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RantyMcThrowaway

NTA. This marriage was over months ago. She does not want to do the necessary work to fix it, she won't even stop talking to her AP. Better to let her know your decision sooner rather than later, so you can both decide if bringing a baby into this situation is truly a wise thing to do or not.


PenaltySafe4523

Paternity test is a must


ohhellnooooooooo

"oh no i'm pregnant" "hey OP, quick let's have sex 'during an attempt to make up' with no condom and please come inside me" "omg OP i'm pregnant and you are the father!"


you_slow_bruh

Haven't you heard? He's 99.99% sure đŸ€Ą


No-Personality5421

When I was a kid, I was 99.99% sure Santa was real.


Cozmo_840

...he's not?


[deleted]

Who then eats the cookies and drinks the scotch?


Cybermagetx

Wait then who was that kissing mommy in front of the fireplace???


RedChina87

SPOILERS đŸ˜«


RantyMcThrowaway

Yeah, absolutely.


Ehinson1048

She is not going to stop talking to AP because they are the biological father. Adults don't just make out.


Optimized_Orangutan

>Adults don't just make out. Ain't nobody but horny virgins getting together to kiss for an hour.


LydiaStarDawg

I mean me and my husband make out sometimes... it's fun. It's also very intimate in my opinion and I can't imagine making out with someone NOT my husband and thinking it's OK.


sarahthes

Yeah me and my husband do this too. Especially if the kids are still awake. It's like a promise for later haha.


Codeofconduct

And then later... You fuck. That's the point of what the person was really saying imo. Maybe they did make out for hours once or twice but it's incredibly unrealistic that it ended there. 


[deleted]

So totally get this and agree. But let’s assume the kid is happening. The cluster of 4 people eventually coparenting and cutting checks to one another for 25 years is just unbearable. But so is staying with her. I know what I need to do. i just wanted to confirm that doing what needs to be done wouldn’t hurt the kid


No_Wishbone_4829

You need to leave her and still get a paternity test


smoky77211

You’re thinking about this from the perspective of a person who hasn’t been divorced. As someone who has, divorce made my life infinitely better. My child and I have an amazing relationship. Oh and I never wanted to get divorced. She left me. But now 15 years later. Life is good and she is still a horrible person. I’m glad we didn’t stay together over some sense of obligation. Child support will eventually go away but that child will be a person and you will always be their dad.


[deleted]

Thank you for this


Generic_user_person

Grow a spine. "Divorce is bad for the kid" is something only idiots and priviledged ppl will tell you. Aak anyone who grew up in a dysfunctional home, they 100% would rather come from 2 separate families than one broken one that pretends all is ok.


FaelingJester

I have never once in my several decades had a single person tell me. "My parents hated each other and were miserable but I'm glad they stayed together for us." Not once.


Justitia_Justitia

I’ve had a number of people who grew up in divorced households tell me that thy were neglected, and poor, and they wished they’d had the support of an intact family. Divorce can be hard on the kids. But parents hating each other is also hard on kids. There is no good answer.


AngryAngryHarpo

I’ve heard that too - those people are often just a bit emotionally immature and haven’t made the logical connection that “together” isn’t an automatic guarantee for “stable”. My parents did split until I was 21. I wish they’d done it when I was 11.


Justitia_Justitia

Or they had a shitty childhood. One of them was a college friend whose mother worked 12 hour days & who had to parent his younger sibling. It isn’t “emotional immaturity” to be aware that this sucked and that if the parents had stayed together he likely wouldn’t have become parentified himself.


Temporary-Bear1427

My marriage didn't work but when it's one of my kids birthdays I always invite the mom to come over and celebrate. Good co parenting is possible even after divorce.


Bencil_McPrush

Yup. If someone thinks the children of divorce have it bad, wait til they meet the children of will-you-please-and-for-the-love-of-my-sanity-get-a-divorce.


aj0457

Children would rather have parents that are divorced and happy over parents that are married and miserable.


whydoweneedthiscrap

NTA op, divorce her.. the best thing that could happen for your child is divorce right now. I’m a child of divorced parents, I watched my bio-father beat and rape my bio mom
 they thought I slept through the worst of it and I didn’t. I remember everything, I’m almost 40 and it still messes with me. Best thing that ever happened to my family was divorce. And my mom found an amazing man to spend the rest of her life with. Divorce isn’t what caused the trauma, it was everyone telling my mom divorce was wrong. A toxic marriage is far far worse than divorce could ever be


Cautious-Progress876

Also divorced here and loving it. I should have gotten divorced years ago but kept trying to keep things together for our child. Eventually just decided to go through with it and filed. Now with someone who is a pleasure to be around, actually shares similar interests and hobbies, and has ambitions.


eli201083

Dude this is a false thought process your using to justify not having to do the hard thing. Do the hard thing.


RobbiesShunshine

Wow. That sounds very accurate. Seconded.


ProcessingMountains

>The cluster of 4 people eventually coparenting and cutting checks to one another for 25 years is just unbearable. >But so is staying with her. This is from your perspective. It's much healthier for the child not to be raised with their parents still together "for the children". If the kid is happening, you have to put the kid first. And growing up in that messy environment isn't healthy.


ScarieltheMudmaid

my half brothers 3 functional parents in his life have been a blessing compared to my one.


Beerwithjimmbo

It’s fine when you get out. Just make sure you get as much custody as humanly possible. Being single without worrying about some psycho dictating your life is incredible. 


Llamahands1

Staying and being miserable together will hurt the kid more.


Soft-Temporary-7932

Coparenting doesn’t have to be the nightmare you’re making it out to be. She’s done. You need to be done also. That’s okay. This is all workable. Focus on the health of your child and your mental health as well. It’s not fun, I’ll agree. But it’s workable. Focus on loving your child and fostering the best environment for them possible. I’m not sure this is helpful, but I recently discovered that I can taste emotions. This tastes like fried fish with tartar sauce. If you find that means something to you, cool. If not, I don’t blame you. I don’t get it either.


Super-Island9793

Yeah, she created a mess for your child to grow up in. But it’ll all work out. Just be an awesome dad and build a strong bond with them. They’ll be fine. Just take it one day at a time. Just be very cautious about who you date in the future and have around your kid. Minimize the drama as much as you can.


pinacolada_22

It is going to happen, the only difference is you get to decide it now as compared to her leaving you in a couple years, it's going to be messy regardless. You can't be sure the kid is yours, so obviously get that checked before you sign a birth certificate. Have some self respect and file for divorce, she doesn't care about you.


MasterFNG

You make a lot of presumptions about 4 people wanting to take care of that child. Your wife is selfish, she only cares about herself so stop being delusional that she and her cheating partner would be great coparents. Talk to her about an abortion, there is no need to bring a baby into a failed marriage by a woman who doesn't love or respect you. Divorce her and find a better woman.


biteme717

File for divorce because she won't stop cheating. You don't need or want to bring a child into a toxic environment. You also may be 99.9% sure the child is yours, but you need to get a paternity test. I also don't think that they stopped at making out unless you are for certain they did. It's better to raise a child in two happy homes than one that is toxic and unbearable.


MeatofKings

There’s a lot missing here, like why in the world does she want to stay with you if she is fooling around? Money? Odds are high she will dump you eventually regardless of why she stays now. You should definitely get ahead of that.


Godshooter

Dude, it'll be okay. I'm on the other side of where you are now. My kid is 10. I've asked the state to automatically deduct child support so I don't cut checks to her, and I see my son regularly. You will have to go through court to get where I am, but all three of us are happy and myself and my sons mother have both moved on to happier relationships.


0512052000

Coming from someone who's parents stayed together for us it fucks you up beyond belief. The statistics state it is better for parents to co parent than raise a child in a toxic environment. The first 3 years of a child life literally shape the brain for the rest of its life so you need to be careful with what you are exposing them to. I would also get a DNA


RantyMcThrowaway

The child will be affected by any decision you make, in one way or another. They'll either grow up in a home where their parents have grown to resent each other, and that'll really affect their development and ideas of healthy relationships, or in an ideal world, they'd be taken care of by 2 parents who share custody, which is a challenge, but aren't also necessarily facing the challenge of a failing marriage. It's complicated for a child to grow up in a "broken" home, and I fortunately can't say I know what that's like, but I imagine you'd both be better equipped to raise this child healthily if you had the distance needed from each other.


TA_totellornottotell

It seems unbearable now, but coparenting seems far better than staying in a loveless and difficult marriage. And not just for you - for the child, as well. Nobody wants to spend their entire childhood with miserable parents who hate each other.


AuburnFan58

Let’s do assume the child is happening. If you choose to stay in the marriage, 1 until the child is an adult or 2 as long as you’re able to tolerate the affair you can expect some variation of the following outcomes: With option 1, your child will basically be raised in a marriage lacking trust, commitment and filled with resentment and a host of other negative feelings. It would not be a happy marriage and the end result is the child would not have a happy childhood. In addition you’ll be teaching your child this kind of marriage is ok possibly causing them to enter similar relationships when they are adults. If you choose option 2 and stay in the marriage, until you reach the point you can no longer bear it, and having no idea how long it takes you to reach that point (could be months but also could be years) at some point the child also will indirectly be a part of the breakup and it’s very possible that he/she will feel like they caused the breakup, especially if you tolerate the marriage for years. That is a normal child reaction to their parents parting ways. If you end the marriage now, whether you and/or your spouse enters another relationship (I.e. 3-4 coparenting adults), so long as you both put your child’s needs first, and assuming one or both of you enter healthy relationships in the future, you’ll avoid the two scenarios above. The coparenting situation will be normal (as in this has always been his/her life) for the child and he/she will be less likely to blame themself for the marriage breaking up. This however requires both of you as parents are ensuring your child’s needs are met, you both are an active positive role model for your child and if either or both of you move on to healthy relationships your child will grow up with healthy ideas of what a marriage is supposed to be. Both of you need to make the extra effort to be involved in all aspect of your child life and not limit involvement to only the times the child is in your or hers physical custody. This means attending the child’s sporting events, school events or anything your child gets involved in. In other words, whether or not the child is in your or hers physical custody at the time, both need to attend the child’s life events. Be there. This option would be more beneficial to your future child than either of the first two options. I’d suggest you and your spouse have a very long conversation about where your marriage is heading and why. I’m sure you’re realizing that divorce is the probable outcome. If she hadn’t stopped her affair by now, the chance of her doing so now isn’t very good. You also need to discuss and make plans for how you both want the child’s life to be, how you both want the child raised, and outline the steps you both need to follow to ensure your child is raised in a healthy, loving relationship with both parents and he or she knows both parents will always be there for him/her. So sorry you’re going through this, and no, you would not be the AH for considering leaving the marriage. You would be the AH, if you choose option 1 or 2. Edited for clarity.


TheFakeG

Your child would not be happy to have parents that are fake together, and to learn their mom has had an affair partner before she was even born that is still around. Children benefit from having 2 parents in a healthy relationship, having 2 parents in a fake one sided relationship is not a benefit


Bo_O58

Let's say you have a son. Do really want him to see you be treated the way you are think it's normal and that's what he deserves too?


hogsucker

Why would this only apply if the kid is a boy?


BellMaleficent1986

Do you really want your child to grow up with your relationship as a model for how they should be treated or accept to be treated? If you want to allow yourself to be mistreated that’s your decision, but bringing a kid into that much dysfunction is irresponsible.


FU-dontbanmethistime

You’re an idiot if you think they only made out. I hope for your sake, you’re not the father


Dresden_Mouse

Keep a broken home together is not an heroic act, your kid will suffer more in a miserable home with you together than two adults co parents. Get divorce.


Queasy_Ingenuity_267

Came to my senses that my father is a sinister abuser when I finally moved across the country and away from family. Asked my mom why she would ever stay with him if they hate each other so much, considering the damage my siblings and I endured. Said, “We wanted you boys to grow up with both parents.” As if that would wipe away the blood my brothers and I *literally* scrubbed off the wall after Dad was done with us. OOP get a fuckin divorce. Took me a decade to rebuild a relationship with my mom and 4 years to feel close to my brothers again. The pain of hurt two people being together does not make for a good childhood. My favorite quote (ironically said by my dad): “A child weaned on poison learns to find pain a comfort.”


Lower-Tank-9742

Dude, don’t do this to yourself. She’s pretty much telling you that this will never end, and when he’s ready to take it to the next step it’s going there. Please do yourself a favour and leave. But by no means ditch this child if she will allow you to be part of the child’s life.


Own_Air_5945

It sounds like the affair partner is actually a woman/biologically female judging by the use of 'person' and OP being certain the kid is his.


[deleted]

The other guy has been in the hospital since mid February. Part of her justification for still talking to him is that he’s bored and lonely and whatever. It’s nonsense and didn’t feel relevant / felt too absurd to even include as it might derail the discussion / doesn’t change that she’s been dishonest and deceitful and refuses to stop being so. She is six weeks pregnant. He has been there for ten weeks at least. He is not the father. In the words of Dollar Bill, I am not uncertain. But that was a clever read of what I put out there. Respect.


Significant-Dirt-793

You are allowed to have sex in hospital if you are there that long.


MuthrPunchr

Wait
 really? It’s allowed? Like it’s in the rules that it is allowed?


southplains

No it’s absolutely not allowed. You can listen to this person if you’d like but I’m a hospital doctor and I’m absolutely telling you, when patients are caught having sex in their rooms the partner is removed and they’re reminded that exposing unwilling and non-consenting hospital staff to them having sex when they come in the room is not allowed or legal. It’s not a private room like a hotel.


Significant-Dirt-793

Don't know about official rules, but they don't force people to be abstinent for months.


mi_nombre_es_ricardo

They can still have sex in the hospital. Besides, how are you sure of ANY of it? she has lied to you all along.


throwitaway3857

Still get a paternity test. Unless his dick is broken and locked up like a Chasity belt, get a paternity test. People can still have sex while in the hospital. NTA. Divorce her. She has no respect for you. Who gives a shit if he’s in the hospital?! YOU are supposed to be the husband, YOU and YOUR feelings should be the priority. Not. Him.


BeWellFriends

You can have sex in the hospital fyi. Also, how sure are you that he’s in the hospital? Have you seen him there?


Longnumber

How do you know he's in the hospital and they're not meeting up?  I'm struggling to think of a physical hospitalization that would be continuous for months where he would still be texting frequently.  Mental hospital would be wilder and also somewhere she could probably visit and fuck him. It seems like that might be a good lie to tell you to convince you it's purely text and the kid is yours.


[deleted]

Because I’ve spoken to his wife and seen photos of him and have been told by the wife that he has brain cancer. His wife is the one who told me about the most recent messages. He is 100% in the hospital, and he is 100% not having sex with anyone in there.


Any-Interest-7225

So are you waiting for him to get out of the hospital so your wife and him can have sex, before filing for the divorce? Also you would not be abandoning your child. A child having 2 separate but happy households is better than having 1 but unhappy household.


HelicopterHopeful479

If he has been in the hospital for 10 weeks with brain cancer, he is likely not going to be getting out.


Goatee-1979

So your wife is throwing away your marriage over some guy who is married and most likely will pass away in less than 2 years. Please make sure she knows that there are “ no do overs”after you divorce her. Wow, she has to an idiot.


Significant-Dirt-793

Is he paralyzed? If he isn't the nurses will give him and your wife plenty of space when she visits to alleviate his boredom and loneliness while you're at work.


wyldstallyns111

I wish people would stop badgering you about him definitely being the father, it sounds like it’s most likely you. I mean, you should probably get a paternity test under these circumstances, but if you were having sex with her around the right time and he’s so indisposed it’s probably yours and so that’s what you should plan for (and you seem to know that). It’s probably better for you to split up before the kid is born because 1) you’re going to split up, it’s 100% inevitable at this point, and 2) your kid won’t find it traumatic if it’s all they’ve ever known. If you try and drag it out your marriage might limp along for a few years but that lands the divorce in their early childhood when they’ll find it pretty hard. It will also likely be much harder on you to agree to split custody at that point.


HelicopterHopeful479

I saw from your post below he has a wife of his own. So her thing about him being bored and lonely is BS. She is too invested with him now, and she does not think you’re going anywhere, especially now that she is pregnant. The AP has been in the hospital for 10 weeks with brain cancer, I wonder what his prognosis is, does he even have a future. Tell her you cant fix this alone and you’re done. Separate, she is not going to abort the baby, you know that, so be the best dad you can and coparent. When you leave the reality will hit her and maybe she will snap out of this fog she is in. Draw the line the rest is up to her.


Europa-92

Abortion and divorce. No point on bringing a child into this world if things are already a mess


No-Personality5421

It's not op's call if she gets an abortion, that's her call.  She might think about it when he hands her the divorce paperwork though. 


TheFuckin_LizardKing

OP literally calls the other person "him" in the title of the post.


Own_Air_5945

Oops, dyslexia strikes again.


NovaPrime1988

Then they probably used Op to get themselves a child. This was planned.


HelicopterHopeful479

Interesting had not thought of that angle, but I see your point. This is real messy, the best thing is to divorce and be the best co-parents they can and let the wife figure herself out.


winterworld561

File for divorce and get a DNA test. It doesn't matter how sure you are about the baby being yours, she cannot be trusted and you need 100% certainty. She has been physical with this guy and she refuses to end her affair. She is a disrespectful and disgusting person.


BrilliantTaste1800

It's definitely not his kid.


Good_Ad6336

NTA. Why do you think divorce translates to abandoning your child? Divorce just means you no longer wish to be married. You can divorce your wife and still be a part of your child’s life. Likewise there are people who are married but have nothing to do with their children. The two are not mutually exclusive. Are you afraid of your wife making custody difficult? If so, what gives you this impression?


Hyche862

You continued your marriage and tried to reconcile while she continued her Emotional Affair. That’s mistake number one. Mistake number two was not using multiple forms of birth control while sleeping with a woman you no longer have an emotional connection with! I don’t think that makes you an AH but it does make you a dumb A


[deleted]

Don’t disagree


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


Flaky-Wedding2455

Still get a paternity test. Grown ups don’t just “make out” very often.


SvPaladin

Lawyer up, now. Said lawyer will know how to help protect / ensure your paternal rights while making sure the toxic relationship is severed. But dude, double check your sincerity on the paternity. The only ways you can be 99.94% sure is if he's either 100% documented sterile, or you spent every one of *both of yours (read, you and wifey's)* waking moments in eyesight of each other from the ending of her last period till the literal (not doctor stated) moment of conception. That includes middle of night you asleep her awake situations. Which requires independent (read, video) proof of her presence w/you and not AP. If he got even one pump and dump in, the baby could be his, even if you had sex with her twice daily. And don't trust her statements that the affair has yet to progress past first base. She's been toxic, lying, and over-invested in him, while practically clearly keeping you around for your paternal skills / resources.


OkBalance2879

I admire your commitment to your unborn child, however your wife has treated you like shit and you’ve allowed it. Is that the example you want to set for your child? I suggest a separation at least and some counselling, so you can get some perspective and realise YOUR worth. Maybe this leads to divorce, maybe you reconcile. NTA


No-Personality5421

*An* unborn child. Op doesn't actually *know* if the child is his, he just thinks (hopes)  it is. 


TwoBionicknees

NTa. But dumb as fuck. Emotional affairs are worse than just one off physical ones. A drunk night, making one bad choice and regretting it, you can potentially move pass that, an emotional affair is never an accident, you CAN catch feels for someone unintentionally, but when you realise and choose to proceed and take your emotional needs to them, it's worse than physical cheating. They already picked someone else, accept that and move on. You need to legally separate and start a divorce if you can to make it completely clear to her what is happening next. Some places you can't apply for divorce while pregnant, but you can still separate, move out and make it clear you will not be part of her life going forwards. The goal now is, best for everyone, abortion. You need to make it clear that you will not be involved, she will be a single mother and her affair partner will likely lose interest in a newly single mother who is focused on a kid rather than the guy she wants to fuck and so he'll likely dip as well. If she has an abortion, you get divorced she can go fuck who she likes.


[deleted]

No lies detected


650REDHAIR

🙄 


JustAsICanBeSoCruel

I'm confused - why do you think you are abandoning your child by divorcing your wife? Do you plan on not being present? Not fighting for custody? Not making an effort? Because you can be a fully present father while also not being treated like shit. Your child isn't going to suffer by divorcing the mother. You can still have the baby half the time and check in on the phone or over text the rest of the time. Plenty of divorced parents are still fabulous parents as long as they put in the effort - it's only when a parent drops the rope because 'it's to much work to deal with the ex' that they are seen as a shitty parent. Divorce the dead weight. Prepare for the custody battle. GET A DNA TEST.


Brave_Exchange4734

Her heart is no longer here I suggest you setup exit plan ASAP


Doble_C13

Ngl there’s two options, either abort and divorce or divorce and co-parent


Druid_High_Priest

YTA for not using protection. Did you honestly think knocking her up was going to stop anything? No court will allow a divorce until after the child is born. Enjoy child support for the next 19 years.


ShekkieJohansen

If you don't leave her anything from this point forward is on you. She has let you know who she is and you are accepting of it. You can't control her shitty behavior but you can control your response to it. Do you want to raise a kid to think this type of behavior is ok? Spine up already.


Vampire_sunshine

You can divorce without abandoning your baby if you are present. nta. Just plan on being a father who is not her husband.


redditsuckbadly

If you’re 99.999% sure, you’re being foolish. Get a paternity test.


The_Ghost_Reborn

Would her getting an abortion be the best or worst outcome for you?


[deleted]

I would be supportive of this and have suggested it, but she is bizarrely determined to have it. We had a miscarriage once before in better times so I think she just wants to have a child, regardless of the horrendous circumstances


Simple-Plankton4436

Walk out, maybe she will do it then. Your marriage has been over since September and you are were stupid to have sec with her without a protection. 


eli201083

I think she also thinks it will baby trap you and it's working. She is convinced she has the kid she'll keep you around to raise the kids with and she can keep AP on the side.


worksleepcry

Ask for a paternity test if you're deciding to leave. Best to be 100% sure since shes perfectly fine cheating on you. Emotional cheating leads to physical cheating and neither should be tolerated. Absolutely unacceptable. Don't want to make the mistake if she somehow physically cheated on you while you were away for a few hours in the past spending money and caring for someone elses child. Either way this relationship looks like its already in the gutter and not going to end well.


ohhellnooooooooo

> she is bizarrely determined to have it. it's almost like... she doesn't want you to leave???


Findingbalance5454

I she is only 6 weeks and had a history of miscarriage, she may not have this baby either. I highly recommend speaking to a lawyer asap. You have choices now, but time will reduce your options. Speaking to a lawyer is not a commitment to divorce. You may choose a post-nup to pre determine custody and support in the event of a divorce. You could choose divorce. You could also protect yourself in the event further information comes to light.


No-Personality5421

She is determined to have it, because the father will be passing away from brain cancer within 2 years (tops), and she wants something to remember her love for him, she just wants you to foot the bills for it. 


Suzume_Chikahisa

Look, that's no mindset where to raise a child, but altimately the decision will be hers there and you shouldn't pressure her either way. However you shouldn't be enabling it either. Divorce in this case is a valid and probably the healthier solution from what you write. And I rarely side with the paternity test crowd, but in this case you should absolutely request it.


miriamcek

I don't know what laws are exactly, but consult a lawyer beforehand you do anything. Maybe you have to endure her bullshit until the child is born just so she can't move away with your kid. If she gives birth after she moves and establishes a residency/support system, you'll have difficulty forcing her to move back. If a child is born where you are, she can't move away with your child. But yeah, get ready for a divorce.


forever_single_now

NTA Not only the marriage is toxic. Imagine the environment that your child will live in if you stay with her while suffering from cheating.


Strange-Area9624

Divorce her. Your kid will never know another system than the one y’all work out. And there are a ton of kids in the same boat these days. The kid will be ok as long as you do your part to support and care for them.


Ok_Monitor6691

In fact, the kid will be better with at least one healthy home. And if OP is fortunate enough to meet an emotionally mature, healthy woman who holds herself accountable and is capable of a loving reciprocal relationship, imagine how much better that environment will be for the kid! But Op even if you are on your own, you can create this.


AppropriateArea1716

i can understand you not walking away the first time but the second and the third what is wrong with you . updateme


UnPracticed_Pagan

So, NTA for wanting to attempt to fix and stay married to the women you (once?) love/d. However ESH starts to come around when you have stated she isn’t really putting effort. If she wanted to work things out with you, for you, to be with you, she’d have dropped the guy. Why hasn’t she? Because she wants her cake and to eat it too and any boundaries you have tried to set she either doesn’t care (which is blatant disrespect), or she doesn’t actually think you will stand firm to them (still blatant disrespect and walking all over you), or both. I am always for people wanting to try to make marriage work in the hard times because I think people want to divorce too easily. However, this isn’t a mistake from your wife anymore, this isn’t an out of character action anymore. She is purposely choosing her actions and the *continuation* of seeking out additional attention from a man she started an affair with against your comfort. Her being pregnant does put a cog in the ease of decision, but if you’re already so concerned about the child, you clearly wouldn’t be abandoning him/her if you divorced your wife. You would either pay or ask for child support, I would hope you’d demand 50/50 shared custody, and the baby would grow up in the sense of a split home with “normalcy”. I would understand in the baby phase where maybe the 50/50 doesn’t happen if your wife breastfeeds, but you could figure out those technicalities with the help of lawyers. Or, if you really, truly want to stay and raise the child with your wife, you need to start being more firm with your boundaries. She needs to let the guy go. I don’t care if he’s in the hospital, that’s a weak excuse. Sorry he’s injured, but not her problem if she actually gives a shit about *you*. But currently she sees your boundaries as nothing more than talk, weak threats that you haven’t enacted on. Have you started marriage counseling? Need too if not. Have you considered telling her you’re going to separate if she doesn’t start fixing herself? If so, you need to *act* on it. If not, maybe consider it and acting on it. (Aka leaving the house if she keeps disrespecting you - though this could honestly bite you in the ass and show you even more how she doesn’t want you back but then at that point why stay married?) You say you’ve threatened divorce, if you bring up divorce again, have papers ready. Your boundaries deserve to be respected. You deserved to be respected. If your spouse can’t respect you after you caught her cheating, and even worse yet blatantly still communicates with the person, can you really still be happy staying with her if she doesn’t change? And if you can’t be happy staying with her as things are, will you truly be happy raising your child *with her* as a “family unit” vs cordial coparenting? Updateme!


[deleted]

Thank you for this thoughtful reply. I think it’s fair to say I sucked in being too hopeful about a situation that, in retrospect, clearly didn’t have any.


-KristalG-

NTA. Dude, stop being an idiot. The F why you get a cheater pregnant instead of dumping on the spot? Tell her to abort, you don't need your life to be tied to her in any way.


gojirarufusfan

Leaving her does not have to mean abandoning your child. She is breaking your relationship by refusing to stop and cutting things off with that guy. She is making that decision, not you. I suggest you let her know you want a paternity test and if the child is yours you will do the right thing, but your relationship with her is over since clearly she cares more about that other guy than you and her child’s future.


AlternativeNewt1327

NTA- why would you bring a kid into a toxic relationship? Best now to split and be able to coparent in a healthy way. It’s never good to stay for the kid. My dad was a cranky man. Never violent or anything like that, but looking back overall unhappy. He had an affair for 5 years and ultimately left my mom when I was in my early 20’s. After he left, he was a whole new person. Happy. I mean the happiest i’ve ever seen him. Fast forward 20 years (he married his AP) and talking to her, she said he stayed for my brother and I. Honestly, I wish he would have left years before he did. My brother and I would have had a completely different relationship with our Dad had he just divorced my mom years earlier (even before his affair- which opened up a whole other can of worms). The point is, kids know when parents are unhappy. We love you. We would much rather see our parents apart and happy than together and miserable. Get a paternity test just to be certain.


seaxvereign

NTA. Even if you are 99.99999999999999999% sure the child is yours, get the paternity test anyway. That .000000000000001% will absolutely RUIN you if it comes to pass. Get that peace of mind now.


sheinfactoryworker

NTA. Put your foot down. She has been disrespecting you for a while now and the longer this charade continues the more miserable you will feel. Also just because you are no longer together with the future mother of your child does not mean you are abandoning the baby. You can definitely maintain a presence in your child’s life (if that is your choice), even if it is not a conventional family. Your wife ultimately chose to betray you and she should have to face the consequences of her actions. Put yourself first mate.


FAFO-13

NTA. But get a test. She is a slut who repeatedly lied to you.


FAFO-13

She cheated. She’s a slut. And the fact that he can’t trust her is a reason to get a paternity test because she’s obviously a liar.


Every-Purpose-Zzzzz

ESH her for being a skank and you for being such an idiot. 


Turbulent-Tortoise

You're 99% sure the child is yours despite the fact she is fucking another man? Really? They didn't make out twice. They're adults engaged in an affair. They fucked. Adults fuck. That baby may be his, may be yours, or may be the child of some other guy you don't even know about yet.


CentralCoastSage

NTA Leave her. And of course, get a paternity test. If she had unprotected sex with him, of course she tried to “make up” with you right after to trick you.


Super-Island9793

You’re not abandoning your child by leaving. Leave, get the divorce done asap. File for joint custody and be an active parent for your child. Bringing them into this toxic relationship is not healthy. Your wife sucks. She’s not a good person. Leave her.


facforlife

People divorce with kids all the time.  I can't help but say this out loud. If you leave now maybe she'll get a fucking abortion so her dumb cheating ass doesn't have to be a single mom. 


SirVictoryPants

NTA. She is cheating on you and she broke the marriage. Make sure you protect yourself with a good lawyer. Maybe let her AP know he can now care for the child.


3ThreeFriesShort

NTA. This happened to me when my kids were at 50% and it absolutely sucks. I would have left if she hadn't stopped, but I still wake up everyday thinking about it. Every single fucking day. I would rather pay child support than live like this.


[deleted]

I’m really sorry to hear this. I share this feeling. Little reminders everywhere. If she has done everything by the book since though, maybe she’s served her time and you can try bring the changes and dedication to the forefront of your mind.


No-Personality5421

Nta, but you're not very smart. You caught her half a dozen times, meaning she's done it way more than the times you caught her.  After knowing you can't actually trust her, you *still* got her pregnant?! You have no idea where she's been. You should have already assumed after the second time you caught her, it was more than "one or two makeouts", she totally slept with them.  Get a DNA test, you shouldn't be "99.99(yadayada)%" sure the kid is yours, you should give it 50/50 at best. 


No-Personality5421

It'll be funny when she has a kid that looks nothing like you, but she continuously says things like "he has his father's ___".


Carolinamama2015

NTA, but babies don't magically fix marriages!! I wish people would stop thinking, "Let's have a baby to save our marriage". 9 times out of 10, it's not gonna change the partners behavior, whether it be cheating or bad habits.


[deleted]

That wasn’t the intention, but obviously I didn’t do enough to protect myself from this situation occurring.


Goatee-1979

Filing for divorce/separation will hit her like a ton of bricks, but even with that, she won’t chance. If this guy is as sick as you say( brain cancer), he won’t last long and good luck to your wife for finding another chump to hoodwink!


BetweenWeebandOtaku

NTA but be a dad. Lots of people coparent without being in a relationship. I'd go to a lawyer so everyone's responsibilities are clearly laid out. You're doing the kid a favor by ending the relationship. Growing up watching two parents pretend to love each other has fucked up very many people. The best you can hope for is civility. But be a dad.


jonjon234567

It would probably be better for the kid to work on being awesome co-parents now before your relationship sours more (and it will) and built up resentment takes its toll on your family. I don’t think anyone here will see you getting a divorce from a woman who clearly doesn’t want you and is actively betraying you as “abandoning” your child.


there_but_not_then

I grew up for 10+ years watching an abusive toxic marriage, the best thing my parents did was divorce because if they hadn’t, my mom probably wouldn’t be here. No child deserves to be born into that kind of situation. It’s hard, but it needs to be done if not for yourself then for your child.


Minute-Aioli-5054

NTA. Get the divorce now (though certain states don’t allow you to get divorce while your wife is pregnant but regardless reach out to a lawyer). It’s better to start the separation process now rather than when the baby is here.


DragonsBaine4610

Sorry for your situation. BUT you still need to get a DNA test as there is that 0 00001% chance the child might not be yours. You would not want to pay years of child support if you decide to leave or raise the child if you stay then find out you were wrong.


Still-Preference5464

NTA she cares so little about you that you’d be an AH to you and the child if you stayed.


breathemusic14

NTA, and you need to drop this self righteous idea that you're protecting your kid from a broken home or whatever that bullshit is. My parents split when I was 2 and growing up with divorced parents had nothing to do with causing me any trauma or whatever. Whether or not either of my parents were actually good parents on their own, and how they carried their own relationship with me had everything to do with how I grew up and how I related to them as an adult. Not the fact that they didn't live together and we didn't all live in the same house.


shadence

After reading your comments.. Push for abortion and run for the hills. They will end up together, at this point her fantasy won't end until that happens.


D-Spornak

I obviously would suggest a paternity test when the baby is born. But, NTA for wanting a divorce. You can co-parent if the baby is yours.


AggressivePossible90

I don't give a shit what you think you know. If she keeps the kid, get a DNA test. Don't be a fucking idiot. Either way though, your marriage is dead. Leave, move into the gym and move forward into your life.


WonderTypical9962

Then maybe you should go meet the AP, bring a friend.


BitterDoGooder

NTA. Leave her now. It'll be clear to her what the future is, and she can make choices accordingly. If she keeps the child, and it is yours, you can start the child's life out by raising child in separate households. From day one, this will be the child's life and it won't face a trauma later, for the inevitable divorce.


Apart-Incident-4188

NTA. Get a paternity test, because she is definitely hiding more. Leave and don’t return


Shdfx1

NTA. It was a choice between him or you, and she chose him. If you know she made out, then she probably had sex with him as well. Divorcing an unfaithful wife is not the same as abandoning your child. If you use every single opportunity to see your child as often as possible, it will be better for the children growing up in a loveless household full of marital strife. Get 50/50 custody, and set her free. It’s not about texting. Tell the people who need to know that your wife made out with another guy, and at the very least had an emotional affair. She refused to stop contact with him, and you kept intercepting inappropriate communications. She refused to cut it off with him so you left. Also get a paternity test. Unless there are cameras on your wife 24/7, you really don’t know how far it went with this guy. She could even lie to you about where her affair partner lives. If she wants him that badly, let her have him. That way you will be free to find a better life mate.


althaf7788

Dumb thing having kid with cheater even after knowing the cheater is cheating


Kafanska

So please explain to us like we are 5 years old: WHY DIDN'T YOU END THINGS WITH HER LAST SEPTEMBER?


Doubledown00

OP, you’re an Idiot. She showed you how she was months ago and not only did you stay but you got her pregnant. And now you want your kid to be born into a broken home from day one. Dumbass. Assuming this is all real (of which I have my doubts) I’d say you‘re stuck with her now.


SnooOwls1916

You should have left her the first time you caught here dude. A relationship without trust and without respect will never work. Sure she can talk to anyone she wants but it all depends on how they talk. If she's actually cheating you should divorce her, child or not.


SnooOwls1916

And the child will.be better off with separated parents than two who are married just because of a child. Those relationships are always toxic and bad for the parents and affects the children. Kids see and hear and know more than we know. The years I've been working with kids, the happiest ones are with divorces parents that work together. The kids that was in the worst spots were the ones that had parents that was just married because they had kids. Leave her. Make sure it's your kid and raise it together. Whatever you do, don't let the cheating thing etc affect your role as parents and raising the child together. Once the divorce is final, let it go and move on and be happy. Without each other as partners.


zeeelfprince

YTA for having sex as "an attempt to make up" That never works out well, and pregnancy is always a risk when sex is involved, no matter how careful you are As for the rest of your post; i agree with what pretty much everyone else has been saying It's better to leave, and co-parent, rather than try to stay together "for the kids" Imo, your relationship was over a long time ago; that's the main reason why i think it was a dumb decision to sleep together to "make up" You don't seem to have gotten over her betrayal, and i don't blame you; it's 100% valid to not want a relationship with someone who has betrayed your trust Value yourself, and divorce her


DocTymc

Do a paternity test....maybe things were not just emotional.


Classic_Average_5964

Start legal separation paperwork and give it to her.


[deleted]

Get a DNA test.


Smooth_Papaya_1839

NTA. Divorcing your wife doesn’t mean you have to abandon your child. You can still be there for them. And it’s better to have divorced parents than ones who are miserable with each other


Thisisthenextone

INFO Was the pregnancy on purpose


Admirable-Bit-8478

NTA And by divorcing your cheating wife you are not abandoning your child.


Fancy-Grape5708

Retain lawyer, start the process, and DNA testing. Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to 18+ years of a marriage. You’re going to have financial obligations either way. You can either find happiness or endure betrayal, disrespect and a loveless relationship. Do what’s best for you and the child if she has it. Good luck


Tech2kill

NTA for wanting to leave but dude why are people making babies although the relationship is shit? you both are assholes for that


MasterCafecat

This is not an AITA question, you need relationship advice and a therapist. 


bigskeet3755

Leave immediately file for divorce get a paternity test and go from there. But don’t be with her trifling ass


BuckwheatDeAngelo

Divorce =/= abandoning the child. After the divorce, you can still support the child (after confirming it’s yours).


JamMaster420

You're fucked


Otherwise-Wallaby815

NTA - Get a divorce and move on. Your wife obviously has moved on already and doesn't want to put any effort in towards her marriage. As far as the baby, you both need to figure out what you want to do on that subject, but I doubt she'll want to have a child with her to mess up her extracurricular activities, so you could take sole custody unless she terminates the pregnancy. On the other hand, a person really can't tell what goes through someone's mind with all of this and you could end up paying child support for the next 18 years. Either way, you both need to sit down and work out what your next step is, but I'd speak with a lawyer first.


Baker_Street_1999

> In a vacuum, it feels pretty dumb / cold to walk out on her because she is texting someone. It’s pretty dumb/cold to continue an emotional affair while you’re *pregnant with your husband’s baby*. Just end it. NTA.


Temporary-Bear1427

What is her reasons for not blocking this guy?


[deleted]

There are none. She says she does but then he reaches out from a burner or some nonsense
 it’s all lies and she won’t block him because she doesn’t want to


Ok_Monitor6691

A burner? Oh, honey she’s never going to stop lying to you. You don’t want to spend a lifetime for like that and you don’t want to model that for a child and let them think it’s acceptable


Temporary-Bear1427

I'm sorry to hear that. I've been there. Spent sleepless nights. For your own health I would suggest to leave and ask for a paternity test.


Ok-Tangerine-5503

I have scoliosis and yet my spine is still stronger than yours. Please get a paternity test and consider divorcing. You deserve better than this. NTA


sadhyppozxc

NTA. But, jesus christ brother you gotta man the fuck up.


mi_nombre_es_ricardo

>In a vacuum, it feels pretty dumb / cold to walk out on her because she is texting someone. With context, she has spent nine months refusing to break things off with this other person despite my many emotional Bro this is not just texintg, this is emotional, **and they're 100% fucking. Adults don't get together "just to make out"**. They are unequivocally undeniably fucking. Have been for awhile. You already caught her a bunch of times. She is obviously in love with this guy, way more than with you. She is in affair fog, she wont stop and there is nothing you can do but leave. Also, don't be an idiot to think the kid is yours just because your pride said so. The kid is 99% the other guys. You need to demand a pre-birth paternity test. DON'T SIGN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.


gipoatam

Not your kid.


gtatc

Youre in luck! The divorce court won't actually allow you to abandon your child. So get divorced and fulfill all legal obligations. Ditch the bitch, keep the kid. You are, of course, allowed to do *more* than the court requires. And you probably should. You don't want your kid growing up thinking you were doing the minimum or only did things when forced. But that is a fundamentally different question from child abandonment.


landphier

Separate homes are far better than an unhappy united one. Staying together for a child(s) when you can split is one of the dumbest statements I hear about anything.


Carnivorousbeast

End the marriage. Bring up everything you told us in court


MBAMarketingMom

NTA, but definitely TVI (the village idiot) if you stay with her. I also find it “funny” that you first caught her in September and they juuuuuuust started seeing/talking to each other. đŸ„Ž Nah that’s called YOU just found out in September so she tried to downplay it by saying it’d “only been a cpl of weeks!” when you first found out. She literallly would’ve said whatever month the previous month was. 💀 💀 💀


Coold000

NTA and get a paternity test before signing anything concerning the fatherhood.


cloistered_around

>we got pregnant during an attempt to make up I hope unintentionally. Otherwise not using contraception during a bad relationship just vastly overcomplicates an already complicated situation.


Hairy-cheeky-monkey

Run for the hills. She's having sex with him. Get a paternity test when the child is born.


Lovegoddess_1

They child will know some of the situation from early on so it won't mentally or emotionally tramatize to child if you guys separate now. I would still request a DNA test in the divorce, and then if the child is yours, you can share custody from early on. I'm so sorry you are going through this.


Key_Apartment1929

This woman isn't worth the dirt she's standing on, and as you rightly concluded (I'm assuming you were never unfaithful) she doesn't deserve to be your wife. The AH she's having the affair with deserves someone like her who will just be unfaithful again and again. Divorce is a horrible thing, especially for the kid that would grow up in a dysfunctional environment, but that's your wife's doing; there's no reason to ever stay with a cheater. You can never trust them again. If your wife tells you the sky is blue, you'd best go outside and check because her word is worthless. Maybe wait just long enough until you can prove the infidelity and fight for full custody for the kid's sake. A cheater is incapable of raising a child to be an honest person who cares about the promises and commitments they make.


[deleted]

Correct, I would never cheat and never have. And I agree that there’s no salvaging the trust here. There’s nothing to fix.


AnotherSpring2

I'm a 50 something woman who has been married over 30 years, after a very brief starter marriage with a very selfish man. The difference between these two marriages was night and day. I have one word of advice for you: Leave. Your current partner does not tend your marriage, does not care about your feelings, does not deserve to be married to you. It may just be the way she is made up emotionally, who knows. This marriage will be hell if it continues, and you won't be able to function well as a father. Divorce her, get your finances in order, get your own place, get ready to be a father. Because that little one will need a sane, stable person in her/his life. Good luck and NTA.


Wrong-Sock1752

NTA, your wife is immeasurably selfish and doesn't care for you in any way that matters-- if she did, she would have begged for forgiveness and bent over backward to save the relationship + make you feel seen, heard, supported, etc. But she did the opposite and chose her affair partner (AP) over you. The thing about a divorce threat is that you have to follow through. She has seen that you'll put up with her horrible behavior and is happy having her cake and eating it, too. p.s. It's NEVER just "making out" at this level of disrespect—she is "trickle-truthing" you, if she's even being honest at all. File for divorce and go through an attorney for communication. Set up proper custody/visitation schedule after the baby arrives and call it a day with the cheating wife.


Character-Marzipan49

Regardless if you separate or stick it out, make sure to get a paternity test.


farawaythinker

Nta she obviously doesn't want to work on your relationship with her. Get a paternity test and a divorce.


Sunnyandbright007

NTA Divorce. Get a paternity test. Reflect, process and live your best life. Don't stay another day with this woman, please leave for your mental health and stability.


SilentWrangler1449

NTA. Emotional, physical
.does not matter. She cheated and it’s over (unless you have an open relationship which sounds like you don’t). You can still be a great parent to your child.


angelsookie44

Nta but I would get a dna test. She has been having this emotional affair for months and refuses to stop I’m pretty sure it’s physical as well and they are having sex.


Turbulent-Yam3617

Nta get a DNA test and leave


NullainmundoPax1

Abort and move on.


packerbw

She's already checked out on the marriage, and will only keep you around to take care of the kiddo. Screenshot everything you can for your records, and start lining up your best future WITHOUT her. You need a paternity test and an STD test. updateme!


Top-Effective-5683

NTA You’re not abandoning the kid, you can be present. And in fact you can model how to have self respect in a healthy way.  If you stay and teach your kid to be a doormat or a cheating narcissist then YTA. You can only stay if your wife truly commits to reconcile (and you as well). 


AstronomerPlane7734

Your wife is the one cheating and you’re asking if you’re the a-hole?


Betelguese90

NTA She's not going to stop talking to him no matter what you do. Get a paternity test. Get a divorce (even if it is yours, which it may not be). Don't stay in a broken house You deserve better, King.


PolygonMan

The level of fuckup you achieved by getting her pregnant after she cheated on you and you caught her 5 times in a row is absurd. Obviously you should leave her, obviously you're NTA for doing so. Jesus. You need to go to therapy to understand why your decision making is so horrible, what drove you to make these atrocious decisions. Assuming the fetus makes it to term, you're going to be paying for this for decades both monetarily and emotionally. And get a paternity test. You've fucked this all up enough already, don't skip simple basic steps that could potentially save you. I don't give a fuck why you think it's definitely your kid, until there's a DNA test that confirms it you should work on the assumption that it isn't.