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Woman Ignores Red Flags After Husband’s Gaslighting, Finally Has Had Enough Of Disrespect
Man gaslighting wife while she looks upset and distrustful, sitting together on a couch using smartphones.
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Man Begs Coworker To Work Alone With Him, Wife Sees The Messages, Divorce Is Now On The Table

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Engaging in “friendly” flirting is like playing with fire, especially if you’re in a committed relationship. You’re putting yourself in a situation where you can potentially escalate things with the other person that could ruin what you have with your partner in one fell swoop. 

It’s a basic concept of fidelity that this man didn’t seem to understand. After his then-pregnant wife caught him getting awfully close with a female coworker, he dismissed it and turned the tables, saying his spouse was being “hormonal.” 

His world instantly came crashing down as he now drowns in regret. Scroll through for the entire story. 

RELATED:

    There is no such thing as harmless flirting, yet many people in relationships still engage in it

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    A pregnant woman caught her husband flirting with his coworker, but was instead gaslighted instead of receiving an apology

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    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

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    Now faced with a looming divorce, the man came back begging for forgiveness

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    However, the woman stood her ground

    Image source: ProfessOverthinker

    Shallow flirting from a random person can undermine how you see your current partner

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    There is no such thing as harmless flirting, and even experts agree. As psychology professor Dr. Gary Lewandowski points out, any form of active “courtship” from another person may boost how attractive we perceive ourselves, which ultimately makes us more aware of other potential romantic partners. 

    Unfortunately, this can happen even when in a committed relationship. In his article for Psychology Today, Dr. Lewandowski mentioned a study conducted by Reichman University psychology professor Dr. Gurit Birnbaum

    Dr. Birnbaum’s findings revealed that participants who received flirty compliments saw their partners as less attractive. They also had less positive feelings towards their other half. 

    Dr. Lewandowski pointed out that such interactions have a higher chance of happening online, which is why he advises “limiting contexts that make flirtation more likely.” Unfortunately, for the husband, the damage had been done. 

    Healing from infidelity in a marriage begins with forgiveness

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    Healing emotional wounds from an affair starts with forgiveness. However, the actual process begins with the willingness to forgive. 

    Licensed psychologist Suzanne Phillips recognizes that the journey may involve cycles of distress, fear, and shame, and takes time and understanding. As she notes, the betrayed partner may have episodes of anger and pain and would benefit from a show of empathy. 

    However, the person who experienced the betrayal must also find it in themselves to sincerely forgive and move on. 

    “In many ways, this is a mutual journey that implies a belief in the other’s sincere regret, and a willingness and capacity to change – sometimes it is a leap of faith worth taking,” Philips wrote

    However, the woman seemed to have already given her divorce decision enough thought. It is within her right to end her marriage and remove herself from all the trauma caused by her husband’s infidelity and manipulation.

    The woman provided more information about her story

    Most readers sided with her and had choice words for her husband 

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    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.

    Read less »

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    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.

    What do you think ?
    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like many others I've been told "she's just a friend, nothing for you to worry about" and then discovered that, actually, it was something I needed to worry about. You start to feel increasingly unhinged, when your gut is telling you something is wrong but the person you love is telling you the opposite, like you are the one with the problem. I only truly woke up, once the relationship was over but it took years before I felt I was able to trust anyone in my life.

    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FWIW, I have two very close friends who are women, and whom I've known for nearly 20 years, and I have ZERO interest in them romantically, and I guarantee they have ZERO interest in me romantically. And every time I happen to be single at the same time that they happen to be single absolutely NOTHING happens between us which could remotely be construed as romantic or sexual. In fact, with one such friend, I went over to house after the last election, and we got hammered together. Nothing happened, nothing was ever going to happen. We were both single at the time, we're just good friends with similar political leanings. I do understand that you've been cheated on, so have I and it is the worst feeling. But it is possible for two heterosexual people of opposite genders to just be good friends.

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    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like many others I've been told "she's just a friend, nothing for you to worry about" and then discovered that, actually, it was something I needed to worry about. You start to feel increasingly unhinged, when your gut is telling you something is wrong but the person you love is telling you the opposite, like you are the one with the problem. I only truly woke up, once the relationship was over but it took years before I felt I was able to trust anyone in my life.

    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FWIW, I have two very close friends who are women, and whom I've known for nearly 20 years, and I have ZERO interest in them romantically, and I guarantee they have ZERO interest in me romantically. And every time I happen to be single at the same time that they happen to be single absolutely NOTHING happens between us which could remotely be construed as romantic or sexual. In fact, with one such friend, I went over to house after the last election, and we got hammered together. Nothing happened, nothing was ever going to happen. We were both single at the time, we're just good friends with similar political leanings. I do understand that you've been cheated on, so have I and it is the worst feeling. But it is possible for two heterosexual people of opposite genders to just be good friends.

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