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One of the most important pillars of a healthy relationship is trust.
And according to this Redditor, he and his girlfriend had plenty of it. So he was stunned when, during a family trip to say goodbye to his sick grandmother, he received a text from a friend claiming he had seen his girlfriend out with another man.
He tried not to assume the worst, but as time passed, more signs appeared that made him grow increasingly suspicious. Read on to see how it all unfolded—and to find out whether she actually cheated or not.
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The man believed he and his girlfriend had a strong relationship built on trust
Young man in a striped shirt looking stressed while checking email on a tablet, best friend saw girlfriend with another man.
Text message describing best friend seeing girlfriend with another man at hardware store, sharing detailed physical description.
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Suspicious boyfriend checks girlfriend’s email after best friend saw girlfriend with another man, seeking answers online.
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Text on a white background expressing worry about whether to come home early or confront his girlfriend over the phone, related to best friend saw girlfriend another man.
Silhouette of a man sitting with head in hand, reflecting on best friend saw girlfriend another man situation.
When you enter a serious relationship, it’s usually with someone who makes you feel supported, happy, and ready to face life’s ups and downs together. But none of that is possible without trust.
Yet, despite its importance, a survey found that only 70% of people feel they can fully trust their partner. While that might sound like a lot, it still means nearly a third of people can’t confidently say the same about the person they’re with.
What’s more, many of those who struggle with trust haven’t even experienced a major betrayal, though 40.4% have had their partner break their trust at some point.
It’s heart-breaking, because a lack of trust can damage not just your relationship, but your mental health as well. According to Verywell Mind, low trust can lead to:
Less intimacy: When you don’t trust your partner, closeness, both physical and emotional, can fade.
Negativity: Feeling wronged can fill you with anger and push you to withdraw, making connection difficult.
Insecurity: Doubt can lead to controlling behaviors like constant calls or texts, which can push your partner further away.
Anxiety and depression: Worrying about whether your partner is lying can take a toll on your mental health.
Fear: Low trust can leave you fearing what your partner might do next or whether they’ll be there when you need them.
So, can you rebuild or deepen trust if it’s lacking? Thankfully, yes.
Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University, suggests several strategies to help build trust with your partner:
Acknowledge mistakes and learn from them
Everyone slips up sometimes. The key is to own your mistakes, be honest about them, and show your partner how you plan to do better moving forward. This helps you grow closer instead of letting the mistake create distance.
Keep communication open
Secrecy erodes trust, but open and honest conversations help rebuild it. The couple in the story you’re reading is a perfect example of why communication matters. When you can discuss concerns and triggers without fear, you begin to feel safer letting your guard down. The more you get on the same page, the closer you’ll feel to each other.
Trust is essential for a strong, lasting relationship. With honest conversations, accountability, and a willingness to repair mistakes, it is possible to strengthen the trust you share with your partner—and, in turn, build a deeper, more secure connection.
Readers were divided—some saw it as a clear sign of cheating, while others believed the girlfriend might have been preparing a surprise
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Readers were glad to hear that it all ended happily for the couple
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Oleksandra is an experienced copywriter from Ukraine with a master’s degree in International Communication. Having covered everything from education, finance, and marketing to art, pop culture, and memes, she now brings her storytelling skills to Bored Panda. For the past five years, she’s been living and working in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Oleksandra is an experienced copywriter from Ukraine with a master’s degree in International Communication. Having covered everything from education, finance, and marketing to art, pop culture, and memes, she now brings her storytelling skills to Bored Panda. For the past five years, she’s been living and working in Vilnius, Lithuania.
I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.
I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.
The ending of this story is a lesson in the dangers of jumping to conclusions without finding out all the information FIRST. Context is important. So is open—-and crystal clear—-communication. Most important is TRUST. Trust that she’s not cheating. That there’s a totally innocent explanation for everything. That not everyone behaves like they’re in a reality TV show. We don’t plot, we don’t hide, we don’t look to deceive, cheat, screw over everyone around us. We aren’t one-dimensional characters. We’re human beings. Not all of us are bad. In fact, most of us are good people. Keep that in mind when your brain tries to unnecessarily take you to dark places, and it’ll keep you from sabotaging your relationships with misplaced jealousy and suspicion. If OP had busted into his house with accusations coming out of his mouth, ready to fight any guy he saw there, this would’ve ended so badly—-and it would’ve 100% been his own fault. Once you make an accusation, it’s out there. You can’t take it back, and it will stay in the other person’s memory. Impulsive negative c**p like that can ruin what is actually a really good relationship, and it’s all the impulsive person’s fault.
My wife is a very tactile person, physical contact is her way to express love (with the other person's consent of course, she doesn't just touch people randomly). If i was jealous of every friend she hugged/touched we probably wouldn't be married.
True, jumping can lead to issues but it is equally likely there was something going on. Twice I accepted the explanation of "oh, this is just so and so" and twice I've been burned hard. A true SO doesn't do things that could be perceived by anyone that there's something fishy going on.
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The ending of this story is a lesson in the dangers of jumping to conclusions without finding out all the information FIRST. Context is important. So is open—-and crystal clear—-communication. Most important is TRUST. Trust that she’s not cheating. That there’s a totally innocent explanation for everything. That not everyone behaves like they’re in a reality TV show. We don’t plot, we don’t hide, we don’t look to deceive, cheat, screw over everyone around us. We aren’t one-dimensional characters. We’re human beings. Not all of us are bad. In fact, most of us are good people. Keep that in mind when your brain tries to unnecessarily take you to dark places, and it’ll keep you from sabotaging your relationships with misplaced jealousy and suspicion. If OP had busted into his house with accusations coming out of his mouth, ready to fight any guy he saw there, this would’ve ended so badly—-and it would’ve 100% been his own fault. Once you make an accusation, it’s out there. You can’t take it back, and it will stay in the other person’s memory. Impulsive negative c**p like that can ruin what is actually a really good relationship, and it’s all the impulsive person’s fault.
My wife is a very tactile person, physical contact is her way to express love (with the other person's consent of course, she doesn't just touch people randomly). If i was jealous of every friend she hugged/touched we probably wouldn't be married.
True, jumping can lead to issues but it is equally likely there was something going on. Twice I accepted the explanation of "oh, this is just so and so" and twice I've been burned hard. A true SO doesn't do things that could be perceived by anyone that there's something fishy going on.
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