People make mistakes in relationships.
Either you choose to work through them, or you don't.
If you do choose to look beyond the flub and work to make things right and perhaps even better, you don't expect a similar situation to ever present itself.
As it happens, though, it certainly can.
A woman on Reddit knows all too well and took to the "Am I The A**hole Here" (AITAH) subReddit to seek feedback from fellow Redditors after her husband was told he had to go on a two-week business trip with his former mistress.
Redditor NothingButHot asked:
"AITA for not allowing my husband to go on a business trip with the woman he cheated on me with?"
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
"My friends have mixed opinions about this."
"Here's our story:"
"Six years ago, my husband cheated on me with a woman who was part of our social circle."
"I found out about it and wanted to divorce him."
"My husband made a considerable effort to repair our marriage, and I decided not to go through with the divorce."
"I can say that since then and until recently, we had a beautiful relationship without major issues."
"I almost forgot what happened until, in 2023, that woman coincidentally got hired by the same company where my husband works."
"My husband did not hide this from me."
"In fact, he seemed bothered by the awkward situation, especially since the company requires employees to declare any past or present relationships with coworkers."
"He didn't say anything at work about their past relationship because all his colleagues know us both and know we have been married for 12 years."
"It would have been a very strange situation."
"I felt chills down my spine when I heard the news, but I tried not to think too much about it."
"My husband hasn't shown any interest in that woman, and our relationship hasn't changed at all. It's still a beautiful relationship."
"Last week, both of them were notified that they have to go on a business trip to Canada."
"The two of them and another person from the company, but from a branch in another state who doesn't know either my husband or that woman."
"This time, no matter how much I want to overlook it, I can't."
"The thought of my husband being around this woman again for 14 days drives me crazy."
"I told him I don't want to hear about such a thing."
"That if he goes on this trip, I'll leave home for good."
"I know I'm putting him in a difficult situation, especially since he can't really miss this trip without facing repercussions at work."
"I don't know what to do."
"I feel guilty but also justified in behaving this way."
"Am I the ahole in this situation?"
Redditors weighed in and decided OP was not the a**hole (NTA).
"NTA"
"Jesus, why would you even need to ask?" - Ok_Shock9350
"NTA."
"Your husband's past infidelity caused a significant breach of trust in your marriage."
"While you forgave him, it's understandable that you're triggered and concerned by the prospect of him spending an extended period alone with the woman he cheated with."
"It's important to set boundaries in any relationship, especially after a breach of trust."
"You have the right to express your discomfort and ask your husband to prioritize your marriage and how you feel." - MistressNaomiXXXX
"This is so odd, the double-coincidence that she'd join the same company and now there's a business trip they'd go on together."
"If it's a large company, the first coincidence is likely nbd, but the second one is."
"If it's a small company, the second one isn't as unlikely, but certainly the first one is odd."
"And 14 days? In like, a honeymoon fortnight number of days?"
"I think you need to tell your husband this is a consequence of a thing he did back in the day and he needs to handle it."
"I'm in your camp, this would have me rattled."
"He likely needs to start looking for a new job, and it's his fault." - ResponsibilityOk2173
"NTA"
"Extremely so."
'NO CONTACT with AP is mandatory is reconciliation is to succeed - even after 6 years."
"And that includes hubby working with AP.. or travelling with her.."
"Sorry, but you and he cannot tell AP what she should do or not.. but hubby needs to find a new job, sorry.."
"And AP... her spouse has no opinion about all this??"
"I assume he was told of the adultery, yes??" - clearheaded01
"You're not the a**hole."
"Your feelings are valid, and your husband's past infidelity understandably makes you apprehensive about this trip."
"It's also reasonable to want to protect your marriage and well-being."
"While your reaction may seem extreme to some, it's important to communicate your boundaries and concerns to your husband."
"Open communication is key to finding a solution that respects both of your needs." - Cutei_bella
"Your husband is a liar and a coward, and it is because of his behavior that you are in the position in the first place."
"If he goes and you don't want him to go, you're at the mercy of your imagination and whatever trust you have left in him to get you through the 2 weeks wondering what the hell he's doing, and then mostly likely dealing with the aftermath."
"If he doesn't go, it puts his career in danger and you're going to get blamed for being controlling and insecure (not at all saying it's justified, just what I can imagine people will say when he tries to put the blame on you for "not letting him" attend the work trip because he sounds spineless enough to try to blame you)."
"You're screwed whatever happens."
"He needs to deal with this himself and speak to his workplace, like a big boy."
"I also can't help but notice that there is no mention of how HE feels about going on a 2-week trip with his ex-AP, only how you feel about it."
"What's his position on this?"
"Because at the end of the day, he's going to be the one deciding between his job or his marriage, if he can't figure this out on his own and you follow through with the ultimatum."
"NTA, he has put you in a lose-lose situation and he sucks." - theworldisonfire8377
Many agreed OP's husband put himself in a tough situation when he didn't disclose his previous relationship to human resources.
"NTA - Your husband f**ked up the moment he realized she works with him and decided not to tell HR."
"I'd draw the same line in the sand re: this trip and I would follow through if he goes on it."
"Dealbreaker for me."
"Actually, cheating is the dealbreaker… wanting to go on a work trip with his AP is just beyond f**ked up."
"He should've told HR immediately and started networking for a new job."
"It's f**ked up he's making you live with knowing he's in close proximity and contact with his AP."
"F**king gross of him." - Complete-Design5395
"NTA and you're not putting him in a difficult situation."
"He put you in this situation when he cheated."
"This is a consequence of staying with a cheating partner - you figure but can't forget."
"He needs to declare their past relationship to HR (it doesn't need to be public knowledge) and inform them he can't go for the sake of his marriage."
"Remember he caused this so don't feel bad at all." - DevotedRed
"If the company requires their employees to disclose past or present relationships with other coworkers, why hasn't the woman told the company about this previous relationship."
"Your husband should go to HR and explain he had a previous relationship with this woman and is not comfortable traveling with her."
"If the company insists he travel on this trip, then he should simply not go and allow the company to fire him (so he can collect unemployment.)" - STUNTPEN*S
"NTA."
"He needs to come clean at work that he had an affair with her."
"Yes, it will be embarrassing for him, but those are part of the consequences of having an affair."
"He's breaking the rules, and I'm not sure if he could be fired for it."
"The rule also exists to avoid situations exactly like this."
"Nope. No contact with an affair partner is a common requirement to stay married."
"Again, these are the consequences of HIS actions."
"Get better friends." - RNGinx3
"NTA he should have mentioned the issue to his superiors and HR, when this woman was hired there."
"It is his mistake to not do it and clarify he can't work closelt/alone with her."
"Wrong decisions and mistakes have their negative consequences."
"Between infidelity and not ensuring this situation would not arise, even losing his job is a predictable result." - Gosc101
"NTA, he should have automatically gone to HR when they hired her."
"It's his reputation he was worried about and it's fault it was a problem."
"Now he has to face the music."
"She also didn't go to HR when she found out he worked there."
"This is going to be a problem for both of them."
"Your marriage is more important than a job."
"He needs to deal with the consequences." - lifehappenedwhatnow
According to her fellow Redditors, OP has no reason to feel guilty for her stance on the situation.
She does, however, have a tough conversation - or a massive shift in her relationship - ahead of her.















Woman Breaks Up With Boyfriend Who Worried People Would Think She Was Trans For Using Stand-To-Pee Device
Content Warning: Transphobia, Transphobic Comments
There are countless different reasons that a relationship might end, and a red flag could arise at any time. Some of these might have been learned in childhood and could improve over time.
Transphobia is absolutely a red flag that should be acted on immediately; however, with no option to fly again, pointed out the members of the "Am I the A**hole?" (AITA) subReddit.
Redditor funnelfuss was in the car with her boyfriend when they got stuck in a traffic jam.
She really needed to use the restroom, so since she had a device with her to make the process easier, she decided she'd step out of the car.
But when her boyfriend panicked and thought people might mistake her for a man, the Original Poster (OP) realized that her boyfriend was not who she thought he was.
She asked the sub:
The OP had to use the restroom while stuck in a traffic jam.
"My (26 Female) boyfriend (25 Male) and I got stuck in an insane traffic jam. My boyfriend was driving."
"We were at a standstill. Found out later on, they had closed the highway."
"I had to pee really bad, like bad bad bad. I saw that a couple guys had run to the side of the road to pee, and I decided to do the same."
"It was super open, with a few bushes by the side of the road, really not much cover."
The OP's boyfriend became uncomfortable when he realized she had a pee-to-stand device.
"I have a stand-to-pee device in my car, but when I grabbed it, my boyfriend got all weird."
"He said people would see me pee standing up and think I was Trans."
"I said no one would think that, plenty of women have pee funnels, and that also I didn't care. I have no beef with Trans people!"
"He said I should squat, just to put his mind at ease."
"I said I didn't want to get my butt and c**ch out on the highway in front of everyone, or get pee on my shoes, and I just wanted to be quick and clean."
"He said he didn't want people to look at the girl he was dating and think she was Trans and that I should squat, like GIRLS do."
The OP decided she was over it.
"I was dying by this point. I couldn't hold it anymore, and I really didn't want to show the world my butt, so I ran to the side of the road and slipped the device into my jeans and just peed standing up with my back to traffic."
"No one could see anything; it just slides through the zipper. But I guess maybe if someone was looking, they would be confused? But also, who's LOOKING?!"
"When I got back to the car, my boyfriend wouldn't talk to me. He says I disrespected his feelings. But it was 100% an emergency, and I don't get what his problem was."
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some reassured the OP that there was nothing wrong with using the restroom how she wanted.
"OP, don't think for one more second about this. Your boyfriend is being ridiculous."
"As if you will ever see any of those people again! Plus, holding it in for too long can cause a whole host of issues."
"It's actually genius that you have something like that in your car, just in case. I'm going to order one too now! NTA." - m_alice88
"'Honey, please show all these strangers your c**ch and a** so they know I'm not gay, mmmm'kay?'"
"A weak man, a very weak man." - lefteyedcrow
"You must have a she-wee! Those are so great for women."
"Tell your boyfriend to get over himself. You had to pee. He does not understand that squatting can suck and leave you exposed."
"If he is that upset you did this, rethink this relationship. I would find it hysterical."
"NTA." - Oktodayithink
"NTA, OP. You just needed a makeshift restroom."
"Your boyfriend apparently thought that it was normal for people to stare at strangers who are trying to pee to evaluate who they are, who they're with, and what the status of their relationship is."
"You know, to pass the time while in gridlock traffic." - Pixichixi
"You did nothing wrong, OP! When you have to go, you have to go. It's healthier to go."
"And don't apologize! We're so wired to reduce conflict, even to the point of downplaying how we feel to keep the peace or end the silence. Don't do it."
"It's a him issue. He thinks his feelings on this are more important than your discomfort about showing your naked body on the side of the road. If he can't figure that out for himself and apologize, it would be a dealbreaker for me." - lelawes
Others agreed and pointed out that the ex-boyfriend was very transphobic.
"NTA. Your boyfriend is clearly transphobic. That is 100% on him. And who cares if people think you are Trans?"
"'He said he didn't want people to look at the girl he was dating and think she was Trans.' And you don't want people to think you're dating someone bigoted and hateful." - GreekAmericanDom
"He may not consider himself transphobic ('I don't hate Trans people! I just don't want to be associated with them or have anyone think I'm with a Trans person!'), but he absolutely is, probably with a healthy side helping of homophobia."
"Why would he care, unless a) Trans women are not women in his eyes, or b) it somehow would be emasculating or embarrassing to his ego to be with a Trans woman."
"Also, you're in a traffic jam. Who the f**k is even watching close enough to care, and who of those people matters enough to give two s**ts about what they think."
"Not to mention, he's being weirdly controlling about your behaviors and how they reflect on him in a scenario where arguably he's never going to interact with a single person he's worrying about." - maladicta228
"This post reminds me of the time I got dressed to go to a function. It was a casual gathering. My kid (this was solidly on their father, my ex, as he's gotten insanely bigoted as he's aged) said, 'Mom, you're dressed like a Lesbian.'"
"Me: 'Lesbians have great fashion sense, I'd love to be mistaken for one.'"
"They paused for a second and realized that I truly wasn't dressing for men (despite it being my husband's work function), and that being seen as a lesbian was a good thing. I'm so glad I raised them to think for themselves, and realize that one can be wrong, admit it, and work on being a better person every day. They've never said anything like that since." - baconbitsy
"He's so insecure (and transphobic) that he cares more about what some strangers in a traffic jam might wrongly assume about you (and thereby him) than YOUR needs, comfort, and health."
"He expected you to prioritize his insecurities (feelings) above that and then punished you when you prioritized your health."
"You sure you want to be with someone like that?? NTA." - molotovmerkin
"Your boyfriend is so transphobic that he wants you to expose your genitalia on the side of the road to prove that you're not a Trans woman because he can't stand the idea of a total stranger, in a neighboring car, whom he will never speak to or see ever again, thinking he MIGHT be SHARING A CAR (because the strangers in other cars have no idea that you're dating) with a Trans woman."
"You're NTA, but get a better boyfriend." - HighCsummer
"Literally, you have to be super transphobic to think people in traffic are gonna judge you if your girlfriend is standing to pee. Like come onnnnnn, this is some insane insecurity." - Responsible-Pickle-2
Some pointed out that not only was the ex-boyfriend transphobic, but also controlling.
"This won't be the last time he expects OP to sacrifice things or make her life worse so that she can conform to his ideal of feminine stereotypes and keep up appearances for his fragile masculine ego."
"And that he gave her the silent treatment for not obliging his transphobia and misogyny disguised as 'feelings' is also problematic." - blancamystiere
"He's insecure and transphobic. He also puts his insecurity and transphobia above your comfort."
"NTA, and honestly, you can do better than this specimen." - PetersMapProject
"NTA. Your boyfriend would have preferred for everyone to see your a** and vagina than have a random stranger think his girlfriend is Trans. He would rather you expose yourself for his personal gain."
"Get a better boyfriend." - Amaze-balls-trippen
"The transphobia? The insecurity? And the silent treatment when he doesn't get his way?"
"So many red flags!" - CarolynDesign
"He also puts his insecurity and transphobia above your comfort and safety."
"He would rather you invite unwanted attention and risk by exposing your private parts to the world than have people think he (who most of the onlookers couldn't even see) might be dating a Trans person."
"NTA. OP, he's too insecure, self-centered, and immature to be a good partner to you, given that he's willing to compromise your safety to avoid a single twinge of discomfort. Dump him." - Hari_om_tat_sat
After receiving feedback, the OP was reassured and shared some positive updates.
"UPDATE: Thank you, everyone, for helping me feel sane again!"
"I got quite a few questions about which device I use, and honestly, it's about what fits you best. There are a ton of options. It's what fits you. Check out pStyle, Freshette, and EllaPee."
"I tried peeing standing up in a toilet, and it worked fine. I think my aim was pretty good, but then I saw little droplets on the floor. No thanks, don't need that. Also, it's loud? Awkward."
"But for the outside, it's pretty fun! I drive a lot, that's why it was in my car. Lifesaver."
"Also, I guess in this case it brought out an ugly side of my (ex) boyfriend and clarified some stuff for me. A winner all around."
"And to all the commenters asking, YES, he is an ex-boyfriend now."
"And yes, there were other red flags."
"Ditched the man, kept the pee funnel. Gonna laugh at him every time I pee standing up."
There's no way to imagine just how awkward the rest of the car ride was after using the restroom and returning to the now-silent and very entitled boyfriend, still stuck in a traffic jam.
But fortunately for the OP, she learned something vital about her relationship during a moment that should have been a total non-issue.
By being concerned about this and expecting the OP to prioritize her ex's pride over her comfort, safety, and cleanliness, her ex told her everything she needed to know.