Betrayed Wife Shares How She Redirected Her Life After Finding Out Her Best Friend Was Sleeping With Her Husband
Always have a backup plan.
Rachel Salles / Unsplash There’s no greater betrayal than losing trust in both your partner and your best friend at the same time for having an affair behind your back. The discovery of such awful news can lead to a life-altering crisis, especially when you can barely support yourself.
How do you move on from such an experience?
One woman took to TikTok to share her traumatic experience after she found out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend.
Jennifer Merry, a woman on TikTok who posts content about navigating grief, reflected on the experience that turned her world upside down 12 years ago when she found out the man she had been with since her teenage years was having an affair with her best friend.
The “friend” had nothing more to say in response but a pitiful apology email.
“That day was the scariest day of my life,” Merry expressed. “I was going to be alone for the first time… I was going to have to figure out how to take care of myself.”
Merry explained how her husband made double the salary she made at the time and was “in control of all of [their] finances.”
“I was so dependent on him that the idea of living without him was so terrifying,” she confessed. “But at the same time, I was humiliated and knew that I was not going to be able to stay married to somebody who would do something like that to me.”
Photo: Prostock-studio / Canva Pro
Despite her fear, Jenny abandoned her unfaithful husband and best friend, putting herself first and starting a new life on her own.
Twelve years later, Jenny shared how she is thriving in her love life, social life, and career.
Jenny explained how the woman she was 12 years ago would have never believed she would find herself “happily remarried to the most amazing man,” making more than double the salary she made then and experiencing genuine, loyal companionship with other women.
“Instead of looking back on that day and feeling the shame and the heartbreak that I felt, I am so proud of myself for as far as I have come,” she emphasized.
It’s an individual’s worst nightmare to dedicate years of their life to someone, only to experience the worst kind of betrayal. Facing such deception can cause someone to have feelings of shame and guilt for not knowing better, but this disloyalty is never their fault.
Merry’s actions after her painful experience exemplified her strong, resilient character, choosing to push through the pain, put herself first, and work on her life, rather than staying with someone who would never truly respect her for the comfort and support she provided.
Photo: RgStudio / Canva Pro
With the buzzing social media trends of being a stay-at-home mom, wife, or girlfriend, it’s important for women to understand how much they put at stake when they sacrifice their own purpose and independence for their relationship.
While this relationship dynamic may work for some, women should always focus on their own individual paths of success no matter what.
Merry's experience serves as an inspirational reminder for women to know their worth and potential, no matter the circumstances.
Women in the comments resonated with her experience, shedding light on their own journeys of rediscovering themselves and reaching success after facing betrayal or abuse from the partners they devoted their lives to.
“My 1st marriage, very abusive, stayed home with our kids, no income,” one woman shared. “After 12 [years], I left scared to death. Remarried, went to college, now a university professor, and super [happily] married!”
“Left my abusive, [narcissistic] cheater ex,” another woman commented. “70% salary increase, [halfway through] MBA, marathon runner, great family relations, saving for home, now independent!”
Women additionally emphasized the significance of women, especially stay-at-home wives, having a backup plan to lean on.
“I can not stress this enough!! No matter how much you love each other or don’t want to think it will never happen to you, ALWAYS have a backup plan,” one woman commented.
A woman’s life does not revolve around the man they choose to be with.
It’s important to remember that being in a relationship is a luxury, not a necessity. Always put yourself and your path first, and know there are always options no matter the circumstances of your situation.
It is never too late to redirect your life, and when faced with heartbreak, embrace the pain and use it as motivation for a fresh start.
If certain relationships in your life dissipate or fall apart, take it as a sign that they are not serving your highest purpose and that the universe is directing you toward what is truly meant for you.
Francesca Duarte is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team based in Orlando, FL. She covers lifestyle, human-interest, adventure, and spirituality topics.