A man of faith stepped out on his wife and later decided to manipulate her with the results of his own doing. The woman became torn between choosing herself and falling for the trap.
A Reddit user, who is a 29-year-old female, shared a shocking story on the platform involving her 44-year-old husband. The couple has been together for five years and married for two.
She revealed they crossed paths at church, where she started attending after she moved cities for her career. The woman works for an insurance company, while her spouse is a pastor.
Hopewell United Methodist Church in rural Perry County pictured on January 5, 2019, in Glenford, Ohio. | Source: Shutterstock
She acknowledged their significant age difference, stating that although he was much older than her, “he was always kind” to her and made her feel special.
The woman then started sharing her story on the platform and revealed that her husband had come home a week prior and told her they needed to talk.
The Husband Makes a Jaw-Dropping Confession While in Tears
“He told me through tears that he had been having an affair with one of our community members (34F) and that she had been pregnant with twins,” the woman revealed.
The mistress had gone into labor, giving birth to twins. However, she and one of the twins passed away, while the other had to be admitted to the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
A photo of a man holding the Bible | Source: Shutterstock
This was when her entire world got turned upside down. Her husband told her they needed to step up to care for the child and that she had to transform her home office into a nursery.
The woman instantly became distressed and told her spouse she needed time to think about it. She told him she was unsure about his suggestion, and he threw another curveball at her. The Reddit user divulged:
“He told me that I had made a vow to him in marriage and that God had blessed us with a child.”
Upset man looking at his phone sitting outdoors | Source: Shutterstock
The husband told his wife that God would not give them something they could not handle. But the woman swiftly responded, telling him, “It seemed God had given her more than she could handle because she had died,” referring to his mistress. But she expressed regret in the post, saying she was not thinking straight.
Still, her husband struck her for saying that and told her she “needed to serve” her spouse. He claimed God chose her to be the infant’s mother and that she needed to be his “humble servant.” The woman explained she “felt strange” about the ordeal, adding that she cried so hard and ended up throwing up.
A photo of a woman in labor lying in the hospital bed | Source: Shutterstock
She brought up the fact that another woman had died, and yet she was feeling awful for herself, saying: “I feel so ugly. I wanted children and was saving for IVF because I am infertile, but now that I have a chance to have a child and I do not want it.”
The woman contemplated leaving her husband and his child. She expressed optimism over being young enough to start over, adding she has a remote job and can take a day off to pack up and leave when he is not around.
The Woman Updated Reddit Users & Expressed Confusion
After telling online users her story, the woman later gave an update about what had occurred since her husband’s confession. She thanked everyone for their support.
Afterward, she stated that she was still thinking everything over and processing what had happened, adding that she needed a little more time to decide her fate.
A woman crying while sitting next to the window | Source: Shutterstock
The social media user noted she does not necessarily feel unsafe in her own home but unloved. She revealed her husband apologized for slapping her and continues to show remorse but argued that it is something he cannot take back.
The woman said the same applies to him cheating on her and impregnating someone who later lost her life. She admitted to “feeling so disillusioned” with her life.
The woman said she knew she had to leave her spouse but feared change. According to her, she is working on a plan to go but is uncertain about when she will eventually choose to do so. She noted many Reddit users advised her to report the slapping incident to the police but believed it would cause more problems for her.
A photo of a couple arguing in the living room | Source: Shutterstock
If she decided to leave him, he would contest the divorce, and if she stayed, things could get more tense in the house. The woman revealed she had been getting defense lessons and would be ready if he attempted something again.
She explained that she was not violent but would defend herself if need be, adding “[…] Although I’m hurt, I am angry.” The woman said she prayed about her situation and still needed a solution. She was unsure how to proceed.
Meanwhile, many of her fellow Reddit users advised her to leave while she could because her husband disrespected her and their vows and would probably hit her again because she did not do anything about it the first time.
A photo of a woman in deep thoughts while sitting on a couch | Source: Shutterstock
A Surprising Update
In an update, the OP revealed that she had, in fact, finally left her husband, although the social media user stated she took a while before officially making that leap, saying that she stuck around for two months. Recalling the time still spent in the toxic relationship, she wrote about their couples counseling:
“It was Christian counseling,; I felt like their goal was for me to forgive him rather than actually trying to help me.”
The OP explained that her family wasn’t helpful. Instead of focusing on the harm her husband had caused her, they pushed her to take the Christian route and do what a woman should if they were truly devout to their religion.
She stated that she was in a constant space of dissociation, to the point where her husband eventually chose not to leave the baby in her care as she was not present at all. She admitted to having dark thoughts about this child:
“I would actively spend time resenting a baby, there was a time when I was thinking to myself and I wished it would stop breathing.”
That was her breaking point, the OP expressed, stating that it was the final sign and gave her the power to decide that she needed to escape the situation.
The Reddit user recalled going to therapy, where the therapist helped her map out a plan to get out of her current situation and create a better future. Opening up about the actual moment she left, she recalled:
“I packed my essentials and dipped.”
She placed the divorce papers underneath his pillows before she left like a tooth fairy but for “adults.” The 29-year-old female also changed her phone number before fleeing to a new life.
A New Life
Now, she says, she lives in a big city, which she has never experienced before. She says the divorce is challenging, and sometimes the city can be costly. The OP penned:
“I still have my days, but for the most part, I’m content. I think it will always hurt on some level, but I’m working on taking my power back.”
