The most heartbreaking thing that happened to me in 2025 was discovering that my husband was having an affair—and that my brother, my cousin, and my father all knew about it the entire time. We had been married for eleven years. The woman my husband was involved with worked as a secretary at the company where my brother works. Their affair began after my brother introduced her to my husband. It wasn’t a coincidence. They encountered each other at various workplaces, meetings, business events, and social gatherings that my husband attended. My cousin met them in the same circles as well. They all knew each other. They all saw each other often. For months, my husband continued to live with me as if nothing was wrong. I attended family gatherings, talked with my brother, my cousin, and my father—never knowing that all three were aware of his affair behind my back. No one warned me. No one said a word. No one even tried to prepare me for what was happening. When I found out about the infidelity in October, I first confronted my husband. He confirmed the affair. Then I talked to my brother. I asked him directly if he knew. He said “yes.” I asked since when. He answered: “for several months.” I asked why he hadn’t told me. He said it wasn’t his problem, that it was an issue between a couple, and that “men don’t talk about things like this to each other.” Next, I talked to my cousin. I asked him the same questions. He knew as well. He said he’d seen the behaviour, the messages, and the signs that made everything clear. When I asked why he hadn’t warned me, he said he didn’t want to cause trouble and didn’t have the right to interfere in someone else’s relationship. Finally, I talked to my father. I asked if he knew too. He said “yes.” I asked since when. He said, for a long time. I asked why he hadn’t said anything. He answered that he didn’t want conflict, that these matters should be resolved between spouses, and that he wouldn’t get involved. In reality, all three gave me the same answer. Afterwards, I moved out of the house, and now it’s listed for sale. There were no public scenes or physical confrontations, because I won’t lower myself for anyone. The woman continued to work at my brother’s company, and both he, my cousin, and my father maintained normal relations with my husband and her. For Christmas and New Year’s, my mother invited me to celebrate at her house, with my brother, cousin, and father in attendance. I told her I couldn’t come. I explained that I couldn’t sit at the table with people who had known about the affair and chosen to keep quiet. They celebrated together. I was absent from both occasions. Since October, I haven’t had contact with any of the three men. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive them.

The most painful thing that happened to me in 2025 was discovering that my husband was having an affairand that my brother, cousin, and father had known the entire time.

We had been married for eleven years. The woman my husband was involved with worked as a secretary at the firm where my brother is employed.

Their relationship began after my brother introduced them. It wasnt a coincidence. They often crossed paths at work, business meetings, corporate events, and social gatherings that my husband attended. My cousin was part of the same circles, frequently running into them. Everyone was familiar with each other. Everyone met regularly.

For months, my husband carried on as if nothing was amiss. I attended family gatherings, chatted with my brother, cousin, and father, all the while blissfully unaware that the three of them knew about my husbands affair. Not one of them gave me a hint. No one warned menot even a suggestion to prepare myself for what was happening behind my back.

When I found out in October, I first confronted my husband. He admitted to the affair. Then I sat down with my brother and asked if he had known. He told me he did. When I asked since when, he said, A few months. I pressed him on why he hadnt told me, and he replied that it wasnt his concern, that such matters were between a couple, and that men dont discuss these things with one another.

I then spoke to my cousin and asked him similar questions. He also knew. He said hed seen their behaviour, their messages, and how they interactedit was obvious what was going on. When I asked why he hadnt warned me, he said he didnt want to get mixed up in someone elses marriage and it wasnt his place to interfere.

Finally, I went to my father and asked if hed known, too. He said yes. When I asked how long, he said for quite some time. When I asked why he kept silent, he told me he wanted to avoid conflict, that these sorts of things should be handled between spouses, and he wouldnt meddle. In the end, all three gave me different versions of the same excuse.

So I moved out of the house and now its up for sale. There wasnt any public drama or physical altercation, because I refuse to lower myself for anyone. The woman continued working at my brothers company. My brother, cousin, and father carried on as if nothing had happened, maintaining their usual relationship with my husband.

For Christmas and New Years, my mum invited me to celebrate at their home, where my brother, cousin, and father would be present. I told her I couldnt come. I explained that I simply couldnt sit at the same table with people who knew about the betrayal and chose silence. They spent the holidays together without meI was absent for both occasions.

Since October, I havent spoken to any of the three, and I dont think forgiveness is possible.

Sometimes, the pain isnt just from the person who betrays you. It also comes from those who, by keeping quiet, show you what their loyalty really means. Life has taught me that honesty and courage are worth more than keeping up appearances, and that protecting your own dignity matters most in the end.