The most painful thing that happened to me in 2025 was discovering that my wife had been cheating on me and that my brother, my cousin, and my father had all known the whole time.
Wed been married for eleven years. The man my wife was seeing works as a secretary at the same firm where my brother works. Their relationship began after my brother introduced them. It wasnt a coincidence. They ran into each other at work, meetings, business functions, and social events where my wife would be present. My cousin saw them around as well. All of them knew each other and spent time together regularly.
For months, my wife carried on as if nothing was amiss. I attended family get-togethers, chatted with my brother, cousin, and father completely unaware that all three were fully aware of my wifes affair. Not one of them warned me. Not a single word or heads-up. Nobody even tried to prepare me for what was happening behind my back.
When I finally found out about the affair in October, the first person I confronted was my wife. She admitted to everything. Afterwards, I went to my brother and asked him point blank if he knew and he said yes. When I asked how long hed known, he replied, A few months. I wanted to know why hed kept it from me. He told me, Thats not my business. Its between a married couple, and blokes just dont talk about these things.
I moved on to my cousin, asked the same. Hed known too. He admitted to having seen things behaviour, messages, interactions that made it obvious what was going on. I asked him why he stayed quiet. He said he didnt want to get involved and that it wasnt his place to interfere in someone elses marriage.
Finally, I confronted my father. I asked whether hed known, and he confessed he had for a long time. I pressed him about why he said nothing, and he told me he wanted to avoid any rows, that these matters should be sorted between husband and wife, and he wouldnt meddle. All three had told me much the same thing.
Afterwards, I packed my things and moved out. The house is listed for sale now. There were no public arguments, no scenes. I wasnt about to degrade myself over any of this. The man remained working at my brothers company. My brother, cousin, and father all carried on with business as usual, keeping in touch with both my wife and each other.
At Christmas and New Year, my mother invited me to celebrate at hers, along with my brother, cousin, and father. I told her I couldnt go. I explained I simply couldnt sit at a table with people who had known about the betrayal and chose to keep silent. They celebrated together without me at both gatherings.
Since October, none of the three have heard from me. I dont think I will ever be able to forgive them.
What this year has taught me is painful, but simple: that sometimes those you expect to protect you are the very ones who leave you abandoned when you need them most.
