Cheating between woman’s ex and in-laws shocks internet: ‘Could you imagine it’

Internet commentators were stunned after a woman detailed the resentment she harbored for her unfaithful sister-in-law.

In a viral Reddit thread posted to the r/TrueOffMyChest forums, Redditor u/resentful3 (aka the original poster or OP) chronicled the events that fueled her poison for her brother’s wife and haunt her to this day.

The viral thread posted on September 27 has received more than 11,000 upvotes and 600 comments.

“My [ex-husband] was unfaithful,” OP began. “With my brother’s wife.”

OP went on to state that her ex-spouse’s infidelity was unforgivable and said she filed for divorce after his cheating.

Unfortunately for OP, the same couldn’t be said for her brother.

“I divorced my husband but my brother stayed with his wife,” the OP wrote. “So she’s still there.

“I resent her,” OP added. “And I resent having to see her at family gatherings.”

Infidelity, whether emotional, physical, or both, can wreak havoc on a relationship.

When a person leaves their partner, the fundamental bond of trust that needs to thrive begins to erode and in many cases doesn’t stop. Cheating is an automatic deal-breaker for many and means an immediate end to a relationship, a hard stop.

Data released by the American Psychological Association over the past decade showed that between 20 and 40 percent of divorces in the US involve at least one extramarital sexual encounter and, as a result, a pattern of stress and conflict.

Still, many married men and women cheat on their spouse despite the clear risk and potential consequences.

Over the past two decades, national surveys by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy have shown that 25 percent of married men, along with 15 percent of married women, have had at least one extramarital affair.

When considering emotional and sexual relationships without intercourse, The New York Times According to reports, the number of infidelities is increasing by 20 percent.

But while about 40 percent of adults who admit to their infidelity are separated or divorced, 50 percent of unfaithful spouses remain married to the partner they knowingly cheated on, according to Couples Therapy Inc.

Countless articles and advice columns on the internet are aimed at unfaithful partners and couples who have experienced cheating. Each outlet offers unique insights into how to move forward after infidelity, but there’s a clear common thread — couples who survive cheating may do so because both partners want to salvage the relationship.

According to Very Well Mind, if a partner feels different or is too betrayed to move on with the person who hurt them, the relationship is already over.

As half of cheating spouses can attest, some couples can reach the light at the end of the tunnel even while leaving other loved ones in the dark.

Throughout the comments section of the viral Reddit post, Redditors voiced their disbelief at OP’s awkward family dynamic and how often her sister-in-law’s infidelity must come into play.

“Would you consider bringing a new friend to see family?” Redditor u/We_All_Float_7 asked a question in the top comment of the post, which received more than 11,000 upvotes.

“‘That’s my sister-in-law,'” they continued, posing as the OP. “‘F**k not that.'”

Redditor u/DanceMom1987, whose comment received almost 5,000 upvotes, offered a similar answer.

“Every time you see her, ask her if she’s heard from you [ex-husband]’ they guessed sarcastically.

“I would make family events as awkward as possible,” added Redditor u/UrDadsFave, receiving more than 3,000 upvotes. “She would want to stay home.”

“Yikes,” Redditor u/ayymahi interjected. “She’s not ashamed to show up to the family gatherings like she hasn’t ruined a marriage.”

news week asked u/resentful3 for a comment.