The past is in thepast. There’s no point in dwelling on it if that means you’ll sabotage your future, but we shouldn’t completely forget about it either. After all, it can teach us many valuable lessons.

One woman who had put her previousengagementfar behind her was recently confronted with someone from her past that she hoped to never see again. Below, you’ll find the full story that shepostedon Reddit seeking advice, as well as an update she later shared and some of the replies invested readers left her.

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Woman sitting in a dimly lit cafe, looking to the side.

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Now, over a decade later, she’s encountered the woman her ex prioritized over her

Woman exposes mistress’s past 12 years after being cheated on, text overlay describing affair and relationships.

Text revealing cheating incident from 12 years ago, exposing mistress’s past to new husband.

Woman in a blue shirt smiling while sitting, related to exposing a mistress’s past.

Image credits:Ave Calvar (not the actual photo)

Image source:throwawayfiancecheat

Woman looking at her phone, contemplating a past experience related to cheating and exposure.

Image credits:Andrej Lišakov (not the actual photo)

Cheating occurs in about a third of unmarried couples who live together

Couple in bed, woman using phone, man gesturing emotionally.

Image credits:Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Getting engaged can be an extremely magical experience for many people. You’re head over heels in love, and you’ve finally agreed to spend the rest of your life with your partner. But being engaged sometimes makes people realize that they’re actually not ready for marriage at all, and many end up getting cold feet or breaking up before they can walk down the aisle. In fact, a 2018 survey fromMyGemmafound that one fifth of all engagements are called off before anyone can say, “I do.”

And while no one wants to imagine the love of their life going behind their back and betraying them, the woman who shared this story is far from the first to have experienced it. According toTechopedia, cheating occurs in a whopping 30% to 40% of couples who aren’t married but are living together.

As far as why people are beingunfaithful, 72% of men who cheated reported having low relationship happiness, while 62% of women who cheated said the same. 69% of men who decided to stray from their partners also reported having low sexual satisfaction in theirrelationships, while 40% of women who cheated admitted that they felt the same way.

When it comes towherepeople are cheating on their partners, theUnited Statesis the biggest offender. But Germany, theUnited Kingdomand Brazil aren’t far behind with their infidelity rates. Men are also more likely to cheat than women, as 23% have admitted to betraying their partners, while only 19% of women have done the same.

There are even certain professions that tend to attract more cheaters than others. Techopedia reports that men working in trades, IT and entrepreneurs are the most likely to be unfaithful. On theotherhand, women working in the medical field, education and entrepreneurs have the highest rates of cheating. And a whopping 70% of military marriages have dealt with at least one instance of infidelity.

It’s best to be honest with your partner about your past

Man and woman chatting in a kitchen, both holding mugs, amidst a bright and cozy setting.

It’s not a secret that most people would be hesitant to date a cheater. Many believe “once a cheater, always a cheater” and aren’t willing to take that risk. But what if it happened over a decade ago? Should it still be considered a problem?

Dating and Relationship Coach Ravid Yosef believes that it’s actually a good idea to be open and honest with your partner about this uncomfortable part of your past, as it can help the two of you build trust. “Just as you would want to know that someone is divorced and why, you would want to know this,” he toldBustle.

It’s also probably not a great idea to hold onto this information for too long, because then it might look like you were intentionally hiding it. Be honest in the early stages of your relationship to show your partner that you’re not trying to keep secrets.

While it might not be easy to have a conversation about past cheating, Yosef says that we all deserve to know exactly what we’re getting ourselves into when entering a new relationship. And we all know that honesty is a crucial component of any healthy relationship.

Readers assured the author that she had done nothing wrong, and she joined in on the conversation to share more details

Reddit exchange discussing revealing a mistress’s past, with users MrPKitty and throwawayfianceecheat sharing opinions.

Text conversation revealing a woman’s past infidelity discovered by her ex.

Reddit exchange about a woman’s past affair and current relationship details.

Reddit comments about truth and religion related to exposing lies in relationships.

Reddit conversation where someone discusses a woman exposing a mistress’s past.

Reddit discussion about a woman revealing past infidelity to a mistress’s new husband.

Reddit discussion about a woman exposing infidelity and its impact on reputations.

Reddit discussion about a woman’s experience exposing a mistress’s past to her new husband.

Reddit conversation about a husband’s decision to start divorce proceedings after being cheated on.

Discussion about cease and desist related to cheating scandal, featuring comments on handling gossip and legal actions.

Reddit comment about “Karma Chameleon” and a reply mentioning Henry loving the song, related to a cheating revelation.

Reddit thread discussing the consequences of deceit and affairs, highlighting an exposed past.

Reddit comments about an encounter with a mistress’s past, discussing coincidences and shared professional fields.

Reddit comments discussing a woman exposing a mistress’s past to her husband.

Finally, the woman shared an update on the situation, including where Daniel and Camilla’s relationship stands

Text discussing woman exposing mistress’s past on Reddit 12 years after infidelity.

Text setting the context for a genuine story revealing a mistress’s past.

Text discussing opinions about infidelity and being civil despite past cheating.

Text about a woman’s past affair being exposed, involving her and her former fiancé Karl.

Text message exchange reveals past affair, with details about contact sharing and family introduction plans.

Text message exchange about kids' play date involving a husband, revealing unexpected access to his phone.

Group discussion in a meeting room with a woman and two others, sharing a story of being cheated on.

“The update about a woman exposing a mistress’s past; Daniel and Camilla attend couples therapy after staying at a hotel.

Text describing harassment through calls and texts, involving Henry and Daniel’s intervention.

Text image about a woman’s email apology to save her marriage after infidelity.

Text about marriage discussion between Daniel and another person at a party.

Text reveals details about financial struggles and lifestyle changes due to h**h cost of living and job relocation.

Text message revealing personal conflict about holiday plans and family disagreements.

Man in a green shirt looks thoughtful, leaning on a balcony, with trees in the background.

Image credits:Victoria Romulo (not the actual photo)

Text about office gossip regarding Daniel’s divorce and custody issues.

Text message about Daniel’s potential divorce involving cheating revelation.

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