Man's Life Ruined by Affair: A 3-Year Reddit Story Update

The Initial Affair and Its Devastating Consequences

• 💔 A 42-year-old man recounts how he destroyed his life by having an affair with a 25-year-old woman, leading to his divorce from his wife of many years.
• 💸 The affair began with the younger woman, who allegedly 'baby trapped' him, believing he was wealthy, with the intention of using him to support her family.
• 📉 The man lost his business, his savings (keeping only $25k), his car, his personal property, and most importantly, his relationship with his four daughters.
• 😔 He admits to resenting his ex-wife for not allowing an open relationship and his new girlfriend for her lack of genuine feelings, realizing he gave up his entire life for an 'ego trip'.

Estrangement from Daughters and Failed Reconciliation Attempts

• 🚫 Over two years after the affair was revealed, his daughters refused to speak to him, feeling betrayed and blaming him for the family's breakup.
• 🗣️ The eldest daughter was particularly hurt, believing he prioritized his new son over her and his other daughters.
• 💔 Despite therapy and attempts at visitation, the daughters remained estranged, expressing their hatred and stating they would never forgive him or accept their half-brother.
• 😔 The man expressed deep regret and a desire to mend the relationship with his daughters, but faced significant emotional barriers and a lack of progress.

The Girlfriend Departs, Leaving a Son Behind

• ✈️ After approximately two months following the previous update, the girlfriend left the country and returned to her home country, leaving their young son with the father.
• ⚖️ She refused to sign any formal custody agreement, which the father believed would strengthen his case for maintaining custody, as she showed no interest in Facetiming their son.
• 😔 The father felt guilt about his son having an absent mother but hoped to provide him with therapy as he grew.

A New Relationship and Lingering Doubts

• 🤝 Five months after the breakup with the girlfriend, the man began a new relationship with a widow who had a seven-year-old daughter.
• 🏠 The new partner and her daughter moved in, and the man tentatively referred to them as a new family, despite the relationship's newness.
• 😟 He expressed paranoia about the new relationship failing, fearing he might repeat past mistakes due to his tendency to rush into things and his past actions.
• 🤔 Commenters expressed concern about him rushing into another serious relationship and forming a new family so quickly, suggesting he might be repeating his past patterns.

Acceptance and Detachment from the Past

• 📖 After several years, the man entered therapy, acknowledging his past actions as those of a 'narcissist' and accepting the loss of his relationship with his daughters.
• ✉️ He emailed his ex-wife to cease all updates on their daughters, and she agreed, ending further contact.
• 💔 He stated he no longer loved his former daughters and felt at peace with their complete emotional detachment, viewing his new family as a second chance.
• 🚫 He made a point to avoid social media to prevent his ex-wife and daughters from seeing his new life, signifying a definitive break from his past.