Are women gullible?

Dear all,

I signed my deed of separation from my husband of 16 years. My boy is 10 years old.

Story goes: A church friend came to my place some years ago to tell me that my husband has been going around borrowing money. She herself had lent him $30 000. We confronted him and he admitted that he had gone into business and was not doing well. I was hurt that he did not tell me about it. I forked out $80K to help him tide over. He promised to return the money in installments and a lump sum when he gets his bonus. I did not press him. During the entire year, he did not honor his monthly repayments. During year end, I asked him again. He claimed he did not have money to pay me. He told me some nonsense about winding up the business and having to compensate for some losses made on rental of the place. I was exasperated but let it go.

Then the letters from the banks came. I never used to open his letters but I just had to then. Not one bank, but six to seven banks. Money owed was around $7k each. I questioned him. It was the same answer- ' nothing serious and I don't have to bother. It's about the business.'

I could see that he was desperate and lent him another $10k. This was because he was my husband and I could see he was in deep shit.

I started opening his letters and discovered he had been making calls overseas to China and Vietnam. I questioned him if women are involved, if he was being blackmailed. He admitted that it was a China woman he met at a pub. He had been conned. Every time, he would use his debit card to give her money which she claimed was for urgent need.

I lost it. I immersed myself in my work.

In the mean time, at my workplace, a male colleague started showing me concern. As he was facing difficulties at work, I helped him along as we were in the same department. I stood up for him and we saw each other through very tough situations at work. We knew there was very deep attraction not just at the physical level. We share the same values about life and work and exact the same standards on people. We knew it was not right to start a relationship at work and thus kept everything at the professional level. After many months however, he confided that he was in a sexless marriage. He broke the touch barrier and before we knew it, it had spiralled into a full blown relationship.

Due to his unhappiness with the people and management, he asked to be posted out of the company. I was heartbroken because in spite of all that I had done for him, he chose to leave. He took on a position in another company and we stayed in touch, agreeing to spur each other on in our respective work areas.

Then, last week, his wife found out about us. He has left me to be with her. We said goodbye amicably. The rational me tells me that that is the best thing to do, although it hurts very very much. Implicitly, I know that he loves me, but he has to fulfil his commitment to her. He says that he has done wrong and he needs to set it right. I know that it is not easy for him. I also know that I will not be happy if he comes to me, leaving her in the lurch. It will be least painful for the three of us if I back off. During our last meeting, I got him to destroy the things I sewed for him. He did it in between sobs, saying that if there is one day he can be free and we can be together with me, he will want me to sew those cushions for him again. It was a bittersweet farewell.

I am trying to get my life together again. I no longer believe God is a man. I think if there is a god, she must be female. Men just do not have the same capacity to love as women do.
 


As relates to your new thread, pls think about your son as well. Rather than saying women are gullible, I think people in love are gullible.

Stay away from married man, they are simply just looking for someone to confide on. There will be hidden reasons as to why they cant break away from their marriage. "Commitment" seems to be is just an excuse, if he's really committed, he would have kept you at friendship level. And if he can do that to his wife, he can do that to you as well. :( Both guys seems as jerks to me. Nevertheless, keep waiting for the one appear. Stay strong! :)

PS. I'm not the best person to advise, yet to be married. But looking from the perspective of my friends/cousins whom parents are no longer tgt. And it is very hard for young kids to understand and they often feel inferior to others.
 
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We are all emotional being, as logical as we all claimed or wanted to be, we succumbed to emotional needs all too often.
Nothing wrong with it, we all need to be emotionally connected with someone... Novembermountain, perhaps lacking of emotional connection at home, felt connected with some at work. One thing lead to another...

The fact that he chose to be with his wife means that he love you less, period.... easy said than done, but time heals, agreed with Bearine, stay strong, continue to lead your life, make it a happy one with your son, he needs you, and I am sure he won't want to see you unhappy. Be strong at least for him.

Spend some quality bonding time with him, doing things both of you will enjoy.... go, just try, you never know what life brings in the future
 
As a man, I do not stand up and speak for the same gender but rather I speak based on the facts of reality. Please stay away from such man. They are doing of no good to you and your loved ones. They are just trying their luck just to see if they are able to find their prey on a particular hunting ground. If they are unable to find one, they will just move on to the next hunting ground. If they got you, after sick of eating and playing with you, they will move on. If they are being exposed, they will find a way to act innocent and protect their own interest at all cost. Based on what you have mentioned, choosing between you and his wife, he will rather chose his wife than over you for one simple reason, the Woman Charter of Singapore.
 
It is painful but I do not regret the time spent with him. Both of us truly love each other. That much I know.
It is also becauseI love him, that's why I let him go.
 
Novembermountain, you may be right, he may love you as much, and you are the best judge of the relationship.
Letting him go is a noble act, sacrificing your love for his 'happiness'... as the consequent you are suffering, because you are not ready to let him go.
Sound about right?
But, he is gone, gone away to lead a life without you, so what are you going to do? Continue to cling on to the past?
Does your happiness include your son in the entire scheme of things... what about your love for him?
At his age, he needs a happy mummy more than anything else... perhaps focus your energy on him now can help ease your pain.
 
Depends. If he chose his wife over you, let it go. That being said, is there any way to save your marriage?
 
Thanks everyone, for your words of encouragement and your perspectives.

I have survived one week. The mind and the emotions can be tamed, though it is horrendously painful at times, especially when there is a void in the day. I guess I am afraid of loneliness. Very afraid. Being an introvert does not help. I know in time I can overcome my pain but I don't want to be needy.

Disclosed: thanks for giving a man's perspective on things and for being brutally honest. I appreciate that.

Georgian:thanks for your questions and for not being judgmental. The questions made me reflect.

Traciee: you must be a warm person. Tks for your encouragement.

life_is: tks for telling me to let go. I needed that. As for me and my hubby, we can only be friends now, civil to each other. Less tense now.
君子之交淡如水。relationships should be like water- tasteless but essential to life. No expectations and there will be less pain.
 
加油.. it's painful, it's scary because we all don't want to be alone. But you are not alone. This forum is a good example, you have real people reading and share their thought.
As time passes, you will heal, but you can help by focusing on doing something you enjoy with your son. He too has suffered, build that bond before it become too late.
Look at the brighter side of things... you know what are the bright spots in your life, soak it in, smile and be grateful for those.
 
Thanks, Georgian.
Some things change us forever.

Think I could write an entire thesis about men from this episode in my life. I think of it now as a form of higher learning, it goes better on my soul that way.

I am learning to let go. I am spending time deconstructing my feelings. Analysis helps me to uncover and understand why certain things happened the way they did.

As for my emotions, I read this-
The intellect's best strategy for dealing with the emotions is to use emotions to fight emotions. I am trying that out.

Thanks for everyone's open hearts. I am thankful.
 
Hi Novembermountain, good to read that you are leraning to let go and finding ways to deal with your emotions. Remember this is the first step, there will be times things get 'difficult', don't be afraid to reach out. Talk it out, share your thoughts and emotion, it is part of the healing process.

Yup, difficult relationships change us, in the end, it makes us wiser, stronger and more determine. Lessons learn can make us a much better partner for the lucky one that would step into our life in the future.... hopefully.

Good luck
 
I read somewhere that couples fell in love once and even if it is lost, there must be a way to find that again. Unless there is too much pain and bad experiences with each other.

Deed of separation means there is time to think through. Use this time to think if a divorce is really what you want. After all, you have been through many years with your husband. Kid is only 10 years old. Is he going to grow up normally in a broken family?
 
There is no absolute. There is no right or wrong way, every situation though similar with many common traits but is different, individuals involved are different, different personalities, believes, values, temperaments... What's right? What's wrong? What's best lies with both party involved.
Yes, young children interests needs to be considered utmost, but cannot be the definitive factor. Keeping a child in a tumultuous, and acrimonious environment will do more harm than good.
 

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