Wife Gets a Visit from Woman Who Claims to Have a Family with Her Husband
For nine years, a woman cherished what she thought was a contented marriage, raising their twins together. In all their time together, she never once entertained the notion of her husband's infidelity. But one fateful day, while her seemingly faithful husband was away on business, a shocking revelation shook the very foundation of her life. Had her entire existence been built upon a magnificent facade?
A husband kisses his wife while they bake cookies | Source: Shutterstock
In August 2019, an anonymous 32-year-old woman took to Reddit's "Relationship Advice" forum to share a shocking and unexpected turn in her life. She believed she had a fulfilling marriage with her husband, who was 36 then. "I thought that I had a pretty happy marriage with "Jonas." We have been together for over 11 years now and married for 9. We have twins (f8)," explained the woman.
A happy couple poses on the beach with their daughters | Source: Shutterstock
Jonas worked in a profession that required him to spend three months away for work and then three months at home, where they would visit each other regularly. Despite this unconventional arrangement, they had a seemingly strong relationship, and Jonas earned well enough to support the family, allowing his wife not to work if she chose.
A Life-Altering Revelation
The original poster had never suspected her husband of infidelity throughout their years together. He had always been open about his attraction to other people, making her believe in his honesty. However, everything changed when a woman named Cherry, who was 29 at the time, knocked on her door while Jonas was away on a weekend business trip.
Initially, the woman was furious and screamed at Cherry, but she soon realized that Cherry was also a victim in this situation.
A woman knocks on a wooden door | Source: Pexels
Cherry's emotional breakdown led the woman to invite her in, and after calming her down, Cherry revealed a shocking truth. She had been in a relationship with Jonas for over six years, during which they had a three-year-old son together.
Both women had been completely deceived because Jonas had managed to keep his two lives separate. He maintained two social media accounts and had never introduced either woman to his parents, claiming they had passed away in a car accident 15 years ago.
A woman appears shocked while listening to another woman | Source: Shutterstock
Initially, the woman was furious and screamed at Cherry, but she soon realized that Cherry was also a victim in this situation. Cherry had discovered Jonas' apparent double life through bank statements and snooping, which eventually led her to find out about OP and their family. What brought Cherry's discovery to light was that Jonas had a secret apartment funded by his company, where he would take the woman when she visited.
Two women are pictured talking and comforting each other | Source: Shutterstock
Together, the two women shared tears, voiced their frustrations at Jonas, and forged an unexpected connection. Cherry found refuge on the woman's couch. It was later revealed that her husband was not legally married to Cherry, as he had convinced her that he didn't believe in marriage.
Now faced with the painful truth, OP sought advice on how to proceed, including whether to divorce Jonas, maintain contact with Cherry, and consider introducing their children.
A woman kisses her little girls standing near a pond | Source: Shutterstock
In a subsequent update, the poster thanked those who had provided helpful advice and criticized those who had made fun of her or doubted her story. Cherry had left, and OP was preparing to pick up her children from her sister's house. She planned to leave their home for a few days to get her affairs in order and initiate legal proceedings.
The Reddit Community Reacts
The woman's story garnered a significant response from fellow Redditors, with the majority expressing empathy and offering valuable advice to help her navigate this tumultuous situation.
One Redditor shared a similar experience, recalling a friend's father who had maintained a double life for over 13 years before getting caught. They offered heartfelt condolences to the poster and advised her to follow the suggestions given by others, emphasizing the importance of seeking legal advice. They cautioned against tipping off her husband until legal proceedings were initiated, citing the negative consequences when their friend's mother did not follow this approach.
Another Redditor provided pragmatic advice, urging the poster not to act impulsively. They emphasized the need to consult with a competent attorney immediately and advised against making financial changes or revealing the situation to the children until legal guidance was obtained. Their advice centered on achieving the best outcome during the divorce process.
A third Redditor offered a nuanced perspective on maintaining a relationship with Cherry, acknowledging potential challenges, and recognizing their shared experience. They suggested that their common predicament could foster an alliance, with the children potentially benefiting from a bond as relatives. Encouraging collaboration during the divorce and palimony proceedings, they highlighted the advantages of having allies in this challenging situation.
A fourth Redditor shared their experience with infidelity and offered a strategic approach to exacting revenge. They recommended filing for divorce without revealing prior knowledge to the husband, as this would leave him perplexed and unable to talk his way out of it. Their advice emphasized the emotional impact on the children and the long-term consequences of revenge.
A final Redditor brought up the legal aspect, mentioning the possibility of bigamy statutes applying to the situation, depending on jurisdiction. They encouraged the poster to introduce the children as siblings, stressing the importance of becoming friends with Cherry for the children's sake. Additionally, they advised both women to seek legal recourse, with the poster pursuing divorce and Cherry considering child support if common-law marriage wasn't recognized in their state.
Click here to read another story about a woman who helped her pregnant best friend give birth, only to realize while changing the baby's diaper that her husband was the father.