Affairs are often built on the promise of a future together, where the relationship can exist out in the open without excuses, secrets, or stolen moments.
But even if someone leaves their spouse for another partner, and the affair becomes an official relationship, it usually doesn’t end with sunshine and rainbows.
According to TikToker Rachel (@noir_in_retrograde), someone she knows learned her lesson the hard way. This woman spent at least 10 years as another man’s mistress while he remained married to his wife. For years, she waited for him to leave his wife. After a decade, he finally did, and they got married.
At first, she believed she had won and that life would become easier and freer once they were officially married. But she quickly learned that was not the case.
“She thought the secrecy was over and that she was finally the main character,” said Rachel. “But when you build a castle on another woman’s wreckage, the foundation is permanently poisoned.”
“He had a whole life before her, a family, children, and they would never see her as his wife, only the homewrecker.”
Reality hit her when she realized that his family wouldn’t accept her. They viewed her as the person who broke the family apart. She was not invited to graduations, birthdays, family dinners, or any other gatherings.
“She had spent all these years waiting for her moment in the sun, and now, she was being hidden away again,” said Rachel. “Not because of secrecy, but just pure, unadulterated resentment toward her.”
Soon enough, the strain of normal marriage stress, combined with an entire family hating her, took its toll on the relationship. Ultimately, the marriage only lasted for a few years before ending in divorce.
The story resonated with many TikTok users, and some shared remarkably similar experiences from their own families in the comments section.
“My dad left my mom for another woman 10 years ago. I’ve still never met her; none of my siblings have. Grandkids have come, weddings, graduations, holidays. She doesn’t come to any of them,” commented one user.
“I was the wife. My husband left me after 23 years of marriage for his mistress of 10 years, although his family welcomed her in with open arms. Our oldest refused, and he lost the relationship with her, and our youngest goes over and tolerates her. They are going strong still. Going on four years,” wrote another.
“My brother had his for 20 years. It was no secret, so I wouldn’t say a side. I guess just an extra girlfriend plus a wife,” shared a third.
“My husband is still with her. It’s been 10 years. Being with a married man seems to be okay with her,” added someone else.
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
