Why I stayed after the cheating
DISCOVERING that your partner has cheated on you can be devastating. In fact, the betrayal can be akin to losing a loved one, as the trust will often be irretrievably shattered. But while many people will say ‘once a cheater, always a cheater’, assuming that the cheating party will cheat again, for some couples, one mistake is all that’s made. All Woman asked people who were cheated on to explain why they decided to stay after the betrayal.
DB:
We’ve been through a lot and I didn’t want to miss out on the future we had planned together.
LL:
I stayed because no one is perfect and everybody makes mistakes.
Niki:
I caught him in the act. I didn’t end things because I’m partially dependent on him. I’m on a scholarship at university and work part-time. He provides a roof over my head, he puts food on the table, and lets me drive one of his cars. I don’t have to find money for rent, food, or bus fare. Money from my part-time job goes straight to the bank. When I’m finished with school and in a good job, I’ll leave.
MD:
When my ex cheated on me I stayed because I thought she was the only person I had so much affection for.
Peter:
When my girl cheated, I stayed because I have to think about my future. She’s working in Canada and can file for me. There are greener pastures there.
Tammy:
The relationship lost its flame at the time. We both cheated. We talked about it and decided to work on the relationship.
King:
I stayed because I am benefiting from the cheating. The man she’s cheating with has money and connections. We are saving a lot because of her cheating. Sometimes we get free access to certain things and events. He thinks I don’t know about him, but I know everything.
Kimone:
I was young and came from an extremely poor home. I could hardly afford to purchase basic needs. He provided me with everything I needed and so much more. I wasn’t ready to let go of my gold spoon.
Shavel:
He was abusive both physically and verbally. I was scared and didn’t feel confident enough to leave him. After being with him for so long, I had no self-esteem. He always said no one else would want me and I believed that. Thankfully, my family found out and rescued me in time.
