All Comments on 'An Absence of Trust'

by coaster2

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  • 276 Comments
AnonymousAnonymous11 days ago

At 50, Howard is still young enough to have at least one child. There is no time like the present.

AnonymousAnonymous13 days ago

KMN!

TrainerOfBimbosTrainerOfBimbosabout 1 month ago

While I understand the need for the "big dark secret" for you to arrive at the ending that you wanted to write, I kind of think it was a really dumb secret specifically. Earlier in the story, you intimated that Edie was more or less a stay at home wife before she figured she couldn't have kids and ONLY THEN went into business. Because of this, her motivation to not have children doesn't make sense - like she didn't seem particularly ambitious or driven and if indeed she was just lazy and didn't want kids, then why would she go out and work so hard? The action basically doesn't really line up with the characters perceived personality and motivations.

<>

Still, it was an OK story. A bit melodramatic, but that's par for the course in this section of the website.

AnonymousAnonymous3 months ago

Another selfish bitch, for a while there I was thinking she had an alternate persona or some such. Either way she was a head case.

AnonymousAnonymous3 months ago

Started out ok with a fizz finish

30 years wed and he never cracked a angry rant

Just a 1 vote

AnonymousAnonymous3 months ago

And so the sun sets once again on another failed marriage. Well done! 5 stars.

usaretusaret3 months ago

A stupid woman, knew the answer and too full of pride and fear to give it.

funperson969funperson9693 months ago

Well written, but a few inconsistencies cut the legs out from under it. 1. Why, out of left field, with no warning signs, her demand to get a lover? 2. Why, for almost 30 years, did she hide her #1 friend from him? 3. Why, when she can so easily see and talk to Ginny, does she leaves this trail of one-sided emails to her? Still, the writing of what's put into the plot pot is excellent. Thanks for writing.

AnonymousAnonymous3 months ago

Very wonderful story. Nothing exaggerated nor unnatural in the dialogue . Sorrow for the wasted time and destruction of what could have been except for the wife's selfish deceit.

remb95remb957 months ago

/Enjoyed it but some of her actions are twisted. 4

deependerdeepender8 months ago

Every time I read one of these with a sudden 180 I wonder if the author has experienced anything even remotely like it in rl. I know that not everyone has the ability to read other people's unspoken desires and intentions, but how can anyone live with someone for 27 years and end up saying "I never knew ye"? And if they do end up that way whose fault is that? The other person went along for the same 27 years being who they are, utterly revealing themselves and their true nature perhaps grudgingly but no less completely over time. How can there be a story in that? Every single such instance must end in the amazed one realizing their mistake (their many mistakes for failing/refusing to react) and then just driving off into the night. Is there a story in watching someone weeping and wailing, thrashing about gnashing their teeth? Maybe, but it's not one a person needs to read more than once.

nixroxnixrox9 months ago

4 stars - Yes, this BITCH was about a selfish as I have ever seen on this website. I can't get over the fact that the husband let the wife go past age 30, without at least attempting to adopt a child. Although, tubal ligation operations are in and out in one afternoon - there is an incision/stitches, plus a scar and 4 weeks of recovery. How could she get that done without his knowing? There are a lot of holes in this story.

Have a nice day.

FluidswallowerFluidswallower9 months ago

A well-told tale in spite of being such a sad tale. Sad hut enjoyable it kept my rapt attention. Thanks.

AnonymousAnonymous9 months ago

So what started all of this was her desire to have another man yet when the husband leaves she has no desire for any men in her life? WTF? She doesn't have to get married again but instead she says she will just be lonely?

AnonymousAnonymous9 months ago

Once again the need for total trust respect and honesty is needed to make a marriage work They had it all except those three things (jaybee186)

Schwanze1Schwanze110 months ago

Took him long enough. Find a 30 year old Filipina with one child, make a couple more and enjoy life.

MasterKoteMasterKote10 months ago

Pretty good and going to nitpick why he didn't say anything say after 5-10yrs of marriage about having a family.

fredbrownfredbrown10 months ago

We never know what the hell is going on in the little wifie's head do we? Is she at fault? Yup! We are all individuals and faulty as hell and little ole me would be a headliner if all my faults were published in the paper. This tale is a solid 5-star but sadly, she's dug a hole too deep to climb out of ......

AnonymousAnonymous11 months ago

Fatal Hubris. Another one of the great things the Greeks taught us, and we're less cautious of it than ever. This is a genuine, interesting, and emotionally evocative story, which is written without the over-the-top histrionics that ruins so much fiction in this place.

AnonymousAnonymous11 months ago

Absolutely no way to continue the marriage. She's a modern woman. They don't need men.

AnonymousAnonymous11 months ago

Edith, just another selfish spiteful and deceptive white bitch! No sympathy for her!

He deserves a better life now, no wallowing in misery caused through a selfish bitch wife

AnonymousAnonymous12 months ago

Her betrayal and lies about wanting children but denying him that gift without the truth is far worse than any short fling. He acted appropriately.

AnonymousAnonymous12 months ago

I disagree with anonymous 3 months ago about neither husband nor wife being monstrous. Edith was a monster. She deprived her husband of his most important desire intentionally and fraudulently by pretending she could not have children if she had not prevented it. She showed no remorse at all for preventing her husband from having the family they had agreed to have. Not once did she express a feeling of guilt for her deceit or sadness for her husband she caused by her lying and selfishness.

anon.1

ironman1017ironman1017about 1 year ago

She trusted Ginny more than she did her own husband. He gave her every chance to tell him. Hell, Ginny even said to tell him. Even to the end she thought she knew better than everyone else.

skruff101skruff101about 1 year ago

Robbing a family oriented man of a family has divorce plastered all over it, even if she had confessed too much damage had been done for the marriage to survive.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 1 year ago

Well Jeez, this was one hell of a story. I appreciate that neither side was made to look monstrous and that both characters' sides were shown. I come to this site for short spicy stories and it's always a pleasant surprise when I stumble across a well written, short drama.

Rock82Rock82over 1 year ago

I liked, for the most part, this story. In my aged mind, I feel there is a great effort to paint the action and effect on the various moves and decisions made by all parties. l and yet, in the end, which is the place where the entire story comes to a point and is explained, it was far too concise, too simple and does in no way do justice to the way you laid out so nicely the complexity of the story before it.

She goes on and on in her proposed life change, neglecting to be 100% truthful. He simply says the divorce papers will be drawn up, without letting her know hefully knows her deceit. She laments her position to her friend and he is driving around in France. What happened here to the complete change in your wrighting and careful character mounding. They seemed to have had a love and passion for each other, but there is fight to get back together. Strange.

It would seem you tired of this and just shut it down to start another story. BTW: I have already read several stories listed before this and think you did an outstanding job. I think that's why I was a bit shocked this was so abrupt in it's end.

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

Loved the story. Disillusioned wife spent too much time reading her press clippings, got all high and mighty, thought she could have her cake and eat it too. She treated her husband like a valued pet; he would always be there, loving her unconditionally, making no demands of his own, just thrilled to be part of her life. She was wrong.

.

He'll be fine. He might even find a loving woman who's still of childbearing age. There are a LOT of middle aged women looking for a trustworthy, handsome guy of means. Yeah, he won't be lonely for long. The wife too, good-looking, wealthy, she'll have her suitors. But she hasn't changed, she just thinks she approached it wrong, so I don't see a lot of happiness in her future. 5 stars. Thanks for posting.

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

coaster2:

Can you explain the purpose of the story?

I see none. It was not all that entertaining. Instead of soul-lifting, it was soul crushing.

The reader walks away with now hope, no encouragement, just evidence of a corrupt world and sadness.

I will not rate. If I rated how much I liked it on a 1 to 5 basis, it would be a negative 20. You wasted my time.

Sorry Dude, I trusted you and I was mistaken.

Lesson Learned

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

You know...there are so many stupid bitches in the world.

Take Helen1899 posting about a month ago.

According to her...what the wife did here was totally forgivable. And the husband was just a stupid male for not being able to just accept the shit sandwich this cunt of a character served up to him.

Except...what she did early on in their marriage when she unilaterally decided that she would deny him the chance for children and grandchildren and a large family. For her own selfish reasons.

It really was a despicable horrific thing for her to do. Unforgivable. In my book...as soon as I would have found that out? I'd have burned the stupid bitch with zero chance of reconciliation.

But according to Helen...it should have just been forgiven so he didn't live a lonely miserable life.

Uhh...I got news for you Helen.

He has enough money to love comfortably for the rest of his life...in the south of France. He's in great shape. Good looking. Intelligent. Perceptive. Well educated.

I doubt he's miserable for long living in Southern Europe. He'll have plenty of "company" as soon as he wants it dummy.

Just like you said about her...in a few years? She'll just be a distant memory that will fade with time. Especially when he finds a pretty French widow in her 40s to keep his bed warm at night.

He won't even remember what his lying cunt of an ex-wife even looked like.

He's better off living without a woman who would betray her husband and marriage like she did for selfish reasons.

She got what she deserved.

You fuck around...and you get what you deserve. She found out the hard way.

dirtyoldbimandirtyoldbimanover 1 year ago

about 1 page too long, too "talkie" without saying anything.

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

Where did this understanding and sincere Ginny come from? Such a close and sincere friend, confidante remains, for unknown reason, a secret carefully hidden from her husband? Why? Or is the author hinting at a lesbian relationship? It seems, after all, Edith always emphatically claimed that she had not had another man during her marriage. Smells mixed woman`s love juices... And this instant joint cruise after the divorce? And the rejection of any other men?

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

A very honest handling of the emotions. I didn't feel that there was an adequate explanation of the initial issue. It felt like it was simply a springboard into the aftermath.

Often there is someone already in line or at least blain it in aging.

I like that they split agreeable, that happens more often than Literotica would make you believe.

I gave it five stars because it was a real treatment of the emotions involved.

Helen1899Helen1899over 1 year ago

Another stupid male, a person who would rather live a lonely miserable life than accept only he is perfect. Sadly in this world most people have flaws, we aren't perfect. Ok what she did was reprehensible, but if she had admitted it, he would have made a go at saving their marriage, but who can blame her for thinking what she did. She was also stupid about wanting a lover, but give her some credit, she was honest about it and never cheated and I bet she had numerous opportunities in her work and socialising life. Thankfully it seems she will live a happy life with Ginny, slowly over many years he will become but a distant memory. Whereas he will go to his grave thinking constantly about Edie, his self centred ego took centre stage over his heart, he would rather be lonely and miserable his pride intact, how sad.

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

Take as much alimony as you can get from her higher income, start your own business, and find a 21 year old church girl who desperately wants to be a mother.

AnonymousAnonymousover 1 year ago

Seriously, if she’d confessed to denying him a family he craved he would have forgiven her? Not a chance in hell!

WargamerWargamerover 1 year ago

The conniving manipulative bitch got what she deserved, l hope she suffers til the day she dies.

I especially hope she dies alone and shunned.

As to Howard, l hope he finds himself and thrives. He is far better off from such a woman.

What a lowlife bitch she was.

Second time around, excellent story. Scores 5/5 still.

parenthesisparenthesisalmost 2 years ago

Good story, but I found the ending rather lacking.

Kudos on having a BFF being sensible for a change. Pure fiction of course since that certainly doesn't happen in real life!

JimmyThePlungerJimmyThePlungeralmost 2 years ago

Such a sad story leaving 2 people who clearly still love each other lonely and expecting to remain so. I find the straw that broke the camels back, the long held secret betrayal entirely believable as the reason Howard could not reconcile. I end up sorry for both, albeit Howard is more deserving of my pity. Well written, thank you.

BlueEyd2BlueEyd2almost 2 years ago

The whole premise that she couldn't get pregnant due to a medical condition when it was really due to her being on the pill is ignorant and idiotic. I can't believe he/they never went to Dr's to work to find a solution.

But be that as it may, there should be no coming back from that level of betrayal.

BlueEyd2BlueEyd2almost 2 years ago

Good story, but not 5 stars. The ending had little emotion in what should have been a very emotional breakup.

Also some great examples of disrepect and of course distrust. But still I was surprised when she just gave up in the end. No effort to try marriage counseling, but then again, she refused Ginny's counsel.

Lastly, based on how you wrote it, I doubt the marriage would have survived even if she told the whole truth.

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 2 years ago

Edith is a pathological narcissist and always will be... Howard will find a new a fulfilling life and move on.

marshamaymarshamayalmost 2 years ago

Very sad. No one to blame but herself.

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 2 years ago

Powerful, sad story. Beautifully written. Thank you.

Ed

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 2 years ago

A great treatment of the importance of complete honesty between spouses. Thanks for the effort.

Ed

iameaseliameaselabout 2 years ago

Very well written and sad story.

Hubby may have been a bit more hard nosed than need be, but the end did fit the crime. Thats a lot of years to lie to someone when you claimed otherwise way back when. That would hurt any one, even the phony alpha males around here.

AethurAethurabout 2 years ago

A beautifully sad tale. It's a shame that Howard didn't pursue finding someone new. He would have been an old father, but he could have pulled it off. Hope you return to posting stories, Coaster. It's been far too long.

5*

FlynnTaggartFlynnTaggartabout 2 years ago

4 stars, not bad but a bit depressing. I know for certain if the marriage had survived Howard would have needed to have a talk with Edith about oversharing with Ginny. To me, perhaps I'm wrong, it seems a bit effed up sharing all their dirty laundry with a friend like that. But I'm partially glad the marriage didn't. Much as I like reconciliation endings I feel her secret about not wanting children was a bit too much to forgive.

eljj546eljj546about 2 years ago
Oh what a tangled web we weave

When first she practiced to be a deceiving bitch.

Helen1899Helen1899about 2 years ago

Another stupid husband, who lived a lonely life because he couldn't forgive. She was obviously a real bitch doing what she did, an awful deceitful action. However he still loved her and they would have enjoyed a better end to their lives together than apart.

Helen1899Helen1899about 2 years ago

Was to sad to enjoy, but that's real life. There are no winners in cases of infidelity

nixroxnixroxabout 2 years ago

4 stars - I liked this story BUT would you consider writing a story that includes this

- when the wife makes the statement that she wants to have a lover

- or she wants an open marriage,

- or she wants the freedom to find herself

The husband's only reply is 'FINE the divorce papers will be served ASAP'. Without another word, he packs all his stuff and leaves her sitting with mouth open in shock, wondering what just happened.

MightyheartMightyheartover 2 years ago

5/5, Huge betrayal.

Very well written.

Good to see a normal and good lack guy.

They are always portrayed as large cocked predators.

servant111servant111over 2 years ago

Excellent but one of the most depressing tales I have ever read. There is nothing left after all the talk and rumble but the sheer limitless desolation of the desert that her sociopathic betrayal engendered. What a future…

AnonymousAnonymousover 2 years ago

Wonderful story, not a lot of anger and no meanness. He divorced her for something she did almost 30 years earlier, it definitely was unforgivable. She knew this was her chance to be totally honest, which was required to save the marriage, but she just couldn’t do it.

AnonymousAnonymousover 2 years ago

Boring! The typical cuck cliche story! The brain dead wife says “I take a lover“ ... and is shocked when hubby is pissed ... Did anybody ever see this happening? I guess thus is only possible on planet cuck!

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 3 years ago

good, well written Nice to see a black guy as the good guy (I'm white and well wrinkled ) I wanted her to tell him about Children and he then Divorced her.

Signed out as

PGUK

secretsalsecretsalalmost 3 years ago

@nixrox: You're giving it one star because you agree with the reason that he divorced her, but missed the usual clichéd endings from other stories? Weird.

numbnutz49numbnutz49almost 3 years ago

Painful to read as this story hit to close to home. Give some women opportunities to control something and they overwhelm and consume everything surrounding it. Great story but I couldn't rate it. But the fact that it has me thinking says it all.

nixroxnixroxalmost 3 years ago

1 star.

The reason, from my point of view, is simple - LIES. Especially, regarding her decision to permanently destroy her ability to have a baby, without talking to him. That and her complete and utter selfishness. What the hell did she expect? I am surprised that you did not allow him to squeeze her for every last cent he was owed. She should have had a more tangible punishment for her lies - other than just her loss of him. It also would have turned out better if you would have allowed him to find a younger black woman and let them have two children. Then casually meet her and Ginny at some public outing, with Howard pushing a baby carriage. That would have been poetic justice and a worthwhile revenge.

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 3 years ago

So Edie will get her lover(s) now but Howard will get his pride back. I wonder if his pride will keep him warm at night!

Legio_Patria_NostraLegio_Patria_Nostraabout 3 years ago

Outstanding. Real people, making real mistakes and making real decisions off those mistakes. Well done!! One of the best ever!!!

AnonymousAnonymousabout 3 years ago

This was one of the best written stories on LW. Excellent emotive contrasts. Obviously two mature humans going through a life-changing situation and not knowing where it will end. It ended as it should...she could not bare her marriage-long lie and he could not forgive her dishonesty. It makes me wonder what his reaction would have been if she had told the truth about her child-bearing. Would he have continued the marriage (under the new conditions) or still end it.

Two small points: Excellent editing and I never felt the urge to comment on any other story.

Helen1899Helen1899about 3 years ago

Wonderful story full of raw emotion, so well written, 5*. I don't know were I stand on whether he was right or not. Who am I to judge on such an emotive subject, you can only judge if it's happening to you. Sadly I don't think he enhanced his life by divorcing her. The hurt regarding children would remain with him forever, with or without her. Would he meet another woman he loved like he loved her or one he could really trust, I am not sure that he would

Just_WordsJust_Wordsabout 3 years ago
Read it again. Still very good.

I was very impressed by the thought that the wife is one of those people who finds it difficult to impose limits on herself. It's not so much that she is evil as much as she is always searching for what she does not have. Some people only respond to external forces like her husband threatening divorce. Then she gets it. Until then, she is adrift in thoughts that she fails to anchor with core values and a greater sense of what she has and what she truly needs. I almost feel sorry for her. No matter how successful she is professionally, I doubt she will ever be able to direct her own life in a meaningful way to find happiness in who she is and what she has. She's a pitiful character.

JonDoe315JonDoe315about 3 years ago

the deception of not being able to give him children all those years was a dealbreaker and i am glad he left.

26thNC26thNCover 3 years ago
Once again

One of my favorite, no burn, BTBs. This is just a great story of emotional loss.

Dlh143Dlh143over 3 years ago

That's what selfish, cheating whores get! But she still got off entirely too easy!

LilacQueen15LilacQueen15over 3 years ago

Denying him children was a deal breaker as far as I am concerned. He needs to find someone willing to give him children.

MormonJackMormonJackover 3 years ago
Awesome story - 5 stars

Loved the paragraph where Howard wasn't sure he wanted to be "that person" - the dominant, forceful one. Yeah... he needs to be himself. I thought it was a portend of the marriage failing.

GhostdogginGhostdogginover 3 years ago
Dead

I read the whole story but kind of checked out after finding out he was even considering a Raac after checking out her computer. As soon as he read those messages the relationship would have been deader than dead. To maliciously rob a man of being able to pass on his genetics just because you dont want kids while pretending you do is an absolutely horrible deceitful evil act. You dont do that to someone you love.

AnonymousAnonymousover 3 years ago
My epilogue

In my imagination the happily ever after ending is that he falls in love with a woman with children & becomes a beloved grandfather.

Rancher46Rancher46over 3 years ago

Good story, just goes to show that honestly is the best policy which Edith couldn't bring herself to do. 5 stars

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 4 years ago

Good story...

Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness

Don’t mistake my love for ignorance

Don’t confuse my accepting for condoning

Choosing the wrong path with me will provide you with the direction right out of my life.

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 4 years ago

Great story.

laptopwriterlaptopwriteralmost 4 years ago
I don't like changing POV, but...

I didn't mind it that much in this story for some reason. Also, the constant change from past to present tense was awkward, but I still enjoyed the story and gave it 5*s.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 4 years ago
odd

Its odd but I kept having the feeling she was mentally ill and that ginny didnt really exist.

WargamerWargamerabout 4 years ago

Already made a comment, but on reflection, this story requires another chapter to properly finish it.

There is so much left unsaid. Reading the comments, I think most people would agree with me.

WargamerWargamerabout 4 years ago

Stupid, stupid woman.

Oh, what a web we weave, when first we endeavour to deceive.

How true it is.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 4 years ago
Edith's Pennance

If Edith truly loves Howard she must keep her original promise. She must ensure he has children. Her life and wealth can have no other purpose henceforth. She must find a young woman who is willing to be inseminated, give birth and then give up the child for adoption by Edith. I believe $250k would likely be sufficient incentive to attract a suitable candidate but Edith must spend whatever is necessary. Obtaining a sample of Howard's semen would require some ingenuity. Seduction by Edith would be best but perhaps impossible. A prostitute trained in the art of seduction would be most likely. Using a condom during a tryst would be straightforward. If all else failed, drugging him into a sedated condition would allow use of electrostim equipment to obtain multiple specimens in relatively short order with no physical harm to Howard.

Once Edith is the adoptive mother of two children who are Harold's progeny and the three of them are living with new identities she can have a third party inform Howard of the situation. If he wants to be part of their lives I am certain she would welcome that but she would need assurance he would not seek retribution against her before revealing their whereabouts. If he only wanted custody of the children with no harm to her, she would have to give serious consideration to his request. Ultimately, however, her original promise was to have children she raised with Howard...not gave to him.

Is this love? In a limited sense, perhaps, I think so. It ensures Howard's genetic future. If he is indeed so wonderful, she should want his lineage to prosper.

26thNC26thNCover 4 years ago
Best

One of your best stories in my opinion. I commented after my first read on the use of race in this story. Here Howard's race is part of the story and not the only reason for the story. A black man who is stong, intelligent, accomplished, faithful, loving,and reasonable. Not even once is his bbc mentioned . Just a solid story about a mixed couple with problems, and the husband's solutions.

AnonymousAnonymousover 4 years ago

For those who complain this wasn't a BTB, she must suffer the cruelest punishment possible for her. She has to live without the love of the man most important to her in the world.

AnonymousAnonymousover 4 years ago
Had me fooled

I really , with my wife beside me both were taken back by the ending..Perhaps one of us planted the idea in the thoughts of the other but we felt , no we were positive we knew the ending very early in this story. When the husband took to his wife's computer and looked at the emails, what did he find , his wife talking to Ginny, over and over and over, and who was answering "Nn One?" Later the wife would say I can't wait to talk with Ginny, but Ginny on the computer doesn't answer back, unless of course she only answers to her split personality (usually caused by a person that's suffered trama) , could this be Schizophrenia? It would explain her early secret of having her tubes tied, and lindifference that she was denying her husband the option of children and grandchildren , and changing the marriage dynamic forever whether her husband found out or not. To bad she didn't listen to the voice of Ginny st the restaurant. But Ginny was there you say , really? We can all take a moment and come up with how two separate personalities showing up in one person at a restaurant and fooling a greeter there. Interesting Ginny did not want anything to drink? And so We see not the details of how but the idea of how this would end with such a devoted husband. And so our challenge to you , give em another go , its not over until its over , divorce or no divorce. Who said "and they lived happily ever after" was only in fairy tales.

johnadpjohnadpalmost 5 years ago
Had To Really Think About This One

First, absolutely great story.

For me kids are extremely important so my wife having done the same would be worse than infidelity.

However, let's break it down as far as the possibility these two can get back together.

There are two people in a marriage, and really both have to want children to have them (unless it's an accident). So, in this case Edie decided she doesn't want to have them. Her telling him she couldn't bear children in essence gave him three choices. Stay together, leave her and find a woman who could have children, or adopt.

He chose to stay with her and they "intended" to adopt. She obviously manipulated him to keep pushing that forward to where he feels they got too old to adopt now. But here's the crux, he was too passive in this whole thing if he truly wanted children, so he bares some of the responsibility. He could have started the process of adopting (which is long) and if she balked at that point then he would have to decide to stay with her or leave. How much could he have wanted to have children if he never took any active measures to have them (use his sperm with a surrogate, adopt, etc).

So he has to decide two things as far as if he can be with her or not. First, if she came to him at the start of their marriage and told him that she changed her mind and she doesn't want to have children would he have left her? If he feels that he stayed with her because he had committed to her and it made a big difference that she couldn't have children, as opposed to wouldn't, then obviously that would give him the answer that he was robbed of that choice. We cannot take for granted that looking back he would have left her. Also, he can look back knowing how strong their marriage was over these last 27 years, if it was worthwhile his staying with her.

Second thing he needs to ask is he knows she has been selfish and manipulative and he has allowed her to have her way. He needs to decide if this was to a level that was completely unacceptable, especially in the face of her contrition and willing to change and even give up the business she so loved.

And last, after he travels around the world for a year or so he needs to ask himself that at this point in his life if he was better with her or without her.

Ultimately, only he could answer all these questions for himself. I know some knee jerk reactors will immediately say never, but they're not the ones that have to live with the consequences. Second, he has deep love for this woman so her welfare into old age should matter to him as well. Eighty-ninety percent of his reason to get back with her should be for selfish reasons (as in it's what he wants) and 10-20% because it would also be to the benefit someone he deeply cares about.

Here's the thing, I most likely couldn't reconcile. However, I would have never put up with someone manipulating me and if kids were that important to me (which they are) then I would have found a way to have them in my life. So he has to own up to his passivity and letting his wife take so much control of their relationship. Part of loving someone is making sure they don't become corrupt by the power you give them. His passivity played a PART in her failure. You don't set loved ones for failure and part of that you don't give someone so much power that it would corrupt them.

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 5 years ago
Well done

The outcome was the only acceptable path, I believe that even if she had divulged her secret, and if they even attempted to sustain the relationship, it would have still withered and died.

The reason? Well, except for in the rare circumstance that both parties honestly make a life choice to forgo having children, the main factor in taking a partner is to have it grow, through having a family.

Her deception effectively emasculated him. Through her actions, she denied him the right to have a say in the matter, and pounded his future to dust without him even knowing. Her actions effectively made him into little more than a fucktoy, with the added benefit of having someone around as an ego boost.

The deception is enough.

She may as well have been fucking everything she could get her hands on from the very start, it could not have been a bigger betrayal.

She stole 30 years of his life and denied him a future that he would have had with a virtuous woman, nothing less.

The pain and the emotion you wrote into it was powerful. The outcome, inevitable. Even more inevitable than what you put into words.

jtwheelsjtwheelsalmost 5 years ago
Comments negative? Good story good man found demoralizing facts and gave her chance

She lied and cheated didn't take sex

He gave her chance and Ginny told her

She ignored

She lost

He little bit at fault for all the years he let her dominance go on

Nice guy doesn't mean doormat

Just_WordsJust_Wordsalmost 5 years ago
A marriage is built on truth.

Deception is a form of infidelity, even if it is not sexual. Good story.

etchiboyetchiboyalmost 5 years ago
This is Bullshit or Cuckshit because... Why?

Actually cuckshit is a descriptive negative comment, so I guess that’s ok, though I don’t agree.

But saying it’s bullshit, and that only... WTF ! Why is it BS?

AnonymousAnonymousalmost 5 years ago
Coaster, I have read all of your very good stories, this one is pure BULLSHIT !!

Hope you either start drinking or stop drinking. I do agree someone needs to see a shrink, perhaps the author.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 5 years ago
WTF

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS CUCK SHIT??!?!?!?

AnonymousAnonymousabout 5 years ago
So Civilized...

No actual cheating wife with another man. It just cut to the chase when poised with the question of trust and love. Edith was spoiled little princess, who wanted that fantasy over everything else. She shared her darkest secrets not with her husband, but with someone else. She couldn't come clean over her ultimate betrayal to her husband. Nothing stays the same, there is always change in the world, in a marriage both have to change together, or else you change apart.

someoneothersomeoneotherabout 5 years ago
To deny children in a marriage is ultimate betrayal

No one is perfect and all spouses will eventually behave badly and make bad mistakes. But, marriages are for better or worse, and even isolated cheating should not be a marriage breaker (despite the typical angst one finds in many of the LV stories).

But, deliberate deception to avoid bearing children cannot be forgiven. Couples can mutually decide not to have children. Or it could be that one spouse refuses to have children or physically cannot. In such cases, the other spouse can choose to divorce to find a partner to have children, or to accept the deficient marriage with eyes wide open. But, child-bearing is fundamental to the concept of marriage, and deception of infertility demonstrates the absence of any love, respect, honesty and many other attributes that should render a spouse unfit to be married to the lied spouse. In this case, there should have been no issue once the deception was uncovered.

I find that the concept of a spouse actually writing such a confession and saving on a computer to be preposterously unfathomable. But, one can pretend that the discovery was made by some more plausible event.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 5 years ago
They needed professional help

After all those years to give up like that? Chicken shits.

266xxyz266xxyzabout 5 years ago
Excellent

That was very well written and very emotionally charged. Felt very real sad oh so very sad. But that's what happens when you're not honest. Had a wife who lied and was not even honest with herself. She paid the price but unfortunately so did he. Life is kinda like that. There is always a price, it's just cheaper when you're honest.

☆5☆.

AnonymousAnonymousabout 5 years ago
Fuck

Why do all your men have to be such candy asses.

KRD19254KRD19254over 5 years ago

She made it easy for him when she did not fess up all. Actually, I think he would have dumped her anyway even if she would have spilled it all. As how could she justify having her tubes tied behind his back and the 27yrs of deception? She lied to him everyday for 27yrs. How could he ever TRUST her again - notta.

Now some readers will condemn him for reading her personal emails - she pushed him into seeking a solution to fix and understand why to only find a deeper grave for herself. I see it he was doing what was needed as this was HIS LIFE too. I hope he finds a nice 30's lady and can have that family he was denied.

If there is any negative to the story it's that the story is a page too long, it rambled in many places, to the point I was skipping paragraphs to keep the story strong.

AnonymousAnonymousover 5 years ago

I have never and will never understand this hangup some of you have with a relationship hinging on one of the parties "coming clean" about an incident that they are scared to death will definitely end the relationship... They are desperately holding on to this secret because they want their marraige to survive... And they desperately want not to lose their spouse... Not because they just have an ongoing streak of dehonesty... They're doing it out of love and fear...

No one in this world is completly honest with anyone else... Even with people we love we tell lies so as not to hurt them... This is a popular plot device... And readers seem to have accepted it... But it just seems to me to be a ridiculous issue to be the ultimate deciding factor to hinge the entire future on... If he couldn't get past the actual deed... I can understand that... But the coming clean of it... No... Once it's out in the open it doesn't matter who put it there... Either you can get over it or you can't...

AnonymousAnonymousover 5 years ago
I hate to admit this...

I was rooting for her to come clean. She was a completely ungrateful and pathologically selfish person, but she was growing up and I wanted her to go all the way. I'v had to confess like she has, and I did! And I gotta say....whether they keep you or toss you it FEELS good. It feels like you respect them, and yourself for the first time in a long time. Honesty is respect, make no quibbles about it.

But she robbed him of his children, and he can still technically create children. She can't. He really does deserve a young wife that'll start a warm loving family with him. He's paid some heavy dues. I don't know many men that'd put up with a women that flat out says she'll never give you children...and marry her. Marriage is literally for creating families, that's it. And he would have kept her out of love, all he needed was honesty. She really screwed the pooch on that one.

AnonymousAnonymousover 5 years ago
How sad!

Two lonely people because she didn't have the courage to come clean. Even though the ending was sad and I would've hoped for reconciliation I gave the story five stars because the auther is very talented. The story was very well written, and nearly brought tears to my eyes as it seemed authentic.

SomeOneTwoThreeSomeOneTwoThreeover 5 years ago
Thriller.

I was biting my nailes (well, almost)

in the end, wondering if the bitch

confessed.

Fearing coaster2 would use that

as a reason for reconciliation.

It wouldn't have been the craziest

reconciliation I've read here,

but it would've ruined, for me,

a great story.

This IS a great story!

Top ratings from me.

Anonymous
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