It all started with an ordinary tattoo.
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A woman wrote to one of the Reddit communities to share her mind-boggling story, that started with a very innocent act of her husband. She wrote, “A year and a half ago, my husband got a tattoo. I don’t have a problem with tattoos or anything like that but had never gotten one before or talked about getting one.”
When she asked him about the reason why he actually decided to ink his body, his reply was not likely to cause any troubles.
The OP wrote, “He said he started thinking about it because one of his sisters married a man who had several tattoos. It made him realize he wanted one. He ended up getting a lily tattooed on the left side of his chest. I didn’t really like it, but I didn’t comment because he is free to do what he wants with his body.”
A simple coincidence made the woman rethink her husband’s tattoo.
The woman seemed to have forgotten about this tattoo and continued her normal life with her husband, when one day her husband decided to add some details to his tattoo.
The OP wrote, «A little over a year after he got the lily done, he went back and had some ivy added around it. I used to go to certain work events and parties with him because it was normal to go. He then started telling me I couldn’t go with him, and then I insisted on him to take me there again. He finally relented and brought me to one.»
Then, a seemingly ordinary meeting grew into a huge problem. The woman wrote, «I met one of his colleagues. She works in the same department as him, and they have the same title, so they work together a lot. I immediately realised it was my husband’s mistress, because her name was Lily.»
The OP had some puzzle being solved in her head, but her husband said she was wrong. The woman explained, «My husband swore it was a coincidence. I had tried to ignore my feeling about him suddenly wanting a tattoo.»
The revelations that came after that event were really stressful for the woman.
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But soon the woman discovered that her spouse did have some huge skeleton in a cupboard. And not just one.
She wrote, “He eventually admitted they have been having an affair for the last two years. I was so shocked I was not even thinking about the ivy, but my husband said that Lily had a baby she named Ivy, and he got the tattoo a few months after the birth.”
When the OP found out about this affair and that her husband actually had a baby with his mistress, she of course thought about divorcing her husband immediately. But he did have a big hope that she’d forgive him for everything that he’d done.
The woman revealed, “He begged me not to get a divorce, but I can’t forgive this. We have to be separated for a year before we get divorced.”
The woman now is totally desperate and broken.
The OP wrote, “Our daughter is turning 18 next month. There will not be child support ordered for either of us by the time we are divorced. The divorce should not be complicated. We both work, so the attorney I consulted said there will not be spousal support ordered for either of us and our assets will be divided.”
She shared her feelings about everything that has happened to her, saying, “Part of me is still in shock. He wants to go to counseling, but I can’t. We have been married for 19 years, and I let him convince me my feelings about his tattoo were wrong. I never thought I would be 43 and getting a divorce, but here I am.”
Reddit people were very supportive in the comments.
- So he had an affair for two years, had a child with mistress and wants to work on the marriage now? Good for you for standing up for yourself, I’m sorry you and your daughter are going through this. © AAP_BH / Reddit
Just for giggles, ask him why he thinks that you should stay together and try to work it out. Then let us know his answer. I can’t imagine why he thinks that you should forgive him. © CurlyGurl_Bee409 / Reddit - Can I just say, from a daughter who watched her dad cheat constantly on her mom, that I hope you are proud of how you are handling this situation. I was so angry at my mom for staying with my dad. The disrespect he showed my mom stayed with me for years, it even affected my relationship with my mom. You are showing your daughter that you know you deserve better and that you will not accept any form of disrespect. Keep your head up and know that you are amazing! © Wondeful_Guidance_6 / Reddit
- I’m sorry, but this is just wild. He didn’t just have an affair which would be bad enough. No. That wasn’t enough for your husband, he also chose to commit to lifetime reminders of the affair with the tattoos and the child. The sheer AUDACITY of this man for saying he doesn’t want a divorce. I’m so sorry for you. I hope when the divorce is final, you’re able to find some peace and meet someone who’s actually worthy of you. © Icy_Session3326 / Reddit
- If you’re only 43, you should have 25–35 years of happiness waiting for you. Plan what you want, do what you want. You’re not tied down to a two-year-old. Think of all the things you want to do with your life, you will now have the time and freedom to pursue them. Go back to school, start a new hobby, volunteer, become a gourmet chef — what have you always wanted to do, but couldn’t? Now you can. He can’t because he is where you were 16 years ago when your daughter was two and needed all of your time and energy. © G0t2ThinkAboutIt / Reddit
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