AITA for leaving my husband after I found out he was secretly meeting another woman under the guise of “business meetings”?

I (30F) have been married to my husband, Eric (33M), for six years. We met through mutual friends, fell in love quickly, and married after two years of dating. Our marriage seemed strong—at least on the surface. We have a 4-year-old son, Liam, and a small home we both love. Eric works in marketing, and I work from home running an online consulting business.

About a year ago, I began noticing changes. Eric’s work schedule became unpredictable. He’d leave early for “business meetings” and come home late, sometimes claiming he had to meet clients at lunch or stay late to finish projects. I trusted him completely, so I didn’t think much of it—until little things started adding up.

He became secretive about his phone, leaving it in another room or locking it. He avoided questions about meetings, often saying, “It’s work stuff; you wouldn’t understand.” At first, I brushed it off, thinking maybe work stress was affecting him. But then came the strange texts. They weren’t from clients—they were from a number saved under a generic name, “Business Contact.”

One evening, I decided to check his phone while he was in the shower. I found months of conversations between him and a woman named Vanessa (31F). They were flirty at first, talking about “fun” lunches and shared jokes, but soon became more personal. The texts included messages like “I can’t stop thinking about you” and “Can’t wait to see you tonight.” I felt my stomach drop.

I confronted him immediately. Eric tried to deny it, saying I was “overreacting” and that it was just friendly messaging with a client. But I showed him the messages, screenshots, and timestamps. His expression changed—he admitted that he had been seeing Vanessa behind my back for months, meeting her at restaurants and hotels while claiming it was work-related.

I was devastated. The man I trusted, who shared a home and a child with me, had been lying for months. It wasn’t just physical—the emotional connection he shared with her made it even worse. He tried to explain it away, claiming it “just happened” and that he didn’t know how to stop. He begged me to forgive him, promising it would never happen again.

I also confronted Vanessa after finding out her identity. She was unapologetic at first, claiming that Eric was in love with her and that she couldn’t help her feelings. I was furious. She had knowingly been a part of betraying our family.

The days after the revelation were unbearable. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, and I felt completely alone in my own home. Every time Eric came near, I was reminded of the betrayal. I tried couples counseling, but I couldn’t get past the fact that my trust had been completely shattered.

After weeks of therapy and reflection, I realized I couldn’t stay with him. I told Eric I wanted a divorce. He begged me to reconsider, promising to cut off all contact with Vanessa and prove his commitment to me. But I couldn’t take the risk of rebuilding a marriage on a foundation of lies.

Now, friends and family are divided. Some say I did the right thing, that trust once broken is nearly impossible to repair. Others say I should have worked through it for the sake of our son, believing children benefit from a two-parent household. But I feel like staying would mean living with constant betrayal and doubt, which isn’t healthy for me—or him.

So, AITA for leaving my husband after I found out he was secretly meeting another woman under the guise of “business meetings”?