I'm late in updating you but as how you can imagine the last few days have been hell.
Let's start with what happened on Sunday. I took my son to my parents while my husband was out with a friend of his.
I tried to prepare myself and not show my emotional turmoil to my son at least initially.
I told my mom that we would need her help for a few days with my son.
I went home and tried to prepare everything I had written for my confession (timeline, letter and all the messages / mails my AP and I exchanged). For a few moments I thought that I was going to lose my mind and that I couldn't hurt my husband like that. I am ashamed to admit it but in the last few days I have felt suicidal, I am trying to control these feelings because my son deserves a stable mother.
In the letter I tried to take on my serious faults and not place the responsibility on anyone (not even on my AP). I have tried to mention my AP as little as possible, not to defend him but because he is a stranger who shouldn't have had any space in our life but who I have horribly allowed to creep into the privacy of our home.
I tried to briefly summarize the milestones of my betrayal (which I then detailed in the timeline).
When my husband got home he immediately noticed something strange about me (I was trying hard not to cry) and the absence of my son. He was calm and peaceful but I was aware that this would be his last moment of tranquility. I felt like I was going to kill him.
I told him I had to talk to him and I immediately confessed that I had betrayed him, I didn't try refer to my affair as a mistakes but I told him that I made a horrible choice that I deeply regret. Already at that point the tears began to flow for the two of us.
He was absolutely shocked. He asked me the classic first questions "How long", "Why", "with whom". I was able to speak with difficulty in my tears and I handed him my letter and timeline telling him that he could find everything in those writings. I asked him if we could read them together.
I clearly noticed when he started reading the worst part. His eyes showed the feeling of horror and fear.
It took a long time to finish reading the whole thing. It was horrifying to see him so deeply hurt and curled up on the sofa reading the timeline. The only words he managed to say a few times were "Why all this hatred toward me?", "It's a nightmare" and "You two are monsters".
I tried to reach him but he asked me not to touch him.
We spent a few minutes crying in front of each other until he asked me if this confession was some kind of sadistic plan on my AP's part and if I was willing to and move him with him.
I tried to explain to him to the best of my ability that it was over between us, I showed him the messages where I leave him and I ask him in no uncertain terms not to contact me anymore.
The first night we left our son with my parents and, to my surprise, he didn't throw me out of the house. I had told him before that I would do whatever he thought necessary and if he did not want to see me I would leave. He told me no, that at least for the first night he would have preferred someone to monitor his reactions.
I want to emphasize that these days he has never threatened me (someone was worried about my safety) and never insulted me and rarely raised his voice. Wow, he manages to be a good man even in this situation.
I told him how much I admire him for it and how he is a special and wonderful man who deserves the best and tried to reassure him that I will do everything, for as long as necessary, to help him get through this horrible time and heal. If this means going through the divorce I will do it and grant him the easiest divorce ever.
He asked me "Why divorce? Do you want to go to him?". During the first few hours he was convinced that I wanted to leave him and run to my AP. Several times I tried to explain to him that this is not the case and that I did not want to see him again for the rest of my life. I also informed him that the following day I would go to a lawyer to send him an official NC letter.
He told me he could hardly believe me because after everything that happened he was convinced that I saw my AP as a strong and dominant man and therefore I was attracted to him. I tried to explain to him that none of this is true in what my AP has done or tried to do, rather it just proves that he is a person with a bad and terrible soul. And how, now that my AP has shown its true colors, this disgusted me and how ashamed I was that I allowed my AP to do this to our family.
The next morning he asked me to leave him alone for few hours. Before I left he asked me if there was any safe area left in our house... I mortally wounded him and now he doesn't even have a safe space to process everything that happened.
One good thing is that he accepted my help. These days he understandably fails to function properly and take care of himself. For now I am helping him in a functional way with the housework, laundry, cooking etc (even if he eats very little and is losing weight). I am happy that yesterday he accepted my advice to see a doctor and a therapist to try to help him. I have already asked my therapist to make an appointment for him in the next few days.
In the last three days we have talked very little, he wants to be left in peace and I respect this need of his. For now we have only talked about a few sexual details. The worst thing is that for once he asked me why all this hatred on my part and if he had done anything to make this feeling develop in the years. I told him that he absolutely must not think that he did something wrong that caused all of this. It is me (with the help of my AP) who caused everything for reasons that have nothing to do with him. And unfortunately he, despite being absolutely innocent, is faced with a mountain of pain and despair.
On Monday morning, he called his company and announced his intention to quit his job. He told me that just thinking about going back to that place drives him crazy.
Here is another consequence of my betrayal.
I told him I understood him and to take his time before thinking about going back to looking for a job. That I will support him financially during this time for as long as it is necessary.
For my part, I have exposed my betrayal to our families. In agreement with my husband we have not communicated any details.
They are obviously all angry with me and are trying to support my husband. He doesn't want to see anyone for now but he is talking a lot with his brother. He has a very close family and I am sure he will get good support from them.
For my part I started IC. My therapist was quite surprised to learn the various details. She said that in her career she has seen several horrible cases of betrayal (with friends, relatives) but mine is one of the worst.
She thinks it is ok at least initially for my husband to be alone for a while (she think he is still in shock and denial phase) but then he will have to try to come out and manage the situation. She clearly thinks he will need psychological support and has given me references from some of her colleagues.
Yesterday I went to a lawyer who was recommended to me by a friend.
He has already prepared a formal letter for my AP asking him to cease all contact with me and my husband. For now he has only done this because he will have to hear from a colleague of his who is an employment lawyer.
He told me, however, that he feels quite confident that my husband will be able to claim damages from my former AP for the psychological and moral damage suffered and for his temporary inability to work.
The problem is that despite everything my AP does not give up and is continuing to contact me. Or try to contact me.
I already wrote about his last call where he tried to apologize for everything horrible he said to me 2 weeks ago. Yesterday in the mailbox I found a letter from him in which he again asks me to leave and move with him.
I don't know whether to tell my husband about it or not.
Later I will try to call the lawyer to see if there are any details to proceed with a stalking report to the local police.
This is the situation for now.
I have seen some questions and messages from other users and will try to answer them later.