Should We Respond To Marriage: Helpful Or Harmful?

Around 2006 or 2007, in addition to repeated inappropriate relationships with women he came into contact with through his work over the years, he expressed deep feelings for a much younger coworker. He inadvertently left his computer on one day and I discovered many emails professing his desire for her, how he missed her over the holiday weekend and couldn’t wait to see her again, and how beautiful she looked at the company Christmas party. He went on to say that he so wished he could talk to her and hold her but she was with her fiancé. He decided to forgo a family birthday to be at that Christmas party and sent me alone with 2 children at night on a 90 mile drive so he could see her instead. They had special nicknames for one another, would …show more content…
He swears to this day it was an emotional connection only and a cry for attention but not physical. I will never know but believe if she responded he did or would have a sexual relationship with her. He did not take 100% responsibility for his choice to violate the marriage vows but blamed ME for not meeting his need for attention and affection. We did however go to short term marriage counseling and he promised transparency and to do whatever it took to heal my pain. He even wept and begged forgiveness of both of my parents whom at that time believed him to be a good man who made a poor choice. Because they believed in the sacrament of marriage they encouraged me to forgive and stay in the marriage. Approximately a month or two after committing to total transparency in the marital relationship in the presence of our counselor he became angry and annoyed with my insecurity and demanded my forgiveness or he would be forced to end the marriage as “he could not live like this.” There was never consideration for how I wished to live or my feelings only his needs as mine were on his predetermined timeline contrary to what he said or committed to in