And most of all that he is actively still friends with a woman who wishes hurt and pain on his wife and little girl. How do you sleep at night, sir?
Starting point is 06:40:34 Dave still talks about planning vacations together with Mickle and I, but I don't even respond. Honestly, I don't see how I can sit at dinner with them and keep quiet, especially if Rachel were to get brought up in conversation, and especially if wine is involved. And let's be honest, there will be wine. I have one of those faces that speaks my mind without saying a word, which is why I do better working remote, versus client facing. I dread the day when slash if either Dave or Brenda say that Rachel is coming to visit them again. I can pretend it won't happen, but let's be honest. Dave is a complete moron who managed to somehow miraculously prevent his marriage from going up in flames, only to soak himself in gasoline and open the door to the walking, talking,
Starting point is 06:41:19 gorgeous yet shallow lit match. Reddit, help me. I want to cut him out completely because I am so disgusted by his actions, but I know Brenda will be upset and drill me about it, especially since they have been planning a trip to Europe for next year and wanting us to come. Should I just tell her that we had a falling out? Should I find a way to hint to Brenda not to trust Rachel? I didn't even want to know any of this. And I'm so pissed that he dumped this on me. We were friends, but not that type of friend. As for Brenda, I would want to know if I were friends with and playing host to a girl who wanted to steal my husband and the father of my child. But I'm also concerned about my job, my livelihood. She's been with the company over 10 years and I've only
Starting point is 06:42:07 been a year. I've kept this secret from her for so long. If I say something, can it affect my employment? Should I just pull away from them and when asked make some lame excuse like I am too busy? Edit, I wanted to clarify a few things. When I say friend I mean we are more than mere acquaintances, but we aren't besties. I've always been closer to Dave than Brenda strictly because he's the one who I game with. However, Dave and I never had deep conversations before he unloved. this secret on me. We talked about low TR, Harry Potter, going to festivals, and eventually us joining them on vacations, we haven't so far. Company was too tight for us to join them before Meekyll's promotion, and before I was given this job opportunity. So vacations were something
Starting point is 06:42:55 for the future. We've only ever met once in person, for the promotion weekend last summer, but have continuously made plans to visit or meet up in the city. Due to funds and other hiccups, the plans always fell through. Our friendship was something that we had built to get away from the stress of life. Lighthearted and meant to be fun. As for Brenda, she recommended me for the position at her work, but I had to earn the position. She isn't my boss, but she definitely has seniority. Before the conversation with Dave, I had high hopes for Brenda and I becoming closer and us all being good friends down the road. Unfortunately, since this happened last year, I have kept my distance and didn't nurture my relationship with Brenda.
Starting point is 06:43:39 I have no proof. The conversation where he told me everything was over the phone, and I didn't record it. Plus I'm in a two-party state, so I think I could get in trouble for that. If I tell Brenda it will be my word against his. And if she goes to him, he can deny everything, or even try to spin it against me.
Starting point is 06:43:59 This is where I worry it could affect my job. My job is my biggest concern at this point. I do not want to lose my job. I don't want my job to become awkward. I would love to be able to give Brenda a heads up about the situation, but also I can't afford to lose my job. I cannot stress this enough. If I knew I could warn her without harming my own situation, I would. It may sound like my mind is made up, but it's not.
Starting point is 06:44:27 I just wanted to add those for clarification and hopes that there is something that can be done. Comments where Op has replied, Dear underscore Parsonup underscore 6802. You give him one week to tell her or you will. Tell him that he is emotionally cheating on his wife and she deserves to know so she can decide if he's worth staying with. You let him know that you gave him the opportunity to make things right by cutting off Rachel and he chose not to. He chose to disrespect his wife by continuing to have a relationship with someone who wants to cause her harm. I'd be honest and let him know the fact that he would. even entertain Rachel's offer of a superficial relationship where she'll have sex with him in exchange
Starting point is 06:45:07 for money. That's what her offer amounts to, and him abandoning his little girl discuss you and you have lost respect for him as a person. Time to be firm about it. Either way your friendship with him is over so you may as well be a girl's girl and let his wife know what she's married to. At least Rachel will not step foot back in their home. Oh, O.P. Thank you. This is exactly how I feel. I think I needed to hear this from someone outside the situation. Butterfly Wing 71, great advice and make copies off all online conversations, texts, etc. in case he tries to erase or edit them. That way he can't twist things or lie about anything and if there is divorce,
Starting point is 06:45:50 Brenda will approve to smoke his ass in a divorce. And if he is stupid enough to get his trophy wife, she probb bankrupt him in a few years. Update, Hello Reddit. First of all, I want to send a huge thank you to all who took the time to read and comment on my post. I read all of your replies and took most into consideration. I mentioned that I would wait until after Thanksgiving to make my decision as I didn't want to ruin the holiday for Brenda and Leah. During that time I decided that if I lose my job then it would suck, but I know I can get another. I have to do what's right and what is also best for my mental health.
Starting point is 06:46:27 Yesterday with Mickle's support, I sent out a group message to them both, saying hope you guys had a happy Thanksgiving. To my surprise, Brenda replied with you not so much. I asked what happened, and she said that Rachel's mom was in the hospital with pneumonia and Dave went to be with her for moral support, and that she was left hosting alone. Dave didn't reply. Mickle told me that this was the perfect time, and he would support me whatever I chose to do. So I send I'm amazed how forgiving you are Brenda. I don't think I could be so chill. Dave replied with. But Brenda immediately called me and I put her on speaker. She asked what I meant and I said after what happened last year. With Dave and Rachel.
Starting point is 06:47:12 Before you guys left for vacation. She told me to go on and that's when I knew he had not in fact told her. So I told her everything. I also told her I was sorry and had tried to convince him to tell her, but that I didn't know if anything more had happened so maybe there is a chance to this. I told her that since Rachel was back in their lives, I assumed they moved past it, maybe since they've been close friends since college. She seemed eerily calm, and said something like, oh no, Rachel never went to college. She met Dave online about 10 years ago. She's never been to college or even had a real job. She asked if there was anything else. Read it, I started freaking out, lost any remaining confidence I had, and told her that the reason I had
Starting point is 06:47:59 said anything was because I didn't have any proof and since working with her I had been worried to say anything about it because I didn't want to risk my job, but not anymore. I was spiraling. Brenda said she had to go and hung up. I just sat there feeling sick. Two whole hours later Brenda called me back. Some of you called it. When confronting Dave and Rachel, they told her that I had actually propositioned him and that I was jealous of his and Rachel's friendship and I wondered what Brenda had. I started shaking and crying. At this point Mekyll interrupted her and said he had heard parts of the original conversation. Not all, but enough to know that what I had told him afterward was the truth. She tried interrupting him, but he cut her off. He said that this had been
Starting point is 06:48:46 tearing me up and he was sick of it, he wished her the best, and hoped she could remain professional at work, but after this call he wants Dave out of our life for good. Then he hung up. About 30 minutes later I got a text from Brenda. She apologized for us being dragged into this, said she's mortified that I know, and says Meekle didn't let her finish. She was just telling us what they said, and then she drops this epic bombshell. She already knows what's up, and has since last year. She just had no idea until then that I knew. Y'all get cookies if you called that, BTW. She says the way he acted last year on the vacation, like a heartbroken lovesick puppy. was a huge red flag, and she felt deep down something wasn't right with him and Rachel.
Starting point is 06:49:32 As soon as they got back home, she started digging, looking through his computer, his phone, and iPad. It's not just Rachel, there's more. She's the only one he's met up with. None of the others wanted him in person, just his money. I asked if she's okay or if she's worried about Dave coming back, but Brenda said she already has a lawyer and has been spending the past several months getting her affairs in order. She was going to give him the divorce papers after Thanksgiving, but with him abandoning
Starting point is 06:50:02 them like that, she instead took advantage of his absence to change the locks and start packing his stuff. My information along with their lies just made it easier for her. This chick is so much more badass than I knew. I don't know if changing locks is legal but good for her, I guess. She apologized again for Dave and I told her I was sorry I didn't say something earlier. She told me that if she didn't already know about Dave, and hadn't read a lot of our messages, which she said were pretty boring, ouch, LOL, she probably wouldn't have believed me.
Starting point is 06:50:35 It was an impossible situation. I told her that if she needs to talk, we are here. If not, then I'll just be her co-worker. Either way, I'm done with Dave. Fuck Dave. Next story, fiancé told her friend she's not excited by me and just wants to settle down, because I'm safe. Then I realized she was just dating me because my parents are rich.
Starting point is 06:51:00 I, 29M, know this may sound like a huge overreaction on my part, but my head has been ringing ever since this happened. I've been engaged to my fiancé, 28F, for a few months now. We had dated for just shy of two years prior to that. It would be cliche to say everything was going great, but for the most part it was good. my family really took a liking to her which was also really great now i've never been the one to think too much about how i'm viewed as a partner but all of that changed recently i basically overheard her on the phone telling her friend that if she wants to find the one excitement isn't important
Starting point is 06:51:38 she basically said underscore me isn't exciting but he makes me feel safe and that's when i realized i wanted to settle down with him this hit me kind of hard read it i've read these types of posts before. You know, the whole she goes for bad boys then settles with a safe schmuck type of thing. But I don't think that's what she meant. So the day after I just straight up told her that I overheard her talking about me and that I don't understand what she meant by not finding my exciting. She then told me that it's true that she doesn't find me exciting, but that doesn't matter. I honestly felt very hurt. Maybe my ego is fragile. Ike. But it was a surprise to because I felt like the way I see myself in my head was colliding with how she sees me, and
Starting point is 06:52:24 it made me feel spaced out. I asked her what she means by not finding my exciting, and she didn't seem to know how to even answer. She could see I was upset and as pathetic as this sounds. I made an excuse to leave and said, we'll talk about it later. Ever since then, my head has been spinning. I ride motorcycles. I have tattoos.
Starting point is 06:52:47 I go to the gym. I do M.MA as a hobby. So how is it that I'm not the exciting guy? I've always seen myself as being that exciting guy. My ex was basically obsessed with me and constantly made it clear she found me exciting. But M.W. Now fiancé doesn't see me as exciting for whatever reason. I was honestly shocked because I felt my sense of self kind of crumble. And what made it worse is I'm excited by her. When I see her, I want to rip her clothes off. I want to do things, I think about her. But she seemingly doesn't see me the same way at all?
Starting point is 06:53:25 As crazy as this sounds, I have considered calling off the engagement entirely. Am I being crazy here? Update, the last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions. There were a lot of interesting perspectives from both male and female posters. It seems that the female posters said that being seen as safe is a really great compliment. Whereas the male posters said I should run for the hills. Certainly an intriguing insight into how men and women see things differently. So I ended up talking to my fiancé about what she meant.
Starting point is 06:54:00 She seemed really nervous and knew that she had upset me. I have to admit, I was quite nervous too. It's not easy when your sense of self has crumbled. Learning that you aren't seen in the way you think you are, is a very tough feeling. I can't describe it. but it made me really feel fragile in the truest sense of the word i started by telling her that i was really upset about her comment because frankly i'd always thought i was that exciting guy to her i told her that in my mind i was the guy who makes her heart skip a beat so i had to brace myself
Starting point is 06:54:35 and ask again what she meant when she said i wasn't exciting she looked like she wanted to cry because i guess she could sense i was also upset she said that she didn't want to hurt my feelings but that i make her feel very safe and secure, and that with me, I'm not exciting in the sense that I don't give her thrills like her exes used to man, that hurt but I was still confused. She was being really vague and not really clear in what she meant. I had to ask again what she meant by thrills and she just began crying and apologizing. She tried to hug me, but I again walked out. I seemed to do this when things get emotional, so I decided to take some shrooms and spend the day outside at a nearby lake. This helped me clear my mind and come to some devastating
Starting point is 06:55:18 realizations about myself. I think what I realized was that I was lying to myself. Another commenter said it, which I didn't want to admit, which is I'm more into her than she is into me. I didn't disclose this on my first thread, but she never initiates sex. I don't think she's done that once. With my exes, they always initiated with me. You see, is beautiful, to the point where I wonder how I landed her. But you see, that was the issue. Because I was so attracted to her, I wanted her approval. I know that sounds pathetic, but I was able to overlook red flags such as her lack of initiating sex.
Starting point is 06:55:59 I thought if I stayed with her, she'd like me the way I like her. Now here's the kicker. I thought that, if I proposed to her, then over time I could win her over. I've been with women who were madly into me, and my fiancé just didn't behave like them at all. In addition to never initiating, she never complimented me much. It was always one-sided. A lot of this begs to question, why would she even be with me? I think that, she saw me as someone who could provide stability.
Starting point is 06:56:31 And I guess, maybe she thought my exterior, tattoos, motorcycles, MMA, craft beer, was a facade. I mean, maybe she was kind of right. Not that I don't enjoy those things, I do. But I am able to have that lifestyle because my parents are wealthy doctors. Maybe she thought I was cosplaying as a bad boy, and that in actuality I am a loaded rich kid who provides stability. The other insight I had was that, truth be told, I didn't want to actually get married. I'd definitely do one day, but I didn't really think it through. I thought to myself that if I propose, I will grow accustomed to the idea of getting married.
Starting point is 06:57:13 But the truth is, I kind of want to continue my lifestyle as it is. Which involves riding my motorcycle, fixing muscle cars, traveling across the country, going to festivals, etc. Do I want to get married one day? Of course. But I want to be with a woman who is really crazy about me. Someone who compliments me a lot, initiate sex. etc. So I ended up talking with her later on and telling her that I want to call things off and end things. I won't bore with details but yes she cried a lot, even got angry,
Starting point is 06:57:48 said I wasted her time. I told her that it wasn't anything she did, but she didn't buy that and kept pressing. She told me that I misunderstood her comment, but I told her she couldn't even clarify what she thought. It ended with me telling her that I have nothing against her, but that I am just not ready for marriage. I told her that the lifestyle I want to continue in addition to me not feeling the connection I thought I had with her was why. It ended quite predictably but I think going forward I'm going to see a therapist to sort my insecurities as well as find someone more compatible with myself.
Starting point is 06:58:21 I hope you enjoy this story. Father consistently showed preference towards my relative, regarding my siblings and me as inferior. However, as it transpired, she was his clandestine officer. and possessed a concealed educational savings account for her. From the time I was little, there was always this tension in our family, mostly about my cousin, Sarah. My name is Emily, and I'm the baby of the family. I have two older brothers, Mark and David, who are twins.
Starting point is 06:58:54 The three of us always felt like our dad, Robert, cared more about Sarah than he did about us. It sounds childish, maybe, but it's hard growing up feeling second best. especially when the person you're being compared to isn't particularly special. Sarah is a year younger than me, and she's the only child of my uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa. Of course, they love her very much, which is perfectly normal. The problem was how much my dad, Robert, seemed to adore Sarah. He'd buy her anything she wanted, pay her tons of attention, and it always felt like he put her needs before ours. It made Mark, David, and me feel like we weren't important to him.
Starting point is 06:59:34 Since we were little kids, Sarah and I started attending the school in the same year. This was something that was pushed on us by both my uncle and my dad. They would always encourage us to spend as much time together. It felt unnatural. Every morning, Dad would make me get up super early. We drive all the way to Uncle Tom's house to pick up Sarah, and then Dad would take us both to school. It made no sense to me. Why couldn't she just ride the school bus like other kids?
Starting point is 07:00:05 If it was just me, I could have slept in longer. But every time I'd ask Dad about it, he'd tell me to stop being so difficult and that I should think of Sarah as my sister. It made me feel like my feelings weren't important, that I was just supposed to go along with whatever he wanted. At school, Sarah always wanted me to play with her, to be with her all the time. She was a quiet kid, didn't have a lot of friends. I had my own friends, and I like spending time with them.
Starting point is 07:00:35 Sarah didn't like that. After school, when Dad picked us up, she'd always tell on me if I hadn't spent lunch with her. Dad would get mad at me, say I should be nicer to my little sister. I'd just roll my eyes. It really bothered me how much he seemed to favor her over his own kids. My Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa never seemed to see anything wrong with any of this. My dad and Uncle Tom have always been close. They're only a couple of years apart, grew up doing everything together.
Starting point is 07:01:07 Uncle Tom was the older one, so he taught Dad a lot of things, how to ride a bike, how to shave, how to fix things on the car. Their own dad wasn't around much, so they really relied on each other. That's why they always wanted our families to be together all the time. At first, my brothers told me that Mom never really liked spending so much time with Uncle Tom. Tom and Aunt Lisa, but she didn't have much of a choice. They were always coming over to our house. When Mom tried to talk to Dad about it, he'd just brush her off. He'd say family should be close, and he liked being with his brother. Mom didn't mind Dad spending time with Uncle Tom,
Starting point is 07:01:47 but she felt like she had to be friendly with Aunt Lisa, too, since she was always there. I think some people just don't connect, and that's how it was with Mom and Aunt Lisa. Mom thought Aunt Lisa was too loud, talked too much, and seemed to flirt a lot with other men. This was understandable, as Aunt Lisa and my Uncle Tom, back then had a different kind of marriage, where each one of them could freely flirt and have relations with anyone. My aunt would tell my mother the details of her encounters. This made my mother very uncomfortable. She always told us that it was inappropriate to have such talks around kids. My brothers told me that is why whenever my aunt and uncle would visit, she would make them go outside and play with other kids.
Starting point is 07:02:32 Dad never seemed to have a problem with my uncle and aunt's marriage. He would laugh, hearing stories about their encounters. The year mom was pregnant with me, Aunt Lisa told her she wanted to have a baby, too. But she and Uncle Tom had been having trouble. The doctors said they might not be able to have children. This made them very sad, and they argued a lot. That's when they decided to have that different kind of marriage, where they could see other people but still stay together. But Aunt Lisa told Mom she still really wanted a baby. Mom told her to think about other options, like adopting or trying special treatments. Those things cost a lot of money, but Mom said if they really wanted a family, they could find a way. When I was born, there were
Starting point is 07:03:18 problems. Mom died from losing too much blood. My brothers told me how hard it was, they were sad, about Mom, but happy I was born healthy, like Mom would have wanted. But Dad was heartbroken. He wouldn't leave Mom's side. He couldn't believe she was gone. I can't even imagine how much that hurt him. But he never blamed me, not once. I wish Mom was here. I miss her, even though I never met her. My brothers have all these stories about her, and I only have pictures. The first year after I was born was tough for Dad and my brothers. They weren't used to taking care of a baby girl. But Dad stepped up, and my brothers helped him. Those three men have always been there for me, no matter what. I don't remember my brothers ever fighting with me when I was growing up.
Starting point is 07:04:12 They'd take me everywhere with them. I was like their little buddy. They'd let me watch them play video games, sitting right next to them. They never argued with me about food. I always got the biggest piece of pizza if I wanted it. I always got to use the bathroom first, because they knew sometimes girls need it more. I know some brothers can be mean, but mine are really sweet. They treat me like I'm special. My friends would tell me stories about fighting with their siblings, but I never had that. My brothers are calm, they don't get angry easily. The biggest argument we ever had was about what movie to watch, and we just voted to decide. We've always gotten along, and I feel lucky to have such good, kind brothers.
Starting point is 07:05:00 After mom died, Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa were around a lot. Luckily, Aunt Lisa got pregnant just a year after I was born. Everyone was happy about it, because they knew how much Aunt Lisa and Uncle Tom had wanted a baby. When Sarah was born, we spent a lot of time together. We were close in age, and Dad and Uncle Tom wanted us to be friends. At first, it was okay. But when you're forced to be with someone all the time, it gets old fast. When I started school, I made my own friends, and I didn't want to spend every minute with
Starting point is 07:05:35 Sarah. But Dad and Uncle Tom expected me to always be there for her, to watch out for her. Sarah was a bit of a crier, and she could be very dramatic. She didn't have any brothers or sisters, so she didn't know how to share. She was always very protective of her stuff. Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa never really told her to stop, so she acted that way at school, too. She'd argue with anyone who tried to borrow a pencil. If she had a disagreement with a classmate, she'd throw herself on the floor and have a fit.
Starting point is 07:06:09 Kids don't like that, so they stopped playing with her, or they'd just stay away from her. When she'd complained to her parents, they'd blame the teacher or the other kids, instead of saying anything to Sarah about how she was acting. Because I had to spend so much time with Sarah, I started to lose my temper with her. She wasn't easy to be around. If she wanted to watch a certain TV show, that's what we had to watch, even if I didn't like it. If she wanted to eat at a certain restaurant, I had to agree, even if I didn't want to, or she'd have a tantrum. One time, I was going to the birthday party, but the invite was only to me.
Starting point is 07:06:46 My aunt cornered me and my dad that day. She wanted me to take Sarah along with me. She said, I was very selfish for not wanting to take my cousin with me. I was starting to argue with my dad a lot, because I was tired of always being around her. Sarah also had this annoying habit of flirting with the guys I liked. If she saw me talking to a boy, she'd come up and introduce herself as my sister, saying how close we were. Then she'd tell these embarrassing stories about me from when I was little, like they were funny. One time, I had a crush on a boy named Ethan.
Starting point is 07:07:23 We were starting to get close, talking a lot after school. One day, Sarah saw us together and marched right over. Hi, I'm Sarah, Emily's sister. She announced, putting her arm around me in a way that felt totally fake. Then she started telling Ethan about the time I accidentally wore my pajamas to school because I was so sleepy. looked uncomfortable, and I was mortified. I glared at Sarah, and she just smirked back at me, like she'd won some kind of game. I walked away from her, from all of this. When my brothers
Starting point is 07:07:59 finished high school, they knew Dad didn't have a lot of money saved for college. So they both worked really hard to get scholarships. They still had to take out loans to pay for everything. I knew I had to do the same thing. I had to get good grades and get into a good school. So, the last two years of high school, I didn't hang out with my friends as much. I studied a lot. Sarah would text me, call me, wanting to hang out. I'd ignore her. She'd tell me I was wasting my time, that people our age should be having fun.
Starting point is 07:08:35 She kept telling me to have fun and live a little. One time, she even showed up at the library while I was studying, demanding that I leave with her to go to a party. I told her, firmly, that I had to study and that she needed to respect my priorities. She rolled her eyes and called me a goody two shoes, storming off in a huff. I just sighed and went back to my books, feeling a mix of annoyance and a tiny bit of guilt, though I knew I was doing what I needed to do. When I graduated, I got accepted to two really good universities.
Starting point is 07:09:07 I had to choose. One of the universities was in the same city where Sarah was going to school. My family expected me to pick that one. Sarah was so excited. She kept talking about how we'd get an apartment together, go to classes together, have so much fun. It made me cringe. I liked Sarah, but I didn't want to spend all of college stuck with her.
Starting point is 07:09:32 So, I chose the other university, the one farther away. I didn't even talk to Dad about it. I had a scholarship, and I was the one taking out the loan, so it was my decision. When Dad found out, he was angry. He tried to make me change my mind. I told him it was my life, my choice. He said he was disappointed that I was choosing another school just because I didn't want to be with Sarah. He said having a sibling like Sarah was a great thing. That made me mad. I told him I did have siblings, my brothers, and I loved spending time with them. I told him to stop trying to force me to be with Sarah, that I was an adult now, and I needed to make my own decisions. Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa were
Starting point is 07:10:19 too. They called me, saying how much Sarah had been looking forward to living with me, how it would have made college so much better for her. But I didn't care. I was happy with my choice. The day I was packing my boxes, getting ready to move into the dorm. I heard Aunt Lisa's car pull up. It wasn't unusual. Since my brothers moved out, she'd sometimes come over to see Dad, or cook for us. Usually, I'd try to be out of the house when she was there. But this time, I was home. I locked myself in my room and stayed quiet, hoping Dad would think I was asleep and wouldn't call me down. I could hear them talking and laughing. I got curious, so I peeked out of my room, like any kid would, and tried to hear what they were saying. That's when I heard Dad.
Starting point is 07:11:10 say something about a college fund. That got my attention. I crept downstairs, trying to hear better. I heard Dad tell Aunt Lisa that he'd been saving money for Sarah's college for a long time. He said Sarah would never have to take out a loan, that he had it all taken care of. I just stood there, shocked. What was he talking about? Dad had never said anything about a college fund to me or my brothers. Why would he do that for Sarah? I felt so hurt. Why would Dad do that for Sarah's school and not even talk to me about it? Not even think about how I was going to pay for college. I went back upstairs and called my brothers. I asked them if they knew anything about this. They were just as shocked as I was. They asked me if I was sure about what I heard. I told them I was.
Starting point is 07:12:03 The three of us tried to figure out why Dad would do that, but we couldn't. Then, something just clicked in my head. I knew I could say anything to my brothers, so I just asked, Do you think, do you think Sarah is Dad's daughter? My brothers were quiet. Then David said it was impossible. But Mark was quiet for a longer time. When David asked him what he thought, Mark said he'd wondered about it before, too.
Starting point is 07:12:31 He said there was no other reason why Dad. would be so close to his brother's daughter. Mark said Sarah looked a little like us, with our dark brown hair from Dad, not like Uncle Tom's blonde hair. I know that can just happen with Jeans, but we knew there was something about how Dad acted with Sarah that had always confused us. I decided I was going to find out the truth. My brothers asked me how. I told them I was going to get some of Sarah's hair, secretly, and get a DNA test. We had to know. If she wasn't Dad's daughter, then fine, we were wrong. But if she was, then we needed to know.
Starting point is 07:13:11 Mark and David didn't really want to, but they agreed. They told me to be careful, so no one else would find out. That week, I asked Sarah to hang out. I got some of her hair that had fallen on her jacket, without her knowing. I felt bad, like I was doing something wrong. But I had to know the truth. Waiting for the DNA test was awful. I kept hoping I was wrong, because I didn't know what I'd do if Sarah was my sister.
Starting point is 07:13:40 The day finally came. I got the DNA test results. It said Sarah was my sister. We had the same father. It felt like the world was spinning. I was confused, angry, sad, all at the same time. I couldn't believe Dad had kept this a secret from us for so long. Knowing Sarah was my half-sister, not my cousin, changed everything.
Starting point is 07:14:06 It was too much to take in. I needed time to think. I felt like Dad had lied to us, and I was mad at myself for not realizing it sooner. It was obvious. Him and my aunt spent way too much alone time together. It was uncomfortable to think that Sarah was born just a year after me. That meant Dad had been with his brother's wife within a year of mom dying. thinking about it made me feel sick.
Starting point is 07:14:34 Everything made sense now, why dad always made me hang out with Sarah, even when I needed space. I called my brothers, crying. They knew right away something was wrong. I told them Sarah was our half-sister. They were silent for a few minutes. I sent them pictures of the DNA test, so they could see. Mark and David were furious. They wanted to come home right away, to come home right away, to confirm.
Starting point is 07:15:00 confront Dad, to find out what happened. But I knew confronting Dad about this wouldn't change anything. He had slept with his brother's wife, and she had gotten pregnant. That was the truth. Nothing we could say would change that. Instead, I said we should stop talking to him. Dad had done nothing for us. He let us figure out how to pay for college, taking out loans, while he saved money for the baby he had with another woman. Mark agreed with me. David was still in shock. Now that we knew the secret, I decided we could at least do something to reveal the truth. I made a plan to tell Sarah in a way that was quiet, but that Dad couldn't ignore.
Starting point is 07:15:43 I asked my brothers not to tell Dad anything yet. I asked them to come on the day I was moving to college, to drive me, because I didn't want to go with Dad. They agreed right away. So, on the day I was leaving for college, I asked Sarah to come over and say goodbye. When she got there, Dad was acting all happy and excited, like he always did around her. He gave her a big hug. Sarah was telling me about her plans to move into an apartment, and how her mom had just told her
Starting point is 07:16:13 about this college fund that had been secretly set up for her years ago. I just scoffed inside and rolled my eyes in my head, knowing exactly where that money really came from. Sarah was going on and on about how great it was, how her mom had saved thousands of dollars so she wouldn't have to worry about loans, like I did. I bit my tongue, trying not to say anything. My brothers should up. When Mark and David pulled into the driveway,
Starting point is 07:16:40 they didn't even say hello to Dad properly. You could feel the tension. Dad tried to talk to them, but they gave him the cold shoulder. This was different for us. We'd always been respectful to Dad. But after finding out this secret, we couldn't even look at him the same way. My brothers ignored him, basically, while they packed my stuff into the car.
Starting point is 07:17:04 I helped them a little. Once everything was loaded, I turned to say goodbye to Dad. He reached out to hug me, but I took a step back, so he couldn't. He stopped, looking hurt. He asked if something was wrong. And that's when I looked him right in the eye and said, I wish Mom was here. He looked confused, and hurt, but I didn't care. After the kind of secret he'd hidden from us, I wanted to yell at him, to scream, but I held
Starting point is 07:17:33 it in. I hugged Sarah goodbye, and I slipped her an envelope. I told her to open it in front of Dad, after I drove away. She nodded, like she understood, and said goodbye. As we drove away, I knew this was going to cause a huge problem in our family, but the truth had to come out. Sarah needed to know the truth about her mom and our dad. As a backup place, we were a backup plan. plan, I also sent a picture of the DNA results to Uncle Tom. I didn't want him to be in the dark. Just like I expected, within half an hour, my phone started ringing constantly. My brothers were getting calls, too, from Aunt Lisa and Dad. They were obviously trying to call us, to explain, but they never picked up. Then Uncle Tom called. I decided to answer, because I knew how shocked
Starting point is 07:18:24 he must be. He asked me, straight up, if the test was fake. I felt this wave of emotion, and I told him I wished it was fake. I told him how much this news had hurt me and my brothers, how it changed everything we thought about our dad. Uncle Tom took a deep breath, and then he asked me if I was okay. I could hear in his voice that he was really worried, and that's when I started crying. Uncle Tom had always been important to us, and I hated being the one to tell him this bad news. But even though he was hurting, too, he was still kind, asking me how I was doing. Uncle Tom comforted me. He told me I hadn't done anything wrong. He thanked me for telling him the truth. Now that I'm in college and my brothers are gone, I've had time to think about how
Starting point is 07:19:13 much this has changed our family. It feels like I did something wrong. I'm scared about what's going to happen to us. Am I the bad guy for telling my cousin the truth? Did I do the right thing? Update 1. Everything has been turned upside down since the truth came out. It's been complete chaos in my family. I learned that Sarah and Uncle Tom moved out of their house very quickly. They don't want anything to do with Aunt Lisa now. Aunt Lisa's reaction has been awful. She's been sending me text messages, one after another. Some of them are really mean, accusing me of all sorts of things. Others tried to make it seem like her sleeping with my dad was somehow okay. She even said in one message that I was the one who broke up her
Starting point is 07:20:01 marriage, that I am responsible. She wrote that my mom would be disappointed in me, that I was trying to hurt everyone and tear the family apart. As for my dad, Robert, he hasn't said a word. complete silence since that day. He hasn't called, hasn't texted. That's fine with me. I know there's nothing he could say that would make me forgive him. Thank you to everyone who has said anything. I appreciate it. I know, deep down, that telling the truth was the right thing to do. But I still feel incredibly guilty. I never wanted to cause so much pain in my family. But the truth had to come out sometime, no matter how much it. hurt. Update 2. Many of you have suggested that I should call Sarah and apologize. I've decided
Starting point is 07:20:51 not to do that. Honestly, I will never think of Sarah as my half-sister. Even though it's obvious that my dad had a relationship with her mom, she'll always just be my cousin. That doesn't mean I dislike her, I don't. I was just always made to look after her, to play with her, and maybe that made me a little resentful. But I truly hope she's happy and that she can get past all of this. Also, some of you have different opinions about why I stopped talking to my dad, Robert. Some of you want me to listen to his side of things. But why would I? Imagine if your parents slept with their brother or sister's husband or wife, and had a child. And then they kept it a secret for years, making you be friends with your cousin just so they could see that child without
Starting point is 07:21:38 anyone knowing. Would you be all right with that? Because I'm not. I've thought about this a great deal, and I can't forgive that kind of betrayal. Update 3, I wanted to share what's been happening with my family. Uncle Tom and Sarah came to see me at college. I was pretty nervous about meeting them. But as soon as Uncle Tom saw me, he gave me a warm hug, which made me feel a little better. Sarah and I said hello politely, but it was a bit awkward. We sat down to talk, and Uncle Tom told me that he'd stopped all contact with my dad, since that day. It was sad to hear, but I wasn't surprised, considering the affair my dad had with his wife. The conversation was difficult, but it also felt like a kind of ending, knowing that Uncle Tom had made a decision for himself.
Starting point is 07:22:29 Uncle Tom then told me he was going to be divorcing Aunt Lisa. He asked him, he asked, if she had contacted me. I showed him some of the messages she'd been sending. He got very angry. He took pictures of those messages and said that he and his lawyer would handle it. I was surprised he already had a divorce lawyer. Uncle Tom explained that he couldn't stay with her after she had betrayed him like that. I nodded. I understood how he felt. Sarah then asked how I was doing in college. I told her I was doing okay. She asked if I already knew that the college fund her mother talked about had actually been set up by my dad for her. I nodded and told her that I had heard the conversation that evening her mother had come over alone to talk to my dad.
Starting point is 07:23:16 That's what made me suspicious about them in the first place. Sarah then told me that she had given all of that money back to my dad, and had asked him to never contact her again. She said she thought their whole affair was incredibly strange and unsettling, and she couldn't accept anyone else as her father. I told Sarah that she did the right thing, especially since my dad hadn't even admitted he was wrong, even now. Uncle Tom made a face, clearly still furious, and told me how the night he found out everything, he had driven to my dad's house, ready to hit him. But Sarah stopped him, and because he loved her so much, he didn't do it. Otherwise, he said, my dad would be dead. I understood how frustrating it must have been for him, to have raised his daughter for so long, only to find out that his brother was the one
Starting point is 07:24:06 who did it with his wife. What my father had done was the worst kind of betrayal between brothers. After talking with Sarah and Uncle Tom, I feel much better about my decision to stop talking to my dad. As for my brothers and me, we're doing fine. The three of us are family, and will always be there for each other. I talk to them regularly, and we're planning on getting jobs in the same city later on, so we can all live together. I hope you enjoy this story. My sibling's spouse disapproved of me for an extended period, then experienced a heartbreaking pregnancy loss. As a result, we embraced her return, but she began asserting to my offspring that she was his biological mother. My spouse, Michael and I, have been married for the past eight years. We have a son together
Starting point is 07:24:55 called Tom. He is currently four years old and is a very playful kid with a hyperactive imagination. Tom has always been close to me and is a bit of a mama's boy which I don't mind at all since I know as soon as he turns into a teenager, he will have his own interests and may not want to spend as much time with me anymore. David and I are excellent partners and over the years we have perfected our routine in taking care of the house, Tom, as well as a fulfilling careers of our own. Honestly, this harmony between us has been possible because I thought I had a very respectful and communicative husband like David. So you would imagine that I have nothing to complain about on Reddit, right? Well, I am making this post today on my husband's sister, Kathy.
Starting point is 07:25:38 Now, I don't want to start off by showing my bias towards her, but let's just say that Kathy is extremely difficult to get along with. She has always been ice cold towards me right from the start and this behavior has remained the same even though I and David have now been married for a very long time. I remember during the beginning of our dating phase, David told me that his parents would easily approve of me but that his sister Kathy would definitely grill me because she has always been very protective of him. Well, as it turns out, he was right. The first night we met with her she asked me a bunch of questions about my family, my childhood, and about my siblings. No matter what I answered, she seemed unimpressed and had her nose up in the air the entire time.
Starting point is 07:26:21 She would also randomly bring up David's exes in the middle of our conversation and compare them to me as if it were the most normal thing to do. At one point during dinner, she invited David to join her and her girlfriends for a girl's trip telling how he needed to clear his head before getting serious with someone. This statement really weirded me out and I got visibly annoyed which David noticed and told his sister to back off as politely as possible. Now this is something that has sometimes annoyed me about my husband, although he does stand up to his sister, he is not really strong about his boundaries because of his affection towards her. I guess this makes her assume she can keep pushing the matter all because she is the older
Starting point is 07:26:59 sister and according to her, only she has the best interest about him. Since that first dinner date, I was convinced that Kathy and I did not like each other. It did hurt me a bit, but I wasn't going to go out of my way to convince someone to love and accept me if their mind was already made up. Despite this incident, I was always polite to her whenever we did meet next, but she never made it easy for me. One incident in particular that pops up in my mind immediately is David's Grandparents' Anniversary Party. They had invited the entire family and I was invited as David's plus one as we had been dating for one year by then. Throughout the party, his family members would come up to me to strike up a conversation and I honestly loved how chill and friendly
Starting point is 07:27:40 his family was. The one person who didn't speak a word to me or even greet me was Kathy. I noticed that and kept out of her way as much as possible. At one point, his grandparents asked everybody to gather around so we could all take a group picture today. As we gathered together, Kathy loudly pointed me out and asked me to get out of the picture. David looked at her with his eyebrows raised as Kathy went on to say that maybe he would break up with me in the future and that she didn't want one of her brothers Bimbo to be a part of this picture. My face got red in embarrassment as everyone looked uncomfortable as well. David tried to argue but Kathy kept talking over him saying how I was just a random stranger
Starting point is 07:28:21 and I should not have even come to this function, to begin with. I had heard enough and I felt utterly humiliated. David had attended many of my family functions and none of my family members had ever treated David this way. I excused myself and walked back into the house so I could look for my car keys. I had no intention of spending a minute longer with that woman. David and his parents came rushing behind me trying to apologize. His mother tried to convince me to go back with them, but the moment had been ruined. I could hear David's grandparents chastising Kathy loudly and I felt
Starting point is 07:28:55 even more guilty for ruining everybody's day. I left immediately and that evening I even contemplated breaking up with David as I knew I could not handle someone like his sister. However, as it turns out, David came to my place with flowers and pastry to apologize. He told me how everyone had laid it on Kathy for being rude to me and that he had threatened to cut off things with her as well, which had apparently made her cry. He told me that he was getting fed up with his sister's antics and that he didn't want anything to do with her. We did talk a lot, but I felt reassured that he stood up for me. In the days that followed, David kept his word.
Starting point is 07:29:32 We stopped meeting with Kathy altogether and he stopped picking up her calls. She would sometimes show up at his house unannounced so he changed all his locks and asked his parents to talk to her so she could respect his private space. His parents supported his decision so Kathy had no choice but to accept the fact that her brother didn't want anything to do with her. We thought this would make her think and regret the way she treated me, but as it turns out, it had the opposite effect. She started calling me and texting me and she would leave me threatening messages blaming me for everything. The tip of the hat was when she showed up at my work one afternoon demanding to meet me. Luckily, my manager intervened and kicked her out, but I was really shaken up. I told David that at this point, I had no choice but to break up with him to get away from his
Starting point is 07:30:19 crazy sister, file a case against her, and take her to court for harassing me. David started to cry hearing this, pleading with me that there was no reason to break up, and begged me to give him a chance so he could take care of it. He then convinced his parents to set up a meeting between him and Kathy at their place where they ultimately had their last conversation. His parents knew about what she was doing to me and made it very clear to her that they wanted nothing to do with her anymore as well. David and his parents warned Kathy that the way she was behaving was borderline crazy and if she continued they would all support my decision to take her to court. I don't know how but Kathy finally broke down and admitted that she needed help. She opened up to them about how she was just spiraling and didn't know how to stop.
Starting point is 07:31:04 She also revealed to everyone that she had lost her job and had been unemployed for the last few months which had added on to her poor mental health. Luckily for her, David's parents stepped up and admitted her to a psychiatric hospital immediately where she could be closely monitored. David reiterated his wish of not staying in touch with her which Kathy finally learned to accept. She did send me an apology text which, in my opinion, seemed to be able to be. bit half-hearted but for her sake, I hoped that she would heal. When David and I finally got married, we decided to not invite Kathy even though she had
Starting point is 07:31:37 eventually been discharged and seemed to be doing well in her life. I wanted nothing to do with her and everybody respected my wish. She did send me flowers congratulating me on my happy day, which I very much appreciated. Right after we got married and returned from our honeymoon, Kathy announced that she was getting married. Everybody was surprised since no one even knew that she had been dating anyone at this point, but we were all pleased for her at the same time until we learned that she was dating a guy she had met during her time in the psychiatric hospital. Now just to give you all the full context, this guy, James was schizophrenic and an alcoholic who had volatile tendencies
Starting point is 07:32:14 according to his doctors. Understandably, David and Kathy's parents were a bit worried when they found out. Kathy announced to everyone that her marriage would take place the next month and she wanted only David to be there and not me. I kind of expected it and it made me relieved that she had not invited me as it saved me the time to come up with an excuse for not attending. However, my husband felt offended that his sister just invited him and not me so he did not attend the wedding as well. Those who did end up attending their wedding, later told us what a nightmare the event was. It turns out that Kathy and James were totally wasted during the ceremony and could not even properly repeat the words after the priest.
Starting point is 07:32:54 During the reception, James kept drinking and got so blackout drunk that he started to rip open his shirt and pants while everyone just stared at him in horror. Being schizophrenic, James did not like the staring and immediately attacked a server at the event who was just an innocent bystander screaming about how the server looked suspicious and was hiding something. James family eventually calmed him down and convinced the server to not press any charges against James by paying him off. However, this incident understandably scarred everyone and we all felt quite worried about Kathy's safety. If James could attack a random stranger, then what was the guarantee that he would not attack her? David and his parents did try to get Kathy to talk to her privately about her husband's strange behavior, but Kathy seemed convinced that she could change him and make him all right. No matter how much her parents tried to tell her about the red flags, she seemed convinced that
Starting point is 07:33:45 James would never harm her in any way. I wish I could write here that she was right, but as you can already expect, James treated her exactly like everybody warned her about. Over the years, David and his parents tried to stay in touch with Kathy, but James would knowingly cut off her contact with anybody and prevent her from talking to anyone. We could not file a case against him because Kathy refused to accept any help. On two occasions, we heard that police were called to their place because the neighbors could hear them arguing and getting physically violent with each other. Despite everything, Kathy never budged and seemed convinced that he was the one for her. For years ago, I got pregnant with Tom. Everyone was overjoyed with happiness. For my baby shower,
Starting point is 07:34:31 I wanted Kathy to be a part of the celebration so we sent her an invitation. We never got any reply back from her which worried us so David decided to drive to her place to check up on her. It turns out James had completely cut her off from any communication with us and had thrown away our invitation so she would not even find out. I don't know exactly what happened, but David understandably got pissed so he and James exchanged a few heated words which did not end up going anywhere because Kathy did not feel that what her husband had been doing was wrong in any way. In frustration, David left and that was the last we knew anything about her. We never contacted her ever again even when Tom was born. her parents also stopped going above and beyond to convince her and we all just prayed that she would be okay these past few years after tom was born have been utterly peaceful and full of love
Starting point is 07:35:20 david and i never had any major issues to begin with and now we have both reached a wonderful understanding and rhythm in our marriage tom is a very curious kid and he keeps us busy with his antics david's parents visit us every weekend so they can babysit for a few hours while david and i have our weekly date night. It gives us some time off while the grandparents spend quality time with Tom. Everything seemed to be going well until eight months ago when Kathy showed up at our doorsteps all muddy and disheveled. Her feet looked dirty and she had no shoes on. We immediately let her in and I rushed to bring her a blanket as she seemed to be shivering. We had not seen her for years at this point so we did not know what to say. David kept stroking her hair and asking her if she was okay.
Starting point is 07:36:08 Kathy looked numb and stared off into nothing in particular. Eventually, she revealed to us that she had just miscarried. We sat in shock as she continued to recount how she had gotten pregnant a month ago and thought James would be happy for her. In the beginning, he was but over the weeks he got more and more suspicious that this baby was going to take her away from him and that she would not love him the same. They would fight a lot and he would threaten to mix rat poison in her food to make her lose the child. Kathy told us that she woke up that day feeling uneasy and when she went to the doctors she found out that she had lost her child.
Starting point is 07:36:43 She felt so sick and numb that she could not get into the car and drive back home so she decided to just walk. Somehow her brain led her up to our house, but I guess she must have at least walked 20 blocks or more bare feet. She did not remember why she had no shoes on. I felt so sorry for her and immediately gave her a hug. She took a moment to register the hug, but when she did, she hugged me back. We sat there for five whole minutes as Kathy slowly cried into my arms. We knew right then and there that this was her way of asking David seemed ready to confront James directly, but I persuaded him to call the police and notify their parents, who would be better
Starting point is 07:37:22 equipped to handle the situation. His parents were incredibly grateful to have their daughter back and assured her they would support her no matter what. When the police took her statement, they were as shocked as us by the multiple abuses that Kathy had endured in her marriage until that point and kept quiet. James was then immediately arrested despite his protest and threats. He did keep denying until the very end that he had nothing to do with her miscarriage, but as it turns out from Kathy's talks report, she had been indeed poisoned by him which led to the loss of her baby. Long story short, because of James' mental issues and his incompetency to stand trial, the judge sentenced him to a psychiatric facility for treatment indefinitely. This decision
Starting point is 07:38:04 was obviously frustrating but we were also grateful to have Kathy back, safe and sound. I have to clarify that all my previous feelings of animosity towards her had disappeared at this point. As a woman, I felt bad for her and I wanted nothing but to forget our past so we could keep moving forward. I wished nothing but for Kathy to heal after all this ordeal. She also seemed calm around me and was no longer mean. When we felt she was ready, we introduced Tom to her as we thought it would help her recover faster. She got extremely close to Tom in a short time which none of us minded really. I guess this should have been my first red flag. Over the weeks, she would find ways to spend more and more time with my son by showing up unexpectedly at our place without calling
Starting point is 07:38:50 first. She was staying with her and David's parents so she could easily just drive over. She would insist on giving Tom baths or reading him his bedtime stories, which, at first, seemed like a kind gesture. However, her increasing presence started to feel a bit weird. It reached a point where Kathy would come over almost every day, unannounced, and always find a reason to stay longer than necessary. She'd bring toys and gifts for Tom, always seeking to be involved in his daily routines. She would also weirdly comment about his clothes or about his hairstyle, telling me how Tom would look better this way or that way which bothered me a bit. While I appreciated her efforts to bond with him, it began to feel like she was slowly getting back to her old ways of undermining me.
Starting point is 07:39:37 However this time, instead of her brother, it was about my son and my mama bear instinct kicked in. I talked to David who assured me that maybe I was just overthinking and that his sister was just trying to cope with her pain. He reminded me how she had just lost her child which made me feel guilty, so I decided to just let her be. If taking care of my son made her feel happy for a few minutes then what's the harm here, right? As the days went on, I tried my best to be accommodating with her presence in our house she started to look after Tom every day when we were at work and would even take him to play at the park in the evening. Sometimes when I would come back home, I would notice how my son did not show the same enthusiasm for me anymore as he always did.
Starting point is 07:40:18 He never ran up to greet me anymore and would look at me curiously. After Kathy would leave, I would try to talk to Tom about the day and if he had any troubles with Kathy around, but he would not participate much in the conversation. My son, who was always joyful around me, seemed sad and less enthusiastic. As his mother, I felt really worried about the change in my son's behavior, but whenever I tried to talk to my husband about it, he would gently tell me that I was just thinking too much about trivial things. David would try to assure me that it was all in my head and that Tom was just growing up. However, the nagging feeling inside my head kept bothering me so I talked to one of my co-workers about it who gave me the brilliant plan that I could buy nanny cams from Amazon and install it in my son's room and our living room to keep an eye on Tom.
Starting point is 07:41:06 This was an ingenious idea and I bought two cams immediately. I never told David about this as I did not want him to dismiss my feelings yet again. Yesterday, I came back home and after Tom went to bed, I decided to check the nanny cams I had set up. David was watching TV downstairs, so I sat in my study room to watch the video which had audio as well. At first, it was just Kathy taking care of Tom and playing around with him. She seemed really good with children. However, imagine my surprise when I saw Kathy bring out a book from inside her purse which was not something I had noticed before. Generally, we have age-appropriate books to read for our son in his room, but this book was
Starting point is 07:41:48 different. She read the book to Tom before his nap time in the afternoon. As I listened to her reading the story, I realized the story was about adoption and how a mother sometimes gives up her child to another mother to be taken care of. As Kathy kept reading the story to my son, she would add in how this is why she had left Tom behind in my care all those years ago because she wasn't ready then. My eyes widened in horror as she went on to tell my child that no matter what happens, she will always remain his real mother and that no one could love him more than her. She kissed his forehead and left him to take his nap. My hands shook in anger as I finally understood the crap she had been feeding my son for God knows how long which had clearly
Starting point is 07:42:29 made my son behave weirdly around me. This poor child must be feeling terribly confused and just did not know what to believe. I was ready to storm downstairs and ask my husband to never let his sister inside our place ever again, but something stopped me. Instead, I decided to take the day off so I could spend some alone time with my son and find out what exactly Kathy has been telling him to brainwash when I told Kathy today that she did not have to come over and babysit. She freaked out insisting that she loved spending time with my son, but I firmly told her to back off and that I wanted the day with my child. David did ask me if I was feeling well and I assured him that everything was okay but that I just needed a break. Later, I took my son
Starting point is 07:43:11 to his favorite park so we could play around the whole day. We had pizzas and spent the whole day laughing and having a good time. Before bringing up the conversation, I wanted my son to feel safe around me. When I did start asking him about what his aunt and he had been talking about, he got a bit quiet. I promised Tom that he was not in trouble in any way and that I just wanted him to know that he could talk to me about anything. This is when my son spilled the truth. He told me how Kathy had been trying to convince him for weeks that she was his real mother even though he did not really believe it. She would also tell him how I would eventually leave him because only Rayall mothers love their children. Because of her insistence, he felt scared of asking me about it in case I would
Starting point is 07:43:55 really kick him out. He told me that he loved me and he did not want to go live with Kathy. Hearing those words, my heart broke for him as I stared at his tear-streaked face. He looked so small and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the joyful and playful boy I knew so well. I knelt down to his level, gently took his hands in mind, and assured him that everything was going to be okay. We would get through this together, no matter what. I hugged him tightly, feeling the weight of his fears and pain. I felt like a loser for having failed to protect my son from this psycho. I assured him that he had nothing to worry about and that me and David would take care of this.
Starting point is 07:44:36 However, my son then informed me that David already knew about all this. I asked him what he meant and he said, I asked Daddy and he knows about this, but he told me not to tell you anything. The blood drained from my face as I realized that my husband, despite finding out what his sister was up to, had chosen to protect her instead of our son. He already knew about everything. I could not let my son around these people anymore. I did not want my son to be confused and frightened about his own mother. I was his mother and it was my job to protect him from this. I quickly drove home and packed our bags. I told my parents that I was coming over to their place and that if David asked, we would tell him that I missed them and wanted to spend time with them. Luckily for me, my parents are
Starting point is 07:45:23 very supportive so they did not even hesitate to say yes. As I am writing this, I have already talked to my parents about everything and they are as shocked as me about what Kathy has been telling my son. David did call me when he must have returned home to an empty house but I tried to sound as normal as possible, telling him that I needed a break from our place and my work. He did sound curious but I assured him that I would stay with my parents for just a few days. We seldom fight so I guess he didn't think much about it even though my behavior must have seemed strange to him. I am so conflicted right now. I have no idea what I should do. How should I be confronting this situation? Ida for distancing my son and me from my husband's crazy sister.
Starting point is 07:46:07 Update one, wow, I woke up to almost 600 plus comments under my post. I can't believe so many people even use Reddit and have come across my post. I have used all fake names in my story so so hopefully none of David's family members find out that this is about him. Also to those people who are dragging me in the comments for not talking to my husband about this first, I assure you that I would have definitely talked to my husband had my son not told me that he had tried to talk to David about this when he first found out. Call it my mother's instinct but the fact that my husband knew for weeks about how differently my son had been behaving with me but would gaslight me continuously goes on to show that a
Starting point is 07:46:44 confrontation with him would not have led to anything constructive. I also wanted to take my son immediately out of the situation and he is now much safer with my parents here. No psycho can feed him lives and that's all that matters. Kathy has tried to get in touch with me several times, sending me multiple messages insisting that she needs to meet my son and how much she misses him. I plan on putting an end to this for once and for all in the upcoming family get-together at David's parents place this coming weekend. This get-together has been planned for weeks in advance by me as David's grandparents are visiting and I thought we could all spend some quality time together. However, in light of
Starting point is 07:47:23 recent events, I plan on using this opportunity to speak my truth and make sure that Kathy comes nowhere near my son ever again. Update 2, I am back with an update. I finally confronted David and Kathy as planned during their family get-together. I was so nervous before going but I decided to take the nanny cam recording with me so I could have legitimate proof to show everyone. Without going into too much detail and just getting straight to the point, I did call out Kathy in front of everyone during lunch. She looked shaken up and tried to laugh it off as if it wasn't a big deal. Then I showed her the nanny cam and told her how I had recorded what she had told my son. I watched the color drain from her face as I then sent the video to the family
Starting point is 07:48:06 group chat so everyone could see what I was talking about. Her parents were horrified as watched her trying to convince my son that she was his real mommy. After this, I confronted David and told him how he failed to protect our son. My husband looked really guilty but tried to justify saying he didn't think much about it and thought this would help his sister get over her grief. He felt torn between supporting his sister's recovery and telling me about it, but ultimately he chose to keep quiet. I informed him that because of his actions, I did not trust him anymore and could not let my
Starting point is 07:48:39 son around him or his family ever again. For the first time in a long time, I watched my husband break down in tears, but I did not budge from my decision. I informed him that I couldn't have my son grow up in a family where his dad refused to stand up for him just to protect his mentally ill sister. David and Kathy's parents and grandparents apologized to me and assured me that they would make sure that Kathy came nowhere near our son ever again. Kathy looked utterly humiliated but didn't even have the shame to apologize once. David kept justifying his actions, but I paid no heed. I left shortly after this confrontation as my work here was done
Starting point is 07:49:16 and I wanted nothing to do with either of them anymore. Update 3. I see some of you are confused with my decision, so I just wanted to clarify, yes, I plan on divorcing my husband. I know many of you wanted me to give a second chance to my husband as this wasn't entirely his fault and I do agree. David is a good man. However, a good man doesn't automatically make him a good father. Just because he and I never had any issues doesn't mean he was a good father to Tom.
Starting point is 07:49:44 He should have nipped this from the beginning when our son came to him with doubts instead of spending weeks trying to cover it up and gaslight me. Both me and my son can't trust him anymore. I welcomed Kathy back into my life with open arms after what she went through because as a woman I felt sorry for her but in the end, she proved exactly why I never liked her in the first place. I understand the abuse Kathy went through was extremely traumatic for her, but that doesn't mean that our son should have to pay for it. She was a grown-ass woman who clearly had mental issues to begin with, but we thought she had gotten better. However, what really surprised me was my husband's.
Starting point is 07:50:21 The fact that he would choose her mental well-being over our son's proofs why he should never be around Tom. He was always such a supportive husband and I thought I could trust him but since what happened with Kathy, he clearly wanted to protect her more than us. I promise that from now on, I will protect my son no matter what happens. I am confident I can get full custody of my son if I expose his family history during the custody battle. I hope you enjoy this story. Endored Phase 2 breast illness, yet my spouse deserted me for undergoing a dual mastectomy. Ten years later, he reappeared as I was on the brink of tying the knot again. I encountered my husband, Chris almost 13 years ago and we were married for 10 years.
Starting point is 07:51:04 In the beginning, we were just friends since we were already in relationships with other people at that time. We kept in touch with each other over the years and when I broke up with my boyfriend, Chris asked me out quite unexpectedly. Our first date went quite well and we started seeing each other more frequently. Looking back, our relationship has always been very chaotic and unhealthy from the very beginning. You see he cheated on me multiple times throughout our relationship. The first incident occurred within a month of us being together. He went away to a hiking camp with his friends, something he does every year. While he was there, he was on some dating site and talked with a much younger girl where they exchanged inappropriate pictures with each other.
Starting point is 07:51:48 I noticed a change in his behavior when he returned, so I asked him about it. He was evasive, so I decided to investigate. This is how I found out that he was chatting with this girl online and saw their messages. I confronted him immediately and he told me how his friends introduced him to the dating site. He tried to justify how it was just pictures, but I expressed that this was not acceptable to me. We had a conversation about our boundaries and in the end, I decided not to blow it out of proportion since our relationship was just starting. The second instance was when I discovered that he had continued to maintain contact with his ex-girlfriend throughout the first four years
Starting point is 07:52:26 of our relationship. She would sometimes reach out to him every time she broke up with a new guy and instead of blocking her or ignoring her, he would reply back to her and try to pacify her. When I confronted him about it, he justified this by claiming he was just giving her harmless advice so I should not be upset about that. He even went on to say how being friends with an ex is not a big deal. I was shocked to hear this and decided that it was time to talk to a therapist regarding these relationship issues that we were facing. Even though he was at first vehemently opposed to the idea, I convinced him to attend a few sessions with me. It turned out that our communications slowly started to improve, and the relationship saw positive
Starting point is 07:53:08 changes. We became even closer and closer and eventually decided to get married in an intimate setting. Every one of our close family and friends attended our happy day. During that time, our relationship felt really good, and we were totally in love with each other. We enjoyed being together and felt content with our connection. We have always split bills from the very beginning, so even after our marriage we continue to do so. My ex was struggling a bit with some life choices and what to do next in his life as he had dropped out of college years ago and had a low-paying job. His family as well was going through a very difficult period with his parents splitting and his dad moving abroad for work. His relationship with his mother was not great either.
Starting point is 07:53:52 He was unsure of his career path. I, on the other hand, was doing a degree at a very prominent college, an A.D. 1 varsity athlete so I had my life all figured out. He did not like me talking about my studies so I never brought this up as I did not want to make him feel less about himself. Every day after college I would go for my part-time job so I could pay my expenses around the house. Unfortunately, one day out of nowhere, I started having some pain around my arm and my chest area during training and went in for a full body work just in case. It turns out that there was a tear in my arms which needed to have an operation. I remember sitting feeling dejected hearing this thinking about how I was going to mispractice for a couple of weeks but this wasn't even the worst news. My doctor checked my blood work and told me that there was some abnormality there. Upon close inspection, they found a tumor in my breast. It was cancerous, but it was stage two.
Starting point is 07:54:49 I started crying and shaking hearing this and called Chris to come to the hospital. The doctor assured us that I was still going to be okay as they had caught it early on. The revelation of my cancer diagnosis marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in our lives. In the beginning, my husband was extremely supportive. He spent hours and hours researching my treatments and the best surgeons to debulk the tumor. We found a great surgeon in Pittsburgh, so we scheduled an appointment with him. Meeting this doctor wasn't easy, but this was the best decision of my life as he was quite experienced. He told me from the very beginning the risk of the surgery and that he may have to cut out some fat from my breast.
Starting point is 07:55:30 My husband and I both didn't care as long as I was going to be okay. I went into surgery and the doctor spent 18 hours taking out the tumors from my breast. It was a successful surgery and I remember my husband crying into my arms in joy. Our happiness was short-lived as three weeks later, during our weekly test we found the cancer returning. I collapsed in shock as I thought that we had got it in control. My husband was proactive and spent countless hours with the doctor talking to him and coming up with a game plan for my recovery. The treatment journey was arduous, filled with the harsh realities of chemotherapy, surgery, and the emotional toll of facing mortality. The toxic substances coursing through my veins were difficult to live with.
Starting point is 07:56:15 During treatments, my husband and I found solace in the simplicity of companionship. Through the nausea, the hair loss, and the moments of despair, he stood. stood by my side, offering solace and unwavering support. Our bond deepened as we navigated the uncharted waters of sickness together. The surgery to remove the tumor again was a pivotal moment. I was clearly informed by the doctor that this time they would have to remove my entire breast. I told my doctor that I had been thinking about it and that I wanted to remove both of my breasts. My husband and the doctor were shocked to hear this.
Starting point is 07:56:50 My husband started to convince me that the tumor was only in my left breast so I didn't have to remove my right, but I knew that I never wanted to go through this ever again in case the cancer spread to my right breast. As long as I had breasts, I knew that I would have to live with the fear that I might get this cancer back someday and this terrified me. Obviously, I was angry and upset about it, but I knew that this was what I wanted. My husband was beyond upset, but this was not his decision to make. He tried to convince me several times before the surgery, but I stuck by my words. On the day I went in for the surgery, my husband started to cry and beg me saying that I didn't have to do this, but I told him that I needed to put myself first so I was okay with my decision. Thankfully, the surgery went well.
Starting point is 07:57:37 The prognosis, fortunately, was also optimistic, and as I emerged on the other side of treatment, I carried not only the scars of surgery but also a renewed sense of self and an appreciation for the fragility of life. My parents who had been dreading that there would be more bad news finally had a chance to rejoice. I was officially cancer-free. Throughout this time, the only thing that had changed was my husband. He wouldn't look me in the eyes and could only speak in short words. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was like he had changed during the whole process, and it left me feeling confused and hurt. He started picking fights with me for no apparent reason. It was like he had this wall up, and no matter what I did, he wouldn't let me in.
Starting point is 07:58:22 We used to be so close, especially during my treatment, but now it felt like he was pushing me away. I tried talking to him, asking what was going on, but he would just get defensive or avoid the conversation altogether. It hurt because I needed support, especially after everything I had been through. Instead, I found myself dealing with tension and arguments that I couldn't understand. I began to feel this growing distance between us, and it made an already tough situation even harder to handle. I needed my husband to be there for me emotionally, but it seemed like he had checked out. The fights became a constant, lingering cloud over what should have been a time of healing and rebuilding. I questioned whether the strain of my illness and the decisions I had
Starting point is 07:59:07 made regarding the surgery had taken a toll on our relationship. Was he resentful or struggling with his own feelings? Amidst the physical and emotional recovery from surgery, I found myself grappling not only with the aftermath of cancer but also with the strain on our relationship. It was a difficult time, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something had fundamentally changed between us. One night, after he came home drunk, things took a turn for the worse. I could sense the tension in the air as soon as he walked through the door. I looked at him, concerned, and asked if he was OK. Instead of a reassuring response, he just started laughing, a bitter and mocking laughter that echoed through the room. It's not like you can do something
Starting point is 07:59:51 about it, he said, his words cutting through the air. I was taken aback, not understanding what had triggered such a harsh remark. I persisted, asking him what was wrong, hoping for an explanation that would shed light on the sudden animosity. He continued to laugh, the drunken haze apparent in his eyes. I kept urging him to tell me if something was troubling him, and he finally blurted out something that left me stunned. How can I be happy when I'm living with a man? He said, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He went on to say he wanted a wife, but now he had a man because I had decided to cut off my breasts. Tears streamed down my face as his hurtful words sank in. Continued, saying he hated seeing me ever since the surgery, and he wasn't attracted to
Starting point is 08:00:38 me anymore. Despite my tears, I tried to explain that I had no choice, cancer is dangerous, and I didn't want to go through it again. I was lucky to come out of it alive, but I couldn't bear the thought of facing that kind of danger again. He yelled at me, saying that cutting off my breasts made me look more ugly. I kept crying, feeling the weight of his words crushing me. It was a painful realization that the person I had relied on for support during my battle with cancer now saw me in such a negative light. The scars on my body were not just physical. They were a reflection of the emotional wounds inflicted by someone I had thought would stand by me, no matter what. That night was worse than the night I had found out that I had cancer.
Starting point is 08:01:22 While my husband passed out on our sofa, I slept alone in our bed. Now that I knew my husband did not like me after my surgery, I was afraid that I would lose him forever. I couldn't sleep the entire night and kept tossing and turning in bed. It was only in the wee hours of the morning that my tired brain finally switched off. The morning after that painful confrontation was a blur of confusion and heartbreak. When I woke up, my first instinct was to find my husband, hoping that somehow the hurtful words exchanged the night before were just a terrible nightmare. I anxiously searched the house, calling his name, but he was nowhere to be found. Descending the stairs, I noticed an eerie silence in our home. The couch, where he had passed out the night
Starting point is 08:02:07 before, was empty. My heartbreak set in as I scoured every room, desperately hoping to see him and make sense of the emotional storm that had unfolded. That's when I noticed a sticky note on the fridge. My heart sank as I read the few words scrawled on that small piece of paper, I am done with you. It felt like a punch to the gut. I tried to call him over and over, but there was no answer. His belongings were gone, his car was missing from the driveway, and it was as if he had vanished into thin air. In a state of shock, I reached out to his parents, hoping they could shed light on his abrupt disappearance. To my surprise, they were just as bewildered and shocked as I was. They had no idea where he was or what had transpired between us. It was a surreal moment of isolation,
Starting point is 08:02:56 realizing that the person I had built my life around had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a void that seemed insurmountable. I called my parents and they rushed to be there for me. I told them about what had happened between me and my husband the night before. My dad was extremely angry hearing that my husband had called me a man. My mother, on the other hand, kept calling my husband and searching around the house for some clues. Fortunately, his parents arrived at the house as well. They had heard the panic in my voice and thought it best to check up on me. We were all really, really concerned. I could hardly function and my mind kept going to the worst scenario. I can honestly say that the pain of that morning eclipsed even
Starting point is 08:03:40 the darkest moments of my cancer diagnosis. The uncertainty and the suddenness of his departure left me grappling with a profound sense of loss with no closure. We went to the station and filed a police complaint, but because he was an adult who had packed all his clothes and taken his car, it was pretty much clear that he had simply left me. When I returned home that night, it felt like entering a void, a space that once brimmed with shared laughter and warmth. Now, it echoed with the haunting silence of abandonment. Days turned into nights, and I found myself crying for hours on end, hoping against hope that he would walk back through the door, ready to apologize or explain. The house, once filled with the
Starting point is 08:04:22 hum of our shared life, now felt desolate. I clung to the belief. I clung to the belief. that maybe this was just a terrible misunderstanding, and he would return to make things right. I called his number incessantly, my heart sinking with each unanswered call. It was as if he had vanished from my life, leaving behind an aching void that no amount of tears could fill. My parents, sensing the depth of my despair, decided to stay with me for a couple of days, but it was really difficult for my dad to go to his workplace as my house was pretty far from his sight. Hence I tried to stay strong in front of my parents so they wouldn't have to worry about me anymore and they eventually went back to their place. I was once again all alone
Starting point is 08:05:01 and wandered around the house too sad to do anything else. The days that followed were marked by a mixture of confusion, grief, and a profound longing for answers that seemed to elude me. I couldn't believe that my husband of ten years had vanished from my life without any explanation. Eventually, I decided that I had enough. As much as I was grieving, I wanted to get back into training and started doing online college classes so I could graduate. There was a lot of therapy, crying, and mental breakdowns, but I knew that I had to keep going forward. I was asked out by a couple of men and tried to go on a few dates, but I just couldn't get my husband out of my mind. Since then I have graduated with two degrees, and have secured a great job.
Starting point is 08:05:45 I have healed a lot through therapy and worked hard on myself to become better and stronger. I met Paul while we were working. He was a client. of mine and I was never looking to date him. But throughout the time we worked together, I could see that we both were attracted to each other. After our contact was done and he was no longer a client, Paul surprised me by asking me out. I was flattered and eventually tried to decline his invitation saying that I wasn't looking to date anyone but he insisted on us going out for a coffee at least. That one meeting with Paul turned out to be a turning point in my life. After coffee, we talked about our pasts, our dreams, and the challenges we had faced.
Starting point is 08:06:26 It was refreshing to be around someone who listened without judgment, and I felt a connection that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Slowly, Paul became a source of strength and support, helping me move beyond the pain of my past. We shared laughter, dreams, and hardships. As our friendship blossomed into something more, I realized that there could potentially be a future with him. Paul's kindness, understanding, and genuine care helped me rebuild my trust and love. With his encouragement, I continued therapy, addressing the lingering scars and insecurities. It wasn't an easy journey, but his unwavering support made it less daunting. I realized that I was slowly but surely falling in love with him.
Starting point is 08:07:11 When I first came to this conclusion, I remember feeling so guilty about it that I called up my mother and started to cry to her. My mother comforted me, assuring me that seeking happiness was not wrong, especially considering my husband had been absent for so many years without any contact. Taking my mother's advice to heart, I decided it was time to face the reality of my marriage. I reached out to my husband's family, who had always supported me and kept in touch with me. We had a tearful conversation where I explained my decision to divorce my missing husband. they understood that this step was necessary for my own well-being as they had witnessed the painful journey I had endured. I met with the lawyer to navigate the legal process of divorcing someone
Starting point is 08:07:53 who had been absent for so long. The lawyer explained the concept of a default divorce, a way to end a marriage when one party has essentially disappeared for years. It was a step toward closure, a necessary formality to officially and legally move on from this marriage. It took a bit of time but eventually, I was legally divorced from my husband. It was done and dusted and I was confused about how I felt. On the one hand, I was legally single after so long, but on the other hand, I still felt guilty for divorcing my husband. Nevertheless, I decided to focus on my career and my relationship with Paul who had been sweet and supportive to me throughout all this.
Starting point is 08:08:34 Over the last one and a half years, we have grown closer and closer. All is unlike anyone I have ever He makes me laugh in a way that reaches deep into my soul. His love is unabashed and genuine, and he never hesitates to show the world how much he cares for me. I have found an unfiltered happiness with him that has made me forget the pains of my past. My parents, who had been through the highs and lows with me, adore him as well. In Paul, I have discovered a partner who embraces me for who I am, scars and all. So when Paul decided to propose to me three months ago, I was over the moon with joy. It was a beautiful moment, one that felt like the perfect culmination of the love and support we had built together. As he got down on one knee, my heart raced with
Starting point is 08:09:22 excitement, and the tears that welled up in my eyes were tears of happiness and gratitude. When I said yes, it felt like a declaration of not just love, but also of triumph over the challenges I had faced in the past. I couldn't wait to spend the rest of my life with Paul, the man who had brought light into my life. With the engagement ring sparkling on my finger, I couldn't contain my excitement. I immediately called my parents to share the wonderful news. Their joy mirrored mine, and we celebrated the upcoming union with laughter and tears of happiness. Paul and I wasted no time in starting to plan our wedding, excited about the prospect of building a life together. The venue, the guest list, and the details of the ceremony became shared endeavors that strengthened our bond.
Starting point is 08:10:09 Today is the day I am about to get married to the man of my dreams. This is supposed to be a happy day, but here I am sitting in the washroom and crying as I type this. You see, the morning started pretty much normal. I spent the night at my parents' place as the bride and groom were not supposed to see each other before the wedding. Me, my mom and the rest of the bridesmaid squad got ready at the house and drove to the venue. While I was busy with photo shoots with my bridesmaid, I watched my ex-husband's mom enter the venue. She looked around and spotted me. I gave her a polite smile and she waved back. She then walked towards my mother and started whispering something to her. I watched
Starting point is 08:10:51 both of them head to a corner furiously whispering to each other. Ten minutes later, my mother approaches me in the middle of the photo shoot and tells me that she has something to tell me urgently. I looked at her and I knew something was wrong. I excused myself in front of everyone with the pretense that I needed to go to my room and get a touch-up. My mother's face wore a solemn expression as she locked the door behind us. Immediately sensing something was amiss, I asked her if something had happened to Paul, my heart pounding with fear. She shook her head, and with a grave expression, she motioned for me to sit down. Taking a deep breath, I settled into a chair,
Starting point is 08:11:30 my eyes fixed on my mother. I felt a nod of anxiety forming in my stomach as she began to speak. She told me that very morning, my ex-mill had received a call from my ex-husband, Chris. My eyes widened in shock as I struggled to comprehend the words she had uttered. My mother continued saying that apparently, Chris was alive and well. He was currently living in Canada and had been concealing his whereabouts from everyone, including his parents. The revelation hit me like a physical blow. My mind had stopped functioning as I grappled with the shocking information. My mother told me that his parents were as blindsided as I was, having had no inkling of his relocation.
Starting point is 08:12:12 Only his older sister had been privy to the secret, as he maintained a close relationship with her. The reason Chris had reached out to his parents was because he had found out that I was getting married and wanted to finally tell me the truth. He had apparently tried to call me several times, but my number has changed over the years so then he tried to call my mother, who had left her phone back home. As a last attempt to reach me, he had called his parents and told them the truth. Understandably, his parents are furious at him for vanishing from everyone's lives without a trace or an explanation. His mother had begrudgingly approached my mother and told her the truth as she felt I needed to know
Starting point is 08:12:49 everything before getting married just in case. Hearing the news, I felt a lot of emotions, disbelief, anger, and a strange sense of relief that my ex-husband was alive. My legs are trembling and I have since then. been crying while everyone is waiting for me so we can proceed with my wedding. I am still confused as I am writing this. I don't understand why Chris waited so long to tell me the truth. Why didn't he just divorce me and leave me like a normal person? All these questions are going on in my head when I should not even be thinking about my ex-husband on my wedding day. I would just like to know either for getting married to another man and not having tried harder to find
Starting point is 08:13:28 my ex-husband. Update 1. Thank you everyone for your hundred and hundreds of comments. I guess pretty much everyone agrees that I am not the a-hole here. Write some of your speculations. I did go through with my marriage with Paul obviously as I am completely in love with him and no one can stand in our way. Paul knows by now about Chris reaching out and he is as perplexed as me. When I was writing this post last week, I was feeling a lot of emotions hence in the heat of the moment I was a bit confused and wanted to know if I did something wrong. I understand now with a clearer mind after reading all your comments and talking to my family that I don't have to spend another moment feeling guilty about Chris. I am glad that I have moved on
Starting point is 08:14:11 to a much healthier relationship with my now husband Paul and we are very happy. Update 2. It's been a month since my last update. I had not contacted Chris anyway but out of nowhere. He ended up sending an email to me talking about why he left and trying to justify himself. This is what he wrote. I want to start by saying that I owe you a sincere apology for disappearing from your life without any explanation or closure. Over the past 10 years, I've grappled with my decision and its impact on you. I want you to know that it wasn't an easy choice to leave you. I couldn't accept who you had become after your surgery, and I tried my best to stay. I never meant to hurt you and I have since regretted my decision, but I was too embarrassed to come back and beg for forgiveness. I sincerely
Starting point is 08:14:57 hope that life has treated you well in all these years. You deserve nothing but happiness, and I hope that you found it, especially in your second marriage. I understand if you harbor resentment or anger towards me. I would love the opportunity to talk further, to provide the closure you rightfully deserve. Please feel free to respond when you're ready. I'm here and willing to listen. Wishing you peace and happiness, Chris when I received Chris's email, a mix of emotions washed over me. I felt a sense of disbelief and anger at his audacity to reach out after so many years. Uncertain about how to process this unexpected communication, I decided to share it with Paul. We read the email together again, acknowledging that it was extremely odd for Chris to write this
Starting point is 08:15:44 email to me even though I have chosen to not engage with him. We both agreed that engaging with Chris would not serve any positive purpose in my life so I did not reply back and simply blocked his email address. I have also talked to my parents about it and they understand my stance. With this decision, I have found a renewed sense of closure from my past. Update 3. It's been five months since my last update, and life has been on a positive trajectory. Since blocking Chris, there's been no attempt at contact, allowing me to focus on the wonderful developments in my life. Recently, I discovered that I'm pregnant and I couldn't be happier to share this joyful news. I can't wait to be a mother and meet my baby soon.
Starting point is 08:16:28 The anticipation of this moment has been a long time coming, and Paul shares in the excitement. I wanted to share this happy update with everyone in case any of you were still looking for an update. The unexpected joy found in Paul's company has shown me that life has a way of surprising us with new beginnings. Even when we least expect it and everyone deserves to find this kind of happiness one day. I hope you enjoy this story. Former spouse commits infidelity and destroys our union, pleads for reconciliation.
Starting point is 08:16:59 After some time, when I begin to explore new relationships, she reacts angrily and experiences immediate consequences. Former partner refuses to move forward. Man aged 48, divorced. 18 months. In summary, she cheated on me after 14 years of marriage. affair with married co-worker. She admitted it. After a month, just had to leave. I know she was remorseful. Begged and begged me to stay. She did not contest the divorce or my settlement. She's continued to be a good mom and our relationship is pretty good. Of course, we both had a hard time.
Starting point is 08:17:42 We were both mourning the end of the marriage for quite a while. We just kept doing our thing as single parents. Before the holidays, I started seeing someone. Not serious. More friends. She has a daughter. We recently began talking about introducing each other to our kids. They know nothing about us. So I texted my ex and let her know as a courtesy. She immediately calls and I can tell she's upset. I said that you're seeing other people than I am as well. This was bound to happen. She's now crying. So she screams that she has not seen anyone. Not even one date.
Starting point is 08:18:26 Not sure I believe that, said that. She was adamant and now a bit angry. She asked that I not have her spend the night when the kids are there and she's not ready to see her so PLS don't bring her around. Wow, okay. Again, just friends. An hour later she texts me and apologizes. I thanked her. An hour after that she texts that she deserves this.
Starting point is 08:18:52 I do not need any vindictive BS cheerleading here. I am still the head of this broken family and still need to lead as a father. What do I need to do here to manage this? My new GF is rock solid and will not allow any toxicity in her life. Neither do I. I am proud of getting this shit show settled down and need some input to keep it that way. Thank you. Update 1, W.S. Life then and now summary of ex-wife's accomplishments during first 13 years of marriage.
Starting point is 08:19:25 Raised two wonderful kids earned college degree, beautiful, home, great career-loving husband last three years. A fair, dumped, divorced joint custody small apartment laid off alone had some challenges with wife being a little too intrusive in my life. My buddy put this in perspective. By the way, if you read my other posts, She's been leaving me alone. My life isn't great either, but I am finally at peace. Hang in there. Update 2, Mother's Day Fiasco.
Starting point is 08:19:57 Man I screwed up. Not in the least intentional. Swear. Screw up number one had the kid Saturday and dropped them off for Mother's Day to be with their mom. We've been quarantined for weeks with beaches closed. They're now open. Saturday was beautiful weather. The kids and I spent the day at the beach.
Starting point is 08:20:20 Had a blast. I guess that was her big plan for Mother's Day. She never told me her plans and I never really thought about it. Screw up number two have a friend of sorts that I have been seeing. Thought I was discreet in building a nice Mother's Day gift basket for her. My kids have never met her. I guess the kids somehow found it, it was in my closet, and thought it was my gift to their mom. Evidently they told her all about it.
Starting point is 08:20:50 So X called to tell me how disappointed she was that we went to the beach. I apologized. At first she was okay then she thanked me for the gift and couldn't wait to see it. Blurted out I didn't get you a gift. God ugly. I feel bad for her. At the same time, when she had the affair, she never once considered how her future may look. me, I had an arsenal of jabs I could have laid into her with, but didn't.
Starting point is 08:21:19 Update 3. Divorce. The Affair Fog is your friend. Just sharing a personal reflection based on what I experienced. Please don't think I was this smart, just more lucky in hindsight, I guess. 48M. 14 years married, BS, two years divorced. Discovered the affair, she was remorseful at the same time never broke contact. After a month, decided to file. She went all in with AP. Painful as hell. Emotionally, I pushed like hell to get the divorce finalized. Just want it out. Sooner it's over, sooner I can start fresh. So in hindsight, I made all the money, she was so absolutely lust-struck, she made the most stupid decisions in our divorce mediation. So disengaged. Flippant
Starting point is 08:22:13 So immersed in the fog AP seemed well off Maybe she felt he would take care of her Didn't grasp what it would cost her to be on her own What she thought she could earn to even come close to her living standards And that's with alimony Couple of years that will be gone My attorney was dumbfounded
Starting point is 08:22:33 It's already starting She texted the other night to ask how to take money out of her 401k told her no clue, won't touch it until I retire. Oh, AP dumped her a few months post-divorce. Thought I'd mention that. So after reading a lot of posts I thought I'd share. I suppose there's some who are successful in waiting out the affair, somehow reconciling or whatever. I guess that can be a good thing. If you're not heading down the reconciliation road, act fast. Maybe you'll get lucky like me. Update 4. Eminent Train wrecked the Affairborn Marriage. Long read, interesting share on the
Starting point is 08:23:17 progression of an affairborn marriage. Ref article written by Dr. Pittman. According to the stats provided, only 3 to 5% of affairs actually progressed to marriage. While not part of article, would think think most of those are likely rushed into during limerence. The article also states 75% of second marriages fail. No mention of third marriages, which is likely higher. The odds of success of an affairborn marriage is just minuscule. My take, and this is not databaseed, is that the very small percentage that are defined as successful are actually split. I believe there are successful miserable and successful happy. I think there are a significant portion of people who are successful miserable because they trashed so much, and are so hard-headed, they make it work to
Starting point is 08:24:07 save face and not admit what would be their biggest life's failure. So they choose live in a shitty second marriage. I further submit that the little, bitty, tiny percent that are successful happy, truly both had a toxic, dysfunctional or abusive marriage they exited. Even then, happy is likely defined as better than. The reasoning, see below, article excerpt. Dr. Pittman's nine defects and the dynamics of affairs that become marriages chart the trajectory of love as it arcs from a forbidden romance to an established marriage to a marital breakup. These nine defects include, while still married to others, the affair partners become immersed in stimulating unreality. But the second marriage illuminates reality. Only after their marriage
Starting point is 08:24:55 did the divorce become real enough to see that it was a horrible mistake. They were so caught up in the infatuation that they never got around to figuring out if what they were doing was saying. The cheaters who wrecked a family or two, and inflicted much pain on innocent people may feel no or little guilt during the affair but become overwhelmed with guilt after they marry. Divorces drain both financially and emotionally. After a fair partners marry, the new couple may feel a disparity in what had to be sacrificed to bring them together. Unfaithful couples who marry may believe that the life after the marriage will be as good as life during the affair, and that, t. He greater the sacrifices, the greater the expectations for the new marriage.
Starting point is 08:25:38 In short, T. He more people enjoy the battles involved in wrecking and escaping marriages, the less they are likely to enjoy the business as usual of the new marriage. The affair partners, who were unfaithful, develop a distrust of marriage and for the affair partner who is now a spouse. A marriage that begins on an untruth cannot have a trusting, During the affair and the divorce, the unfaithful couple isolates and insulate themselves, and they retreat to a private little world protected from the devastation that they have created, save from anyone who tries to pull them apart. In this regime, memories or even mention of the betrayed spouse can be difficult.
Starting point is 08:26:17 Later, the now-married couple may long to reconnect with these people. However, e very one involved is hurt by the betrayal and not as forgiving as they have expected, They often find that they only have each other and that can be very lonely. When the romance fades, as it does in most marriages, romantics do not understand that this is part of the growth of the marriage, and they do not know how to nurture a deeper, more meaningful relationship. Rather, they believe that they have just fallen out of love. During the affair and the divorce, the affair couple convinces each other that the defective marriage is the fault of the betrayed spouse. To acknowledge otherwise, now that the remarriage,
Starting point is 08:26:58 has taken place, seems a betrayal of the rescue fantasies that fed the affair in the first place. The absence of a shared history that nurtures a comforting familiarity to relationships that begin earlier in life makes talking about the past difficult. An affair that wrecked a first marriage makes it painful and embarrassing for both spouses to discuss the past because it may promote jealousy and insecurity. Affair partners who marry do not want to hear the good qualities of the previous marriage and spouses, nor about any good times the former partners have. Trying to start over can be lonely and disheartening. Update 5, That Moment, That Look, That Gift.
Starting point is 08:27:38 Haven't posted in a while, but thought I'd share something about my situation the one gift my XWS left me that has helped me many times. A little background. Divorced two and a half years after finding out of my wife's affair. I am in constant contact with her. as we co-parent. Amicable and no real emotions left for her. I've moved on and life is good now. Things have not been good for her to put it mildly. Nothing major other than things here and there. Things I find out about and things that tend to concern me, for my kid's sake. I am a helper and
Starting point is 08:28:16 fixer by nature. I guess that's why I stay connected to this sub. So when I find out something is going bad for her, my first instinct is to help. Of course I don't, but just saying. What I always reflect back on is this look she gave me during our final mediation session. Mind you, I was at an all-time low at this point in my life. This look is hard to describe. Her eyes just looked empty, unholy, evil, and at the same time her mouth was clenched as if to be fighting off a smile. It was as if she was enjoying my pain. Man that hurt. It's still very vivid in my mind. So when I get in these situations where I think about wanting to help for that split second, my mind jumps back to that moment in the attorney's office. I do not feel vindicated or get joy out of her struggles.
Starting point is 08:29:09 It's more a reassurance. I know I am in the right place in my life, doing the right things. I often wonder if she did not give me that look, or was remorseful looking or if her eyes were full of doubt, how things may be different. So in that context, I feel like she gave me a lifetime gift. Am I crazy? Does anyone else have a similar point in time where they reflect a fine reassurance and guidance? Update 6 Good guys and gals always when have faith the infidelity in a fair is now just a tiny dot in a rearview mirror. Sure, the memories are haunting and no question the lowest point in my life.
Starting point is 08:29:51 I will never forget being nauseated for days at a time, confusion, stress never felt before, sleepless nights, suicidal thoughts, on and on. Thinking about the future was near impossible. Making it through each day was daunting. Been there. You are in a club no one want to be in. It sucks. I am now close to three years removed from that. mess. Without a doubt, this life I have lived is nothing close to what I had dreamed. At the same
Starting point is 08:30:22 time, by some miracle, I have landed on solid ground. My employer supported me though the tough times. I am forever grateful and am now more dedicated than ever. My career and performance is excelling. Somehow, I met the most amazing girlfriend. I never imagine having the connection I cherished with my ex-wife and never imagine building something remotely close after the damage caused by the affair. Miraculously, I achieve so much more. My values have changed. This whole experience has changed how I view others and myself.
Starting point is 08:30:59 I now know true friendship and foster that with a select few. I needed my kids and they needed me. My relationship with them has grown exponentially these past couple of years. They are in a good place. That's all that kept me going. I am humbled. I do not why or how I am so blessed. I know this I am not special, wealthy, or important.
Starting point is 08:31:25 I just did my best to be a good person. Hang in there. Brighter days are ahead. My only advice to share is to be a good person and have confidence that the good guys always win. As I wrote, we are in a club where joining comes at a painful price. Any of you need anything, reach out. You're not alone. Update 7. Answer to why people cheat.
Starting point is 08:31:51 Sharing a point of view everything we possess in life has value. Whether is material objects, friendships, relationships, careers, freedom, security, even ourselves. We all place value on what we have. How and what we value is complex. We are all unique awash with life experience. with life experiences, environments, DNA, you name it. Because of this, we all value differently and how and what we value changes over time. Sometimes we can control the value of what we have, sometimes we can't.
Starting point is 08:32:27 Sometimes we can make things more valuable. Sometimes, through neglect, we can make things less valuable. Sometimes the value is real and connected, sometimes it perceived. Value is always relative, based on options and circumstances. We value in the present and we value future potential. When it comes to cheating in affairs, a harsh reality is that W.S. valued the affair more than the marriage. It's that simple. Perhaps W.S. made an error in perception and placed extreme
Starting point is 08:33:00 value on the affair due to limerence and fantasy. Perhaps they didn't think and appreciate what they had in the marriage and undervalued or understood love. Maybe that's why there's regret. Maybe the value they placed was real. Maybe they didn't think about future value. When I reflect on my personal situation, I believe my ex took our relationship for granted. We never had problems and I do believe she valued what we had. I also think she overvalued her AP in the high that the affair gave her. Update 8, well, fell off my barstool last night.
Starting point is 08:33:37 Figuratively, of course. Catching up with a few friends and ran into one of my exes estranged friends. This woman was pretty lit and asked about X, then proceeded to tell me what an F up my ex was. Okay, whatever. She then proceeded to volunteer how FD up that whole situation went down. Ears up. Of course I asked what she meant. She proceeded to unload a whole saga, none of which I knew.
Starting point is 08:34:06 Evidently my ex blew a huge chunk of her. of the money she received during the divorce settlement by investing in AP's business. I guess the business was very distressed and the investment just bought time before it eventually went under. He then was going to move to another state and asked her to come. Evidently she agreed, then he reneged and dumped her. Guess he thought she wouldn't leave the kids. Nice to hear she was going to bail on her kids as well.
Starting point is 08:34:34 Anyway, just when I thought I had a clear picture of everything, this pops up. Pretty sure this happened. I knew her spending habits weren't consistent with her income and I knew she'd burned through her settlement. Just happened too quick. This explains it. My GF asked me if this upset me hearing that she did that. The kid's peace, yes.
Starting point is 08:34:58 Everything else. Her money, her choice. If anything, makes me not feel bad about her financial struggles. 49M, divorced three years. Update 9, Why I Never Reconciled Reconciliation was off the table for me. It wasn't that I didn't think about it. Of course my kids, the financial impact, etc. were all factors. It all came down to accepting the reality of a new and different marriage or marital relationship.
Starting point is 08:35:29 I arrived at my decision through really understanding what a post-affair relationship would look like. I had to accept the following. First, she cost me, and her, the ability to have a pure marriage. Wasn't like we were married as virgins. It was about the purity of the marriage. I knew our relationship could potentially improve as a result of this, and things could even be better. She could be better. Counseling could help.
Starting point is 08:35:59 Problem is, you just can't ever get it back when it comes to purity. Everything felt like it would be fake. Second, I would need to accept that my perspective of her would forever be changed. I knew we could restore the love, intimacy, and the connection and she could potentially be a great partner. I don't know that I could ever view her as a wife again. It's simply a strange possessive feeling I had, when it came to her, that was gone. Like she was mine, and now she's not. Third, I had feared that while I may grow to love her again, there will always be something
Starting point is 08:36:35 missing in that love. I imagined how I felt about her, through reconciliation, would be very similar to how a widower would feel after losing their spouse and remarrying. A widower may love their new partner, her through reconciliation, but not in the same way they loved their deceased spouse, her before the affair. So when I processed all of this, I realized that I had one life to live. I wanted a pure marriage, I wanted a wife and I wanted to give her all of me. I knew that was impossible by staying.
Starting point is 08:37:07 Not trying to sway anyone, just sharing my perspective that led to my decision. We are all different with different scenarios. Maybe this helps with your processing. Update 10. Difference between Affair Sex and Marriage Sex. I have read a lot of posts on comparing affair sex and marriage sex. Wanted to share, in probably an over-simplistic way, the difference. Affair sex versus marriage sex, newness versus closeness, dopamine versus oxytocin. Exciting versus versus comforting. Unsustainable versus sustainable.
Starting point is 08:37:44 The best way I can describe this is comparing skydiving to holding a newborn. A fair sex is like skydiving. The first time it's new and exhilarating. marriage sex is like holding your newborn child it's the feeling of connection comfort and warmth it's closeness like skydiving a fair sex releases dopamine it's a high from excitement now here's the catch all you need to release dopamine is some positive excitement it's easy like holding a newborn marital sex releases oxytocin it's a feeling of warmth and comfort. Oxytocin is a little more challenging. Oxytocin requires a feeling of security and safety to release. Our bodies naturally release oxytocin with a newborn because instinctually
Starting point is 08:38:37 there are no safety alarms. Otherwise, humans fear everything. So with a mate, the safety alarms need to be shut down. This is done over time through connection and intimacy. Ideally, when we enter a new relationship, a fair aside, the dopamine starts flowing. As the relationship progresses, the dopamine wanes. Now hopefully, the relationship grows and the dopamine is replaced, through intimacy and closeness, with oxytocin. Here's the really cool part. Our bodies actually crave the comfort generated by the oxytocin more than the dopamine. This is the case if the oxytocin is being released. Absent either is a feeling of emptiness. Now when people feel this emptiness and need to feel alive, they chase the quick fix.
Starting point is 08:39:29 Yep, dopamine. What most to have had experience with sex and relationships understand is excitement of a fair or ONS sex wanes as well. Whether it's with one partner or multiple partners, over time the dopamine releases subside. This is simply science in our bodies. So like the skydiving example, the fifth or sixth time is far less exhilarating, than the first. Oxytocin on the other hand, is sustainable and releases actually increase over time. So just like the newborn example, over time the bond and closeness increases. Thought I'd share this to help those BS who are trying to process regardless of the outcome of their relationship.
Starting point is 08:40:12 Hopefully you can see how this plays into many common themes on this sub once a cheater, always a cheater or was a fair sex better. Or I can't be intimate, etc. If not, let's dialogue. Anyway, hope this was worth a quick read. Update 11. Prevalence of the modern walkaway wife. This is a cut through the BS post about walkaway wife syndrome. There's a harsh reality to this and it needs to surface.
Starting point is 08:40:41 That's simple. All starts with boredom. Period. Many cases these women have everything. One could even argue too much. There's nothing wrong with being bored. It's how they address the boredom. Instead of finding purpose, activities, friends, etc.
Starting point is 08:41:03 Modern women retreat to social media and fantasies. The combination leads to painting a picture in their heads of some idealistic life. Social media is wrought with damaged divorced women that perpetuate single strong female fantasy. These damaged women ruin their lives, can't accept responsibility, and refuse. to admit they are miserable. They post content, get likes and feel justified. It's like recruiting into a cult. They feed off each other. Trust me, if your wife is bored, she's consuming all this stuff. She's envisioning a fantasy which does not include you or marriage. Rationalizing the irrational. These wass are now in a mental tug of war. They have good lives, they are bored
Starting point is 08:41:51 but now they now have this fantasy that excites them. Rather than taking accountably and addressing the boredom, they cling to the fantasy. They convince themselves the marriage is the problem. They create a narrative that their marriage is not good. Naturally, his means it's the husband. They start inventorying everything bad about you and the marriage. They then connect these thoughts through toxic social media e-tick-Tac-Babab had the same issues as me, left and is now fulfilled. Once they inventory all the bad about their marriage, they start confiding in friends,
Starting point is 08:42:26 relatives, Reddit, etc. They paint an overly biased portrayal of everything. Words flung around abuse, narcissist, controlling, etc. Pity party ensues. Divorce chance from the bleachers. It finally culminates into the bomb drop. Out of the blue, it strikes. Edit, take notice the word unhappy never surfaced in the post.
Starting point is 08:42:53 That is a ruse. Trust me, if they were unhappy you see it and feel it. Boredom is what differentiates a walkaway wife. I hope you enjoy this story. Spouse's moral backing for my closest companion transformed into a serious relationship. She admitted all, including their intentions to take my infant, and now I'm battling for guardianship. discard because my husband's docs read it. Also, I know he isn't cheating on me.
Starting point is 08:43:24 He's at home more often than not and I have full access to his electronics as does he to mine. My husband, 26M, and I, 26F, have been together since we were young teenagers. We got married last year and have a six-month-old daughter together. She is the light of both our lives as we both came from broken homes and want a better life than we lived growing up. My best friend came a few years later. We used to live in the same neighborhood and casually began to hang out. She lives with both her parents and siblings as she is studying to get her bachelor's degree. At first, she didn't like my husband.
Starting point is 08:44:02 Said that he was clingy and tried to insert himself into our friendship. WTF? She was civil to him because he was my romantic partner. For context, my husband is bipolar type 2, autism and PTSD and causes him to be a little socially awkward and miss certain social cues and taboos. I love him regardless of it all. Over the last few years, we have been hanging out a lot more. She comes over for a few drinks, we go to movies, and even visit local attractions together. We all three have a good time, and my husband does try to make nights for just the two of us
Starting point is 08:44:39 often, too. However, last year my husband and I found out we were expecting a child together in January. I was working and fell because at the time, I was working a fast food place. I threw up and went to the doctor. Come to find out, I was eight and half weeks pregnant. My life changed and I had become more busy to get myself ready for motherhood. My best friends saw me less and less and we couldn't talk as much. My husband I got married almost month and half after discovering we were going to become parents. That's when our dynamic changed. Recently, I applied to school and am currently in college trying to get a law degree so I can become a
Starting point is 08:45:19 paralegal and get to law school. I'm also a stay-at-home mom while doing college. I've been super busy. One day my husband gets a text, and it's from my best friend. She asks if they can talk, as she was upset. He took the phone call with me protesting and a few minutes later said, Sandra, fake name, we need to go get Carla, fake name. Her father is picking a fight with her. get upset as we are watching a movie together and I had just gotten the baby down for bed. We go to her house, which is about 20 minutes away and she stays with us for a night. As I get our daughter back down to bed, Carla asks to cuddle with the two of us in our bed. I was hesitant. I have issues with claustrophobia due to a traumatic experience as a child.
Starting point is 08:46:07 My husband gave the go ahead. We settle in for the night. Carla's dad apologized and she heads back home. Once she was gone, I blew up on my husband. What he did did not only inappropriate, but was disrespectful to my boundaries. Ever since, when she has an issue with her dad, she calls my husband and vents. One day, while my in-laws were staying with us, my mill overheard a convo with my hubby and Carla. She was concerned and asked me if I was okay with it. I said, no, not really, but every time I bring it up, he gets defensive, saying that she needs
Starting point is 08:46:45 help, that she is going through a hard time, blah, blah, blah. It is important to note that my mill was cheated on in the past by her ex, my husband's father. We are also extremely close, and she sees me as a daughter. She hates cheaters with a passion, and my husband, who I will refer to as James, was using the same excuses his father did. She asked to speak to him privately and walked to our living room. They got into a heated match and James apologized to me. He said he didn't know that it was hurting me and causing issues in our marriage. I asked him, how would he feel if I had asked him if another man could sleep in the bed with us? He kind of deflated and tried to say,
Starting point is 08:47:27 it's different. Blah, blah, blah. His stepfather, Mark, fake name, spoke up and said, the same. You're uncomfortable with it. So is she. Quit with the excuses. James respects Mark quite a lot actually. Mark raised him since he was eight and his own father was in and out of the picture. Once the dust settles, my husband truly apologized to me for his actions and said that he would do better. I kissed him and that was that. However, I wouldn't be right here if that was the end of the issues. Lately, Carla has been calling him three to eight times a day. She says it's because she is bored and has no one else to talk to. I snap. I call him out over the nonchalance about the situation, how when she calls, he answers, how it is making me feel like a third will
Starting point is 08:48:20 in my marriage, etc. His response, she's just lonely. You're letting it get to you. That night I slept in the living room. I'm starting to suspect that she is trying to monopolize his time. She calls him for over an hour each time he calls, they talk, she complains about her life, etc. Almost like she is his girlfriend or something. I am starting to find this relationship troubling. It's getting to the point that it is affecting my marriage. Where do I go from here? Any advice would be appreciated. Edit, thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm going to have a talk with him, with his mom involved. He won't listen to me if I don't.
Starting point is 08:49:05 I'm tired of fighting him over this. I should have an update with a resolution in a couple days. I'm going to read everyone's responses more thoroughly. Thanks for the advice. Edit number two, my husband and I had a sit-down talk. His mother and stepfather weren't available. He promised me that he would explain everything in detail. I called Carla and she said that we could talk Friday when she wasn't busy with school.
Starting point is 08:49:33 She had something she needed to air out. I will have an update on Friday, hopefully. Edit number three, I woke up to a text from Carla this morning. She actually wants to talk to me tonight, alone, as her schedule has changed. We are going to have a heart to heart. Hopefully I will have some news. Edit number four, I need some time. I will post an update later on. My heart is hurting. Hubby and I are getting a divorce. Thank you for understanding, everybody.
Starting point is 08:50:08 Comments, aggravating owl 89.74, you've set your boundaries and he continues to cross them. Is this how you want your marriage to be? She won't stop as long as your husband responds to her every time. You're right. I have issues standing up for myself. individual underscore noise underscore 366 you're standing up for yourself your husband is not respecting you you need to be open with your husband and tell him that his behavior is leading to the end of this relationship if he tries the she's lonely and you're just jealous you answer that she's lonely
Starting point is 08:50:43 because she preferred to seek the attention of her husband's best friend and you're jealous because he's given more importance to another woman comfort over yours his wife and mother of his children. He being autistic is not an excuse here. He have difficulty with social clues, not with knowing what is right or wrong. It's not unknown to a person in a committed relationship to develop a crush on someone. What they do about that crush is what matters. Your husband, instead of cut her of his life and putting effort into the marriage is letting his feelings for her grow and become an emotional affair. Budik is justice. He needs to cut her off. both do. He needs to tell her that their contact is hurting his marriage. So it's best they
Starting point is 08:51:28 not have contact and then block her. He's choosing her over you again and again every single time. Sounds like he is enjoying the attention. He likes being needed by her by being her hero. If he doesn't stop contact, the relationship is going to be over. He's in an emotional affair with her. Next step is physical. It's unfortunate, but it's all. ultimatum time. It's either you or her. He can't have both and maintain a healthy marriage. Cultural underscore shape 3518. He needs to tell her that their contact is hurting his marriage. Not even that. He needs to tell her he can't be the first and only person she turns to whenever she's got a problem. If she's really having this much trouble navigating life without blowing up his
Starting point is 08:52:17 phone constantly, she needs a therapist. If she's just doing it because, as she can, she knows that's not okay. Either way, it has to stop, and he's not making himself available if she doesn't knock it off on her own. Taco Strong, either your husband takes the steering wheel and cuts her off and respects your marriage or you leave them both behind. Your husband is allowing this and I guarantee is enjoying it. He has you locked in, marriage, and now he has the thrill of speaking almost nonstop to another woman. He's literally emotionally cheating on you and you know what the next step is. Again, this isn't about her anymore, but your husband, he either gets with the program or he doesn't. Update 1, this update is hard.
Starting point is 08:53:02 Everything about this situation sucks and I don't know if I will be okay for some time. Baby and I are currently staying with my friend, Tanya, to start, James and I are getting a divorce. Carla is no longer a friend to me or our mutuals. The betrayal is too deep. for her to be friends with our group. As most of you assumed, James and Carla are indeed having an affair. It started about three months ago and just turned physical one month ago. They were planning on just up and leaving after James served me divorce papers. They used the ruse that he was helping her through emotional issues to hide the fact.
Starting point is 08:53:40 I was crushed. She wanted to clear the air before it got worse. That was when she dropped a huge bombshell. James was going to try and get me to terminate my rights to my child in order for Carla to adopt her. The reason? My borderline diagnosis a few years ago made me unfit to be a mother and he was sure that the courts would agree. She then handed me two separate stacks of paperwork and left. I am contacting a lawyer as I am writing this.
Starting point is 08:54:09 I was seriously hurt. You guys were right. Carla was a snake and only told me this so she wouldn't feel guilty. However, I am not letting my soon-to-be ex-husband bully me into termination of my rights. I called him afterwards and got very heated about what was going on. James just sat there in silence. I was crying afterwards. I pleaded with him to tell me what I did wrong.
Starting point is 08:54:36 For a little bit of backstory, I had a near-fatal complication with my delivery of our daughter where I bled my entire labor. I had to have two blood transfusions and haven't fully recovered from it. I was not cleared for any extraneous activity for three months, including sexual activity. James was getting unsatisfied with all my doctor's appointments and not getting the sex that he wanted. I was hurting and ended up needing another procedure to remove some placenta that didn't naturally come out. I had to have my tubes tied because if I have another child, it will kill me next time. James wanted at least two more kids and this put an end to his plans. I married a monster.
Starting point is 08:55:16 we were together since we were 15 and this is how he repays me. I thought I knew him. He was acting so caring and nice to me. I am absolutely heartbroken. I'm not even sure if I'm going to update this anymore, but if I do, it'll be after the divorce settles. Thanks for all your concern. I'm going to step back and take some time to adjust. There is no chance for a healthy co-parenting situation. I'm fighting for primary custody with supervised visits. Carla will not have any access to baby, as I will ask the judge to make a clause preventing her from interacting with my daughter. Thanks for all the advice. Edit, I forgot to add that I contacted his mother and Mark this morning.
Starting point is 08:56:02 They are furious that James is doing this to me. They are helping me foot the cost of a lawyer because I'm a stay-at-home mom and college student. They have kicked James out and he is now staying at our old. house with Carla. He did give me the courtesy to get my stuff and didn't put up a fuss about me taking what I wanted. He told me that he will keep in contact for divorce proceedings. Update 2, Bestie and husband, sorry I've been radio silent. I spoke to a lawyer who is helping me at a reduced rate. My in-laws are helping me foot the cost of a lawyer against their wayward son. With all the info that I have, including some threatening texts from Carla and James, I have
Starting point is 08:56:43 I have decided to file for a protection order. They were even stupid enough to send me a text that pretty much confirmed the blackmail. I intend to use this to my advantage in the upcoming divorce proceedings as evidence of emotional abuse. John has continued to maintain that I need to terminate my rights to our daughter so that he can run away with Carla, but I shut that shit down. My little girl is the light of my life and my only chance to be a mom, which is something I have always wanted to do. I finally got a clean bill of health from my doctor after months of dealing with postnatal complications. Needless to say, no more babies for me. I could die if I get pregnant again.
Starting point is 08:57:23 I go to court Friday for our divorce proceedings. We have a mediator that my lawyer is speaking to directly for me so I don't have to deal with James's bully tactics. My lawyer is a no-nonsense of kind of man and I like that about him. My in-laws have decided to cut ties with James after this. He openly disrespected them for giving me a place to stay after I was kicked from the house and the threats. The emotional anguish he has been putting me through has been too much. They've always saw me as their own daughter and has treated me as such. They are just as angry at James for his involvement in all this as I am. That's why they decided to foot the cost
Starting point is 08:58:02 of a lawyer since I was a stay-at-home mom. My therapist has upped my therapy sessions to three times a week. I was also formally diagnosed with Did Recently, which only came out when I blacked out on a therapy session. My therapist and psychiatrist have been communicating and have suspected for a while that I have it, but got confirmed after my recent development in therapy. I haven't told James this, and never intend to. My mild is known as been my rock through all of this. As for the commenters on RA that say that I move too quickly out of the house for it to seem real, I have one thing to say. I have very little and had to go back and grab the baby stuff.
Starting point is 08:58:42 My STBX and Carla have went on a weekend getaway to my dream location, which I knew they did to hurt me even more. The picks were sent to me by my current friend who gave me a place for a few days before my in-laws gave me a place in their home. Baby girl is adjusting to life without her daddy around all the time. She is super fussy most of the time and I am sure she misses having him around. It breaks my heart to pieces. That's all that I have for you right now. I will have another full update on Friday. Update 3. I have some great news. Baby girl is safe with me. My lawyer pulled
Starting point is 08:59:20 through for me and my ex wants this divorce to be over with as soon as possible. First of all, I got full custody of my daughter with supervised visitation from ex. His own words came back to haunt him. I had proof of all his threats and the blackmail of him trying to get me to sign away my rights, and the judge wasn't happy. He tore into James and Carla about their behavior and how they tried to blackmail me and how they were lucky that I didn't press charges for extortion. Because of their bad behavior, he told them that he couldn't in conscience do shared custody because of the evidence of their behavior towards me. He was also worried that they would try to run off with her. Next up, because of all the behavior and aggression towards me that
Starting point is 09:00:03 was unwarranted, my protection order was granted. My mill, who stayed beside me in court, is the one who volunteered to facilitate the supervised visits until my divorce becomes final. If Carla and James try to contact me again, unless it is strictly about our daughter, then they both will go to jail. James has to pay me child support. Of course he tried to protest it, but it wasn't happening. Lastly, after court James said something that kind of broke my heart about our daughter. If he can't have primary custody, then he is going to petition to terminate his rights. He doesn't want to be tied to me anymore and is willing to let my daughter suffer for it. So my daughter just pretty much lost her father because he would rather
Starting point is 09:00:46 break away from me and pretend that I don't exist. I have some additional information from Carla that she said to me afterwards. Apparently she is infertile due to an illness she suffered from as a teenager. She wanted a baby so bad and to get me out of the picture so that they could play happy family with my daughter. I was stunned. She then asked me if I was happy for tearing their family apart. I had to look at her for a second. She tore my family apart. I wanted to slap her so bad. Because of her, my daughter is probably going to lose her father. I'm sad. That all that I have for you. My next update will probably win the divorce finally happens. Thanks for reading this. Update for this update is heavy. Court was on Friday and I was waiting for the dust to settle
Starting point is 09:01:38 before I posted two days ago. My STBX husband has been hospitalized. Carla called me this morning, crying despite the order. James tried to commit suicide this morning and she found him just in time. He tried to awed on his prescriptions and now he is in the hospital. The doctors don't know how long he will be there, but I will keep my hopes up for a speedy recovery. Despite the literal hell he has put me through, he is still the father of my daughter. I'm not pressing charges this time against Carla because it was a dire emergency. James is stable and they are transferring him to another facility for the foreseeable future. I feel almost sorry for her.
Starting point is 09:02:20 I don't know when I will be able to update. again. I have a lot to deal with and emergency care to plan for. Please keep me in your thoughts as I navigate this difficult situation. Thank you. Edit STBX is at a treatment facility that specializes in autism and emotional regulation disorders. He will be there for at least 30 days depending on treatment and his receptiveness of it. All divorce proceedings have to be put on hold for a bit until he gets out. I talked to my lawyer about Carla contacting me about his attempt. He told me that I shouldn't have responded, but he understood the necessity to do so. For now, I'm not in contact with her, and don't intend to be so for the foreseeable future.
Starting point is 09:03:04 Update 5. I didn't think I'd be back with an update, but it has been two weeks since STBX was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. Since we have put divorce proceedings on hold for a while until he gets out of the hospital, I've been taking the steps to spend time with my daughter and my in-laws, who have been my rocks in this situation. Life has stabilized for me for a bit. I'm still acclimiting to my did diagnosis. I've been out of it for a few days now, due to some heavy-duty painkillers. But I know some of you are here to see how this saga ends.
Starting point is 09:03:38 On to the biggest part of the update. Carla has been arrested and is being charged with breaking a protective order, aggravated assault, and attempted kidnapping plus a whole slew of other charges. Here is what happened. I was out and about in town yesterday, trying to get a few errands done. I was starting to get hungry and decided to get some food at my favorite spot. It was a small Italian restaurant that I used to go to with my husband before the divorce proceeding started.
Starting point is 09:04:06 I ordered my food and sat down to wait for my order. As my food was being handed to me, I saw Carla Storm in like she owned the place and decided to confront me. She was hysterical and I couldn't make sense of what she was. trying to say. She then started to punch and kick me. To make a long story short, Carla broke my nose and arm, fractured my left eye socket, and punctured a lung. When she realized what she had done, she panicked and tried to take my stroller while I was fighting to stay conscious. Someone saw what she was trying to do and stopped her before she could escape. I woke to police
Starting point is 09:04:43 in my room and my in-laws holding my daughter. The police filled me in on what happened and now Carla is in jail awaiting a court hearing. Because of the nature of my injuries, police are taking the decision to press charges out of my hands. Not that I try to drop the charges anyway. So yeah, this is where I am at. Sorry if it seems super lame. I will update again after Carla's court date in a few days. Much love, guys. Carla is still sitting in jail. She is facing some serious prison time and I'm so happy that I can put her behind me. I also got out of the hospital a day and a half ago. First of all, let me begin with a small update on STBX hubby.
Starting point is 09:05:28 He has been receptive to treatment and will be leaving the hospital next Monday. My mill has been keeping me up to date on his condition and he is stable now. A lot of you were right, Carla took advantage of his manic episode and need for a stronger dosage of his medicine by convincing him to sleep with her. He has since broken up with her and begged his mother to tell me that he does want another chance to be my husband. That's why she attacked me the other day. She couldn't handle his rejection. To be clear, I'm not giving him another chance. He destroyed my trust by not only cheating on me, but by refusing his medicines for a while and threatening me and our daughter. I'm still going through with the divorce, but I may go to counseling to review
Starting point is 09:06:11 the custody arrangement and give him more supervised visitation. He's still her father, after all. Also, I got a job recently. I was told I got the position the day before I was released from the hospital. I haven't read all of your messages of support but the ones that I have read, thank you. Carla is still in jail with no chance to get out before her next hearing. Hopefully she gets what is coming to her. Hubby is stabilizing and begging for another chance, and I'm looking forward to starting my career.
Starting point is 09:06:42 I will be updating again in about a week. Edit, I just read the comments and some of them are rather harsh about me saying I want to try to give him a little more supervised visits. Say what you want, but as TBXH can go back and try to get the custody order reviewed when he gets out. As long as he is stable and undergoes mandated therapy, the judges here will rule in his favor. The review of his custody arrangement is per my lawyer's advice, otherwise when he gets better, he can file to have it amended. It's just easier to be agreeable rather than fight it out. I have no more energy to do so. Carla is in jail, so my biggest threat is gone.
Starting point is 09:07:22 She isn't getting out for some time. Not even her family's influence can help her. I'd rather agree to longer visits than risk having him gain even an ounce of unsupervised custody. At least this way, I know my eels will get her out of there if he is dangerous. It will also look better on me during this divorce process. Update 6. STBXH just got out of the hospital. He is staying at his home, alone. He is so miserable now that he has lost everything. His mom and stepdad have cut him off for the most part except during visits with our daughter. His mom told me that he is going to sign away his
Starting point is 09:08:01 rights once I get married again, if that is what I want. According to her, he wants to reconcile but knows that I am not willing to do so. He wants his life back before. this whole Carla debacle started. He isn't fighting custody at all either. He doesn't want any more visitation than he already has. He is willing to pay child support and alimony to speed along this divorce. He is cognizant of the damage he has done to our family. For context, my mother cheated on my father and it broke up my family before I was old enough to remember. Their divorce was final when I was only a year old and my mother abandoned me. I cannot stand cheating. They destroy lives.
Starting point is 09:08:45 James understands this, too. Cheating is that hard line for me, so James knew he fucked up. Right now I have an appointment Friday for a discussion with my lawyer about the terms of our divorce and formalizing custody. James' parents are helping me with arrangements for my own apartment. Thank you everyone. I won't update again until the divorce is final, which should be in three months at least. Goodbye for now. for now. I hope you enjoy this story. Spouse departed from me for a different gentleman when I
Starting point is 09:09:17 fell ill, then attempted to reconcile with me upon discovering my recuperation and newfound wealth. I, a 47-year-old male, have been going through an emotional turmoil in my life recently. My wife turned against me and started seeing another man after she got to know that I'm suffering from a terminal illness. It all started around a year back I collapsed in my office and was rushed to the ER. A series of tedious medical tests were conducted and later I was diagnosed with a serious illness. It was a liver infection but if it was left untreated, it might turn terminal for me. My wife was out of town attending her friend's wedding at that time. I didn't tell her about this over the call because I didn't want to freak her out when she came back and found me pale
Starting point is 09:10:03 in illness. I had to tell her everything. She was shocked but I didn't get the warmth I was expecting from her after knowing about such severe illness. I won't say she was cold, but I felt she was more disappointed rather than sad or upset. I felt like the disease was due to my mistake or something. Anyways, I focused on my healing and remained positive. It was becoming difficult for me to juggle my work and my health. I was advised of major lifestyle changes in my diet and exercise. With this new routine, it was difficult for me to work efficiently at work. yet I tried my best to balance them. Meanwhile, I found my wife drifting away from me.
Starting point is 09:10:47 She was not as close as she used to be. Whenever I wanted to be intimate with her, she would ask me to rest or would say that she was tired. It was bothering me and I confronted her. She said she was just stressed out because of my illness. But I highly doubted that because out of concern, you don't push away the person and she was doing that. To distract myself from all this stress, I got indulged at work.
Starting point is 09:11:13 I got so busy that I missed following my diet routine and sometimes I even missed taking my medicines. Obviously, that had to come back and bite me and it did. I again fell severely sick and had to be rushed to the hospital. This time my wife saw everything I had been through. She took good care of me. I had to be hospitalized for a week this time and the doctor told me clearly. that I have to take my health seriously else the situation would run out of control. I was advised to take a leave from work and rest because work was making things worse for me.
Starting point is 09:11:48 Taking a leave from work was just not possible for me. Actually, you see, I don't work for any random corporate or so. The company I work for is of my close friends. He had started it during college. He asked me to join at that time, but I wasn't sure if it would fly, so I took up a job instead. But some five to six years later, when his company solidified, he offered me a senior position with good pay. I joined. Since then, I have considered the company to be mine and I personally take responsibility for its growth. I take care of a crucial vertical of the business.
Starting point is 09:12:27 I rested for a few days and then again got back on my feet for work. One day I was discussing my report with the doctor over a call and my friend, company's founder and CEO, overheard it. He was so mad at me for not telling him about my health and working overtime for the company. He insisted that I take a sabbatical and rest until I heal completely. I told him about my condition that I may not be able to join work ever again so I want to work as many months last year as possible and secure my family's future. I had not discussed this with anyone, not even my wife, but I was not having a very good feeling about my health. I feel it's going downhill so in this case, I just want to acquire as much money as I can
Starting point is 09:13:10 so that my wife can lead a decent life. I got emotional discussing this with my friend and he assured me that God forbids if anything happened to me, he would take care of my family's finances. That was a huge assurance for me but I didn't want to burden him but he insisted that I take a sabbatical from work without a pay cut for six months and if I really wanted I could work sometimes from home. I went home and told my wife that I won't be going to work from next day. Before I could tell her the entire stuff, she asked me if I was fired. I gave her a sarcastic look and said yes, because of my deteriorating health condition. I wanted to lighten the situation by pulling up this prank. Her first reaction to this was, are you dying? That broke my heart,
Starting point is 09:13:56 how could she be so insensitive? But I played along and said yes. She was like how long? I said I don't know the doctor said maybe six to seven months or sooner. I thought she would break into tears and all that and I would crack up, but her reaction was very cold. She was like how would I manage my finances, you don't have enough savings to cover for me. That's why I've been telling you to leave your friend's company and take a job overseas that pays better, we could have enough wealth by now for me to lead a decent life. The bottom line is she wasn't bothered that I was dying, she was worried that I was dying poor and not leaving anything for her. I wanted to pacify her and tell her about the equity I own in the company, which would help
Starting point is 09:14:41 her lead a good life if anything happens to me, but I held back. I wanted to see what she would do next. I think I didn't mention that I was given some substantial equity in the company when we were able to reach our first biggest milestone. The amount in today's time is close to $1.1 million and it is going to explode further as the company grows, which I'm sure it would since then my married life has come to a standstill. All conversations have become just transactional, she doesn't even ask about my health.
Starting point is 09:15:11 I see her leaving home in the morning and coming late in the evening and mostly eating out. By the way, she doesn't have a full-time job, She works at a salon as a nail artist during peak seasons. All this was disturbing me, but I focused on my health instead. Then last month, she came and asked me when we were getting divorced. My world crushed. Divorce is the last thing I want to deal with in this health condition. I was lost for words.
Starting point is 09:15:41 She said there's nothing to be shocked about, she has to move on and it's better that she starts distancing herself from me. I sarcastically asked her if she has already found my replacement. She nodded and said yes, it was a guy she had known for some time, but now she has started seeing him as a potential partner and going on dates with him. I really can't explain the feeling I went through that day. I felt a pit in my stomach. I felt my marriage was a sham.
Starting point is 09:16:09 I have discussed this with my friend and he asked me to remove my wife, well, I don't want to call her my wife anymore, let's stick to from all my legal nominees. I have removed her as my legal nominee in the equity and from everything else. Jay doesn't know about the equity thing because I thought of giving her as a surprise at my retirement. The money would have become huge by that time. Gladly I had not told her, she would have masked her true self for the sake of the money. Edit to add, I'm diagnosed with a serious liver infection and if I don't take care of myself,
Starting point is 09:16:44 it might eventually turn terminal. With God's grace, the doctors are still hopeful of my recovery from this stage provided I follow what they say, medication, lifestyle changes, rest, and all that stuff. I was just pulling a prank on my wife by telling her it was terminal to freak her out and that prank changed everything. Update 1, Hello everyone, thanks for all the kind wishes. Yes, you guys are right. I feel glad that I lied to her about my terminal illness.
Starting point is 09:17:14 and got to know her true colors, or else my whole life would have been a lie. We don't have children, my parents passed away a few years ago, I do have a brother, but we are not that close, so whatever I have would have automatically gone to her. Despite my deteriorating health, I was working so hard over the last one year to earn enough money to leave for her, and in return, she did this to me. Initially, I tried ignoring her and focusing on my well-being. I joined a fitness class suggested by my doctor, followed a strict diet, went for runs, and did everything to improve my condition, but I wasn't healing at the pace I should have
Starting point is 09:17:52 been. I realized whatever good I was doing for myself was ruined by the mere sight of my wife. I could not stand seeing her getting ready for the dates, she would come home drunk with smudged makeup, and we barely talked. She occasionally used to ask about the divorce or comment on how many days of my life would increase by following the diet, it was obviously a very sarcastic and mean comment. Although I pretended that I didn't care about it, but actually I was bothered by it. It was slowing down my healing process or maybe just worsening it.
Starting point is 09:18:25 Before this, I used to have a very boring life, it was just work and family. With family, I mean Jay now both of these going out of my life, I had nothing else to do. My friend offered me to move into the rooftop dwelling of the office. It's a one-bedroom kind of set up with a small living room where we used to hang out to distress ourselves after work. I accepted it because staying at home was choking me. Staying there would keep me distracted, at least I would be able to walk down the office any time and catch up with my team and colleagues. Just a week of staying here has made me feel so much better. When I was moving out, Jay asked me if I was moving out.
Starting point is 09:19:06 out permanently. I said until the divorce is settled. She didn't call me after that. Only when the divorce papers reached her, she dropped a voicemail with a thank you note for releasing her fuss free. Our divorce process went smooth because I didn't have anything substantial to fight for. I had but she didn't know, the house in which we lived was on a 10-year lease, 8.5 years had already passed, 1.5 years remaining. I agreed to add her name as the 10-year and she could enjoy living there for 1.5 years rent-free. She knew I didn't have enough savings and I told her I'm using that to sustain for the rest of my days and my diagnosis. So yeah, everything is settled pretty much.
Starting point is 09:19:50 I'm now just focusing on eating right and attending my fitness sessions. I have also started joining some important office calls through my apartment to kill time. My latest diagnosis showed positive movement in my health and I couldn't be happier. Earlier I used to have this feeling that I may not live long despite the medication, but now I feel much more positive and I'm looking forward to a good life. I'll update if anything develops. Update 2. Hello everyone. Thanks for checking on me. Like I mentioned in my last update, my divorce was settled and I let my ex-wife live in my house until the lease expired. I was living in the company's rooftop house for a while.
Starting point is 09:20:32 After the divorce, I vacated the house. I kept the bare minimum essentials with me and the remaining items shipped to the storage. Yeah, when I went home to pick up my belongings, Jay's boyfriend had moved in with her. He awkwardly walked towards me and said he was sorry to hear about my terminal illness. I just smiled. He asked how much time I had. I said I don't know, maybe some more months. I was relatively calm on seeing my wife's boyfriend. Maybe I had moved on or I was just secretly happy dumping my freeloader wife on him. Health update, it's much, much better than before.
Starting point is 09:21:12 I feel fitter than ever. I have been a lot more involved in my office work than before. Staying at my office building made everything so much better, I was able to work at my own convenience. Now, that my health has stabilized, I'm planning to liquidate a portion of my equity to get my life together. I'm looking for a house to settle in. It's been more than five months I've been living in the office building. Though my friend insists that I can live as long as I want, I don't want to take unnecessary advantage of his kindness.
Starting point is 09:21:45 In between all this, I got a text from an unknown number, identifying herself as AP's wife. She requested a meeting. I agreed. When I met her, she asked me about my health. She looked somewhat surprised and said I didn't look like I was suffering from a terminal illness. I smiled and asked her what else she knows about me and why she wanted to meet me. She told me that her husband had an affair with Jay for more than two years but they had kept it hidden. After my illness came out and my wife got the house, AP told his wife about the affair, left her,
Starting point is 09:22:21 and moved into my house. I was perplexed because Jay knew that the house is leased and not owned. Also, she had just put up an act of finding another man because of my illness, but in real she had been cheating on me way before that. AP's wife was devastated by all this because according to her, Jay had lured her husband into the affair because two years back he got an inheritance money from his father. AP looks quite older than us, maybe in the late 50s and they have grown up kids as well. She was okay to reconcile with her husband if Jay left him alone and hence wanted my help. I asked her if she was sure about this because AP has been cheating on her for two years.
Starting point is 09:23:03 She said yes, because she didn't want a broken family and they had plans of retiring together and now she cannot fathom living alone in the retirement age of her life. I'm not judging her at all, it's her choice if she wants to get back with her cheating husband. They were not yet divorced. I dropped the truth about my health and she was delighted. She congratulated me on my recovery. She asked me about my next plan and I told her that I was planning to have my own place that's when I told her that the house in which Jay and AP were living was not owned but
Starting point is 09:23:35 least for the next 1.5 years. Her eyes lit up with all this information. I understood what she was going to do. She thanked me and left. The next morning I woke up with my phone buzzing nonstop from Jay's calls and messages. There were several voice notes that said, Why did you lie about your health? Why didn't you tell me about your recovery? You cheated by hiding about the equity thing.
Starting point is 09:24:02 It was so funny to hear all those panic messages. She then visited my office. I saw her through the conference room yet asked the receptionist to let her wait for a couple of hours. I know it sounds evil to say this, but I enjoyed seeing her anxious. The tables have turned. Months ago, I was living my life in the same anxiety and desperation seeing her getting ready for her dates and coming back home drunk late night. When she was finally led into my cabin, she stormed inside and shouted at me. The same thing that she said on voicemails. I heard every
Starting point is 09:24:39 bit of it. Rather I enjoyed her rage. It was coming from a place of misery. I smirked at her and asked how long she had been cheating on me. She stood silent. She tried to lie that it was only after my illness. I gave her the look that I knew it all. I asked her to confess everything. Told her I knew she had been seeing AP for two years. Asked her if she was with me only for money. She confessed it was just casual friendship which meant nothing. It was only after the news of terminal illness that she slept with AP. I was like, cool, this is what you do when your husband is dying, you sleep with another man. She was still lying. I pestered her to speak the truth.
Starting point is 09:25:26 She started crying and pleading to get back together. She said I had no substantial savings, so when she got to know that AP inherited a million dollars wealth from his father, she went behind him. But AP was not ready to leave his wife until Jay proved herself to be worth and not a gold digger. So, she offered to give the house to AP if he left his wife and married Jay. So yeah, she was planning to deceive him as well, but AP's wife. wife discovered me and dropped the truth bomb just at the right time. I smiled and asked her to
Starting point is 09:25:59 leave. She requested to meet for dinner. I refused and asked her to leave. She was like, now that everything is sorted, let's get back together and restart our lives. Now I have no complaints from you. She tried to use her tears to get away with her request, but she forgot that she was no longer my wife and that I would give in to all her demands. I asked her to leave else I would call security on her. I tell you, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing the defeated face of your cheater partner. I'll update after settling down with my new life. Update 3. Hey people, I'm feeling so happy to write this update. My latest diagnosis report confirms that I have healed completely. I have lost almost 25 pounds from the time I was
Starting point is 09:26:47 diagnosed with liver disease. It had to do a lot with my lifestyle. I was so well. I was so busy making money for my family, read ex-wife, that I didn't care about my health. And of all it for what? For nothing. She divorced me as soon as she got to know I was dying. The last I updated on this thread was Jay showing up at my workplace asking for a chance. Actually what happened was, after meeting with me, AP's wife went straight to AP and told him that Jay was a gold digger and was with him just for the money. Until now, AP was defending Jay. because she had let him move into the house. But when he got to know that the house was leased and she soon would be completely dependent on him,
Starting point is 09:27:31 he felt betrayed. There were several other lies Jay had told him to manipulate him into her skirts. She was indeed behind him for his inheritance money, but AP's wife was adamant about not letting that money go to Jay because it was for her children. Eventually, AP's wife was successful in throwing out Jay from AP's life. I don't know what Dynamics AP was having with his wife and his family. AP's wife used to be in touch with me earlier and gave me updates, but now we don't talk. I asked her a few times how could she forgive her husband's cheating, but she was reluctant
Starting point is 09:28:06 to take personal questions so I didn't ask her further. Ex-wife tried all means to reconcile with me, calls, emails, texts. When it became too much, I blocked her from all platforms. When she got to know that I was getting a place for myself, she showed up at my office and sent me flowers and gifts at work. The thing is she doesn't have a job. The house lease is about to expire in a couple of months. I got to know from one of my neighbor buddies that Jay had rented out one of the rooms of the house to a bachelor for over a year. The rent covers her other expenses.
Starting point is 09:28:43 I don't know how else she is surviving without an income. Maybe she's sleeping with other men for other stuff. Anyways, now I believe everything happens for a reason. A good reason. My health is sorted. I have bought a place for myself. It's a small two-bedroom penthouse, but it is cozy and I have designed it to my taste. I couldn't be happier.
Starting point is 09:29:09 A lot of you, even my friends and family recommended that I start dating again, or at least start meeting women. I'm yet to do that. Some of the Office Juniors recommended social media platforms, especially for 45-plus age group people who are restarting their lives as 2.0. I have installed it but not very confident about getting into the modern dating game. People have also cautioned me against scammers on these dating sites, so I'm slightly scared. Just don't want to get into any new mess again. Any tips or suggestions are highly appreciated. Thanks for all the support and advice.
Starting point is 09:29:48 Now on to the next story. Story 2. Discovered my wife went on a honeymoon with her AP, after our marriage. Then I went to her work and exposed them. I, 29 male, had just relocated to a new city. It was during one of those nights of trying to get acquainted with the new surroundings that I met my current wife. We would go on to date for a year before tying the knot shortly after. The initial stages of our relationship were pretty much like any other new marriage.
Starting point is 09:30:20 Blissful, full of adoration for each other, and wanting to spend any chance you get together. But some red flags were already looming in the background. While dating, my wife had a lucrative job that came with many perks and benefits that would trickle down to me by virtue of being her better half. My wife introduced me to her boss and seemed to be going on well as we got along just fine. I had to play the supportive husband as my wife's job entailed a lot of traveling to various states for meetings. I didn't make much out of it, as it was usually a team traveling together with their boss in tow. I never complained until this one time, two weeks after the wedding when my wife talked of going on a business trip with her boss only. It only seemed right that we
Starting point is 09:31:05 spend a bit more time together since we were still in the honeymoon phase. I mentioned the same to her and even tried to stop her, but a furious fight occurred instead. We had never had a fight before. She called me unreasonable and I couldn't help but wonder a little about these business trips. In the end, she definitely still traveled with her boss, totally disregarding my feelings. Feeling distraught, I turned to my friends for advice and their take on the matter. In unison, they all suspected that something W was a miss. This just escalated my key. curiosity, but I had no option but to wait for her return, as it was pointless trying to have a serious discussion with her right then. She came back after a week. I played it cool to
Starting point is 09:31:52 avert any suspicion. I attempted to unlock her phone when she slept to no avail. She had altered her pin. Undeterred, I secretly watched her moves for the next few days with the hopes of retrieving the pin. That came to fruition as I saw her key it in and mastered it. When I next got a hold of her phone, I wasn't ready for what met my eyes. My wife had changed her boss's name to a woman's. But I was able to join the dots because of the nature of the conversation and the threads and the numerous nudes exchanged between the two. You can imagine my shock.
Starting point is 09:32:30 She had been unfaithful all along. I felt so torn and confused. The so-called business trip was what she considered her real honeymoon. Those were the exact words she used while chatting with her boss. It now became apparent that she had gotten married to me to conceal the rumors going around about dating her boss, a married man. Suddenly J.T. hit me that all the benefits and preferential treatment she got from her boss were due to their affair and not on merits.
Starting point is 09:32:59 How could have been so gullibles but whoever thinks straight went so deep in love and at the initial stages of a hopeful marriage full of hopes, breams and plans together hooked screenshots and sent them to my phone for evidence and discreetly deleted any traces of these acts. I'm not sure if it was my fury that made me avenge, but I just know despite her hurting me, I wasn't proud of what I did after. I took my wife's computer and edited her presentation that was due the next morning. I opted to add an intimate photo of her and her boss from their recent honeymoon as the second slide, leaving everything else untouched, and as expected. The next morning she went to work with her presentation unsuspecting of anything.
Starting point is 09:33:40 About an hour later, I received a call from a very frantic and hysterical wife of mine. She had done the presentation and instead exposed herself and her boss to all in sundry. She had the audacity to say I had ruined her life and all that she had worked for. What ensued next was her coming home raving mad and trying to hit me. I asked her to leave to avoid any other confrontations at that point, and she refused. Luckily her cousin lives nearby, so I called on her to come and salvage the situation, after explaining what had transpired. She came in and whisked my wife away as she kept screaming at the top of her voice causing drama. I just wanted peace of mind and somehow felt relieved for how she felt because, frankly, she deserved it and more.
Starting point is 09:34:27 So far I've filed for an annulment of the marriage. We've only been married for under a month, and I don't wish to be associated with her in any way, ever. So, I'll emerge pretty and scathed except for the tremendous emotional trauma. My wife who doesn't even deserve that title tried slithering her way back to her boss's arms. But he too wanted nothing to do with her. He opted to now focus on his family going forward. She has become miserable and a shadow of herself, depressed. So, I'm wondering, was it worth it to throw a good man in marriage to boot under the bus?
Starting point is 09:35:03 all the time, emotions, and money I invested in this held no water after all. I felt so betrayed, used, heartbroken, and sad for all the time I wasted that I'll never get back. All in all, I've taken my lessons and have decided to take it one day at a time as I wait for the annulment to be finalized.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.