He cheated on me with his sister just before our wedding

Close your eyes and imagine two young and beautiful individuals that are so much in love. Everything looks pink, beautiful and perfect. While they are making plans for a wedding, one of them discovers that the other has been unfaithful. Suddenly, the trust, joy, happiness, dreams and all the beautiful things start disappearing.

That’s a typical illustration of what happened to Annabel’s relationship. She shares her story below;

I met Marvin, a good-looking guy with sexy muscle packs when I went for a job interview. He was one of the interviewers at the company. Unlike other interviewers, he wore a smiling and charming look that made the interviewees feel relaxed. His shinning set of teeth didn’t go unnoticed and covering it was his cute dimples.

While I was still gazing at him, I was awakened to reality when one of the interviewers said, “Can we meet you, Ma’am?”. After introducing myself, I was asked other questions which I answered before my session got over.

While I walked home that day, I prayed to get a call from the company again. “Even if I don’t get the job, I wish to be called for another interview and this time it should be just me and him in the conference room.” I thought to myself.

That evening I saw myself thinking about him. I recalled every word and move he made. While the thoughts flowed, I saw myself smiling like a goat that was being roasted. The company had promised to reach the successful applicants with 48 hours. Three days later, I was yet to get a message from them. I felt so bad because my dream of seeing Marvin again was slowing crashing.

Well, it was 7:30 am the following morning when I got a call.

“Hello, this is Sandra from Paloma Blanca Enterprises Inc. Am I on to Annabel Smith?”

“Yes, this is Annabel,” I responded quickly.

“You have been offered a job and we would be glad to see you today by 9 am.”

I didn’t know when I screamed “yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh” over the phone. I was so happy about the job and most especially for the chance to see Marvin again.

Five months after I started working, I had become close to Marvin because he was my departmental supervisor. Although it was more of a formal relationship, deep inside, I wished I could make things move to a different level.

I was shocked the day he asked for a dinner date. While we were at the restaurant, he told me he liked me and he also asked if I was dating anyone. Of course, I was dating someone. Guess who it was? It was him. We have been dating in my imagination since the first day I saw him. While we chatted, he asked me to be his girlfriend and that was like a dream come true.

After that day, he introduced me to his family. Oh! What a lovely family he has. His mum was so happy to see me. She told me that the last time Marvin introduced a lady to her was about seven years ago. She narrated how he was so much in love with his ex-girlfriend but eventually, she left him for some other guy. When I heard that I felt so sorry for him and wondered if that girl was blind, because if she wasn’t why on earth would she abandon such a cute guy.

THE PROPOSAL

Barely four months into our relationship, he popped the “Will you marry me?” question. Having known him for a while, I felt he was the nicest person I have met. He was a quiet type and I think his total cycle of friends were not more than five. He also wasn’t the type who fucked around with bitches. To me, he was perfect.

We had fixed our wedding to hold in October 2015, so we had like six months to plan for the big day. During this period, I got closer to him and the members of his extended family. Amongst everyone in his family, I noticed that he was very close to Chloe, his cousin.

How did I get to know her? Marvin was always talking about his childhood days with her. Since he didn’t have any sibling, his parents had brought Chloe to their house when she was little. So, they grew up together and were very close.

He mentioned that one of his heartbreaking moments was when he had to travel abroad to school. During his college years, although, he missed his parents, but missed Chloe more. And because of her, he didn’t skip coming home during the holidays.

THE FAMILY REUNION

A week before the wedding, family members had started arriving in Texas just to witness the occasion. As they arrived, I got introduced to them and all of them seemed to like me except one person- Chloe.

I met her on the first day she returned to Texas. We were all invited for dinner at Marvin’s parents’ house. Having heard a lot about her, I had looked forward to meeting her. When she arrived, out of joy, I wanted to give her a hug but I was shocked when she resisted. She gave me a casual response and walked away. During the dinner, while others were busy talking and laughing she acted indifferently. When I and my fiancé arrived at his apartment, I asked him if he knew why she acted that way towards me, he said he would find out.

I had moved into Marvin’s apartment a few weeks to our wedding. While we stayed together I noticed that Chloe was calling him on almost every night. Initially, I wasn’t suspicious since they were relatives. But after that dinner incident, and other encounters I had with her, I decided to find out what exactly was going on.

On one night I spied into his phones and laptops but couldn’t find any evidence. I looked for his chat thread with her but found none. “Does it mean that they weren’t chatting on WhatsApp and Facebook messenger?” I asked myself.

THE AFFAIR DISCOVERY

Two days before the wedding, I was busy with the necessary preparation. Marvin had gone to meet with the photographer that evening and he forgot his phone at home. I didn’t know he left his phone not until it rang and when I checked the caller, it was Chloe. I wanted to drop the phone back on the couch when all of sudden a voice message came in.

“Why are you avoiding me? Did I leave you after I got married? I have loved you all my life and I can’t stand losing you now. Please talk to me. Please call me back as soon as you can.”

Gosh! I couldn’t believe my ears. It was Chloe’s voice message and she was crying. I was so shocked. This wasn’t what I expected. I had felt that she probably didn’t like me for her cousin- maybe she preferred another lady. But I was wrong. She wanted him for herself. To say I was heartbroken would be an understatement.

As I stood there, many thoughts rushed through my mind. Should I call off the wedding? Should I call her back to ask her what she meant? Should I wait for Marvin’s return so I would hear from him? Should I go back to my apartment right away? I was so confused.

ACCEPTING THE BITTER TRUTH

I waited for Marvin’s return and when he got home, I played the voice message and waited for his explanation. Initially, he was shocked. He didn’t even know what to say or maybe where to start from. After a few minutes of speechlessness, he decided to confess it all to me.

He started sleeping with her when he was 13 years old. While they grew up in the same apartment, they discovered that they were attracted to each other. Then suddenly they transformed from being cousins to lovers. So, in the last 15 years, having sex with her was one big addiction he hasn’t been able to overcome.

Normally, the fact that Chloe got married and moved to Washington would have acted as a barrier but guess what? They always looked for a secret way to meet up. He said the last time he slept with her was last month when he went to see the tailor who made his wedding suit.

I couldn’t handle the truth. It made me feel like I was slowly being pierced with a sharp needle. I cried uncontrollably but I knew I didn’t have enough time for tears. My wedding was coming up in two days and I shouldn’t be crying.

Marvin apologized to me. He begged me not to call off the wedding because he had already ended his affair with her. But she wasn’t willing to let go that’s why she was calling and begging him not to leave her. When I asked him if any member of his family knew of his incestuous relationship, he said his mum knew of it. Yes! She had caught them together when they were younger and scolded them. She never knew they retained the habit till adulthood.

Well, I didn’t know I was strong enough to handle that shock and still push through with my wedding. I forgave him because after listening to his confession, I perceived his sincerity. It was then that I understood the reason behind Chloe’s attitude towards me. On discovery, I didn’t even talk to her about it. I only spoke to my mother-in-law who consoled me. She also assured me that my marriage to her son would mark a new beginning and guess what? It was really a new beginning.

How did I get through it all?

I was able to survive his infidelity because of the love I have for him. Meanwhile, during our courtship, he had proven how much he loves me too. I couldn’t let an addiction he got while he was still young and foolish to ruin the future I dreamt to have with him. She was his first love and since he had decided to let go of his relationship with her, I was willing to help him achieve that. I was also willing to forgive and start a new life with him and I think that was the best decision I ever made.

We have been married for over two years now and it has been a wonderful journey. My husband is the best gift life has ever given to me. He over showers me with love and care. We aren’t just happily married couple, we are best of friends who were able to build a healthy communication. So, each time an issue arises, we don’t go to bed until we have sorted it out. What more can I say? It’s not by our strength though, but by the grace of God.