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Heartbroken Woman Asks, “[Am I The Jerk] For Breaking Up A 36 Year Marriage Over A Photograph?”
Middle-aged couple taking a selfie outdoors, smiling and happy, unrelated to cheating husband affair discovery.

Heartbroken Woman Asks, “[Am I The Jerk] For Breaking Up A 36 Year Marriage Over A Photograph?”

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Trust is everything in a relationship, because without it, insecurities can creep in, and both people might always wonder about the other person’s intentions. This is especially true if one partner is purposely keeping a secret and the other individual suspects them.

This is what was happening in one marriage where a woman felt her husband was dating someone else on the side. He kept denying an affair even though the poster had seen pictures of him with another woman, but twelve years later, he got caught most ridiculously.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Cheaters always try to lie to protect themselves, but they don’t seem to realize how much pain they are causing the other person

    Couple posing on beach with ocean and rock formations in background, representing breaking up over photograph.

    Image credits: throw-awayaccount426

    The poster shared that she and her husband had separated after 20 years of being together, due to his insecurities, but they began dating again 4 years later

    Text excerpt from an online post discussing breaking up over a photograph in a long-term marriage.

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    Text excerpt about relationship struggles and breaking up over photograph depicting emotional challenges and family impact.

    Couple discussing breaking up over photograph while going through therapy and co-parenting their children amicably.

    Older couple sitting on bed looking upset, woman avoiding man reaching out, symbolizing breaking up over photograph.

    Image credits: zinkevych / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    The woman and her husband dated each other exclusively for 12 years, but she felt suspicious as she kept seeing photos of him with another woman online

    Text excerpt discussing a couple living apart during separation and breaking up over a photograph.

    Text about a relationship issue involving breaking up over photograph shared on social media for years.

    Text describing a person ignored after sending pictures, highlighting emotional strain in breaking up over photograph.

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    Middle-aged couple taking a selfie outdoors, smiling and enjoying the moment, relating to breaking up over photograph.

    Image credits: prostock-studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    For 12 years, the poster couldn’t act on her suspicions because her husband kept insisting that the woman was posting old pictures of him with her

    Text describing a situation leading to breaking up over photograph posted on social media from a trip.

    Text discussing breaking up over photograph proof with doubts about altered images and social media conflicts in a relationship.

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    Text on a white background asking if it is wrong to break up over a photograph, highlighting breaking up over photograph dilemma.

    Image credits: throw-awayaccount426

    She eventually decided to break up with him when she found a picture of him with the other woman, wearing a baseball cap that he had recently bought

    It’s clear that the poster and her husband had a tumultuous relationship right from the start, and that his insecurities had played a huge role in their separation. Even though they tried to make a go of it apart, they eventually found their way back to each other and decided to date exclusively. 

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    The only problem was that the man had probably not worked on himself and still seemed to be keeping things from the OP. That’s why couples therapists say that when relationships need to be fixed, trust is the only thing that can mend the bond once again. By lying, keeping secrets, or trying to be the perfect partner, it’s not possible to have a sustainable connection.

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    This is exactly what seemed to be happening with the poster’s husband, because he was supposed to break up with the woman he was seeing during the separation, but social media showed otherwise. Unfortunately for the OP, she kept coming across photos of her husband with the other woman, but she couldn’t prove for sure if they were new or old pictures.

    A lot of the woman’s worry stemmed from the fact that her husband could still be dating the other lady, which is why experts usually advise people not to openly date while they are separated. This is because it can take away a person’s focus from actually mending their marriage, and tempt them to nurture other connections, just like this man must have done.

    Older woman sitting on a sofa crying while looking at her phone, reflecting emotions related to breaking up over photograph.

    Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    The poster knew about the relationship her husband had had with the other woman, and since she followed her on social media, she was shocked when she kept seeing photos of the two of them online. The problem is that whenever she confronted her partner about it, he kept saying that the pictures were old and that he wasn’t in touch with the woman at all. 

    This was proven to be false when the OP noticed her husband in another photo with the woman, wearing a baseball cap that he had recently bought. That made it very clear to her that it was a recent photo, and she decided to end things with him, even though he kept insisting that the picture was faked.

    It’s extremely clear that the man had been caught in his web of lies and that he didn’t want to own up to his 12-year-long affair. It’s surprising when people continue to lie even after being caught, but research states that this pattern of dishonesty could actually be some kind of coping mechanism.

    Unfortunately, there is no space for such lies in a healthy relationship, which is why the OP decided she wanted to break up with her husband. Although there is hope for couples to repair their bond, even in severe situations like this, they should be open to therapy and self-work, which this man certainly was not.

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    Do you think the OP did the right thing by finally deciding to dump her husband? Do share how you would have handled this situation if you were in her place.

    Folks were shocked by the man’s deceit and were glad that the poster decided to cut him out of her life

    User comments discussing breaking up over photograph issues and concerns about outdated pictures and possible gaslighting.

    Comment explaining how claiming photos were faked can lead to breaking up over photograph issues in relationships.

    Comment expressing advice to walk away after discovering infidelity, related to breaking up over photograph.

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    Commenter Skittles-101 discussing the difficulty of faking photos at Cannon Beach’s iconic haystack rock location.

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    Comment discussing a cheating partner’s long-term betrayal leading to breaking up over photograph issues.

    Comment discussing disbelief about woman faking pictures and posts, related to breaking up over photograph.

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    Comment on a social platform expressing disbelief and frustration about someone thinking another is stupid, linked to breaking up over photograph.

    Comment discussing relationship issues involving breaking up over photograph and years of gaslighting.

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    Comment discussing a cheating partner and that breaking up over photograph is due to deeper issues.

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    Reddit comment text saying no surprise about breaking up over photograph posted by TheUglyWritingPotato.

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    Beverly Noronha

    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    Read less »
    Beverly Noronha

    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    What do you think ?
    Tabitha
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WTF is it with men when their wives earn more? A woman whose husband earns more is proud of his achievements, so why can’t a man whose wife earns more do the same. Remember men, she chose YOU over all the other guys she knew. That doesn’t necessarily change when she moves up the ladder at work and starts earning more than you. She STILL chooses YOU. However, if you decide to be an a*****e about it all on your own, even though she still wants to be with you—-wants to, not needs to, there’s a big difference—-then the failure of the relationship is all on you, and none of the blame is hers. She did her best and still wanted to be with you, but you just couldn’t handle being with a successful woman, even though that should be considered a feather in your cap, and broke a perfectly good relationship with a perfectly lovely woman because of your little brain ‘s stupid ego. TBH, a man who does that is absolutely not worthy of a woman like her. She will move on and find a man who applauds her every success and is proud and considers it the highest compliment that someone like her chooses someone like him of her own free will.

    Gozer LeGozerian
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They feel emasculated due to the societal structure they themselves invented; patriarchy

    Load More Replies...
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for OP for finally getting out. I'd save that picture in case her ex decides to blame OP for the divorce, then I'd put it all over social media, send it as an email attachment, etc., to everyone ex-hubs knows. Cheaters deserve to be outted and to get all the bad stuff thrown at them.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember that they didn’t remarry each other after their divorce; they were living separately and seeing each other. (Turns out to have been the right move!) (Although reuniting with him in the first place seems not to have been.) I didn’t see her mention so much as ONE THING he brings to the table, so I’m happy she’s free to go get herself some happiness!

    Load More Replies...
    Laura MG
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pic is Cannon Beach Oregon,one of my fav places, Haystack Rock in background

    Load More Comments
    Tabitha
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WTF is it with men when their wives earn more? A woman whose husband earns more is proud of his achievements, so why can’t a man whose wife earns more do the same. Remember men, she chose YOU over all the other guys she knew. That doesn’t necessarily change when she moves up the ladder at work and starts earning more than you. She STILL chooses YOU. However, if you decide to be an a*****e about it all on your own, even though she still wants to be with you—-wants to, not needs to, there’s a big difference—-then the failure of the relationship is all on you, and none of the blame is hers. She did her best and still wanted to be with you, but you just couldn’t handle being with a successful woman, even though that should be considered a feather in your cap, and broke a perfectly good relationship with a perfectly lovely woman because of your little brain ‘s stupid ego. TBH, a man who does that is absolutely not worthy of a woman like her. She will move on and find a man who applauds her every success and is proud and considers it the highest compliment that someone like her chooses someone like him of her own free will.

    Gozer LeGozerian
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They feel emasculated due to the societal structure they themselves invented; patriarchy

    Load More Replies...
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for OP for finally getting out. I'd save that picture in case her ex decides to blame OP for the divorce, then I'd put it all over social media, send it as an email attachment, etc., to everyone ex-hubs knows. Cheaters deserve to be outted and to get all the bad stuff thrown at them.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember that they didn’t remarry each other after their divorce; they were living separately and seeing each other. (Turns out to have been the right move!) (Although reuniting with him in the first place seems not to have been.) I didn’t see her mention so much as ONE THING he brings to the table, so I’m happy she’s free to go get herself some happiness!

    Load More Replies...
    Laura MG
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pic is Cannon Beach Oregon,one of my fav places, Haystack Rock in background

    Load More Comments
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