AITA for leaving my husband after discovering he was secretly in love with my aunt?

I (34F) have been married to my husband, Jared (37M), for ten years. We met at university, connected over shared interests in photography and travel, and got married three years later. We have two children—Sophie (7) and Ethan (5). For most of our marriage, everything seemed stable. Jared was attentive, loving, and always seemed committed to our family.

My aunt, Margaret (52F), has been a close part of our family. She helped raise me after my parents were busy with work, and I always trusted her guidance. She was kind, loving, and someone I considered a second mother. Jared had always been polite and affectionate toward her, which I thought was normal.

Over the past year, I noticed Jared behaving strangely. He would take longer “business trips,” often coinciding with times when my aunt was visiting. He became secretive with his phone, taking calls in private and deleting messages. I began to notice subtle changes in the way he talked about my aunt—frequent compliments, unusual fondness, and lingering smiles when she visited.

One afternoon, I came home unexpectedly from work and saw Jared and Margaret in the backyard. At first glance, it seemed innocent—they were talking quietly—but then I noticed the intimacy in his gaze and the casual touch on her arm. My stomach sank.

Over the next few weeks, I discreetly checked for evidence. I discovered messages between them, filled with flirtation, intimate jokes, and hidden plans to meet privately. They had been carrying on a secret emotional and physical connection behind my back. My own husband and my aunt—the two people I trusted most—had been deceiving me for months.

I confronted Jared. At first, he denied everything, claiming I was “overreacting” and misreading situations. But when I showed him the messages, he admitted to the affair. He said it started as emotional support, but feelings grew, and it escalated into something more.

I confronted Margaret as well. She admitted she had feelings for Jared but tried to justify it by claiming he was “unhappy” at home. She didn’t seem to fully understand the magnitude of her betrayal. The combination of deceit from both my husband and my aunt left me feeling humiliated, heartbroken, and utterly betrayed.

The emotional toll was overwhelming. I couldn’t sleep, eat, or concentrate. Every memory of Jared—the trips, birthdays, quiet nights at home—felt like a lie. I realized I could no longer trust him, and I couldn’t stay in a marriage with someone who had deceived me so thoroughly.

After weeks of reflection, talking to friends, and consulting family, I decided I had no choice but to leave. I asked Jared to move out and filed for divorce. I also cut off contact with Margaret to protect my emotional well-being. Some friends told me I should forgive him for the sake of the children; others told me I did the right thing because betrayal of this level cannot be overlooked.

Now, months later, I am slowly rebuilding my life with Sophie and Ethan, focusing on healing, work, and my children’s well-being. I am learning to trust myself again and rediscover happiness without living under the shadow of betrayal.

So, AITA for leaving my husband after discovering he was secretly in love with my aunt?