I called my cheating wife's lover while they were together a mixture of anger and bitterness came over me the words came out cold calculated tell her I'm getting a divorce I could hear their breathing on the other end of the line the heavy Silence of someone who doesn't know what to do but the decision had already been made there was no going back she tried tried to call me tried sending messages he tried to justify the unjustifiable but what else could I say what could I hear that would change the fact that in that moment
love had died the nights she arrived late the smiles she no longer offered me the excuses it all made sense now I knew this day would come but I never imagined it would be like this so brutal so definitive the party was at a mutual friend's house she didn't know I was going much less that it would be the last time we would see each other as husband and wife I went in decided the noise of the music the laughter the colorful lights that danced around the room everything was a cruel contrast to the darkness
I felt inside I walked among the people ignoring the conversations the looks I just wanted to get to her even both I saw them before they saw me they were together laughing they seemed unconcerned oblivious to what was about to happen it burned me inside she she was my wife the woman I had promised to share my life with how could she and he a mere spectator an insignificant piece who had no idea what I had prepared as I approached time seemed to slow down I saw them as if they were in slow motion every
gesture every smile and what irritated me most was that she didn't seem guilty the guilt wasn't there as if what they did was something natural without consequences but there would be consequences tell her I'm getting a divorce the sentence echoed in the air my voice firm with no room for doubt I watched her freeze the laughter disappeared from his lips as if it had never existed her eyes widened and then despair what what are you doing here she stuttered her face pale her expression shocked I remained silent watching as she tried to process what was
happening his hand was still on her arm a touch that once might have been casual but now felt guilt-ridden she tried to move away but he remained there confused not knowing how to react wait let me explain it's not what you think her voice broke the words coming out quickly desperate but there was nothing to explain there was no excuse that could fix what was broken what do you do when the world you knew just crumbles before your eyes when the person you trusted most stabs you in the back I didn't want to scream I
didn't want to cry I wanted her to understand what she had done I wanted her to feel the same emptiness that now filled every part of me she kept talking the words running over each other but nothing made sense no more I no longer listened I just watched the fear in your eyes the way she tried to justify the unjustifiable the way he looked at me uncertain not knowing what to say a heavy silence took over the three of us he looked at her as if he expected her to figure it out but she was
lost let me explain she repeated as if there was still something to be said I nodded slowly there were no more explanations there were no more justifications everything that existed now was the end and I wanted her to know that I wanted her to feel every second of this pain there is nothing to explain my voice was low but cutting I already know everything she tried to get closer her eyes shining with tears that wouldn't change anything tears that to to me seemed as fake as the excuses she was trying to formulate please I made
a mistake I can fix this we can fix this her voice faltered and for the first time she seemed to realize the gravity of the situation but it was already too late I had lost nights of sleep thinking about what I had done wrong what was missing in me reliving every moment every gesture trying to find where I had failed but now I knew it wasn't my fault and that more than anything freed me she couldn't stop talking trying to convince me of something that even she didn't believe every word was a desperate attempt to
erase what was already written to change a Destiny she chose herself but what else could she say what else could I hear that would erase the fact that in that moment love had died nothing I had already made my decision and that was the only certainty left as she continued to despair I realized something that What mattered most now wasn't what she said or what she felt What mattered was what I felt and I didn't feel anything anymore The Emptiness had consumed everything she looked at me waiting for an answer a chance but I was
no longer the same man she knew The Man Who Loved Her who would do anything for her he was gone in his place there was someone who knew exactly what he wanted and what I wanted was my freedom when you get to the point where you no longer feel anything there is nothing holding you back nothing that makes you want to continue and I had reached that point the moment when all words lose their meaning and silence becomes the only answer I left the party leaving her behind with her explanations her regrets and her empty
promises she was lost in a world she had created and I I was free but what she didn't know was that this divorce wouldn't just be a separation there would be something more something she hadn't realized yet something that was about to change everything what would she do when she discovered that the world she thought she knew was about to fall apart for real what happens when what you fear most is not the end of your marriage but the end of everything you've built welcome to the channel here we never support any form of cheating
all the stories you hear are fictional but they clearly show how betrayal destroys lives families and Trust get ready because what you are about to hear is an intense and shocking story that will stir your emotions enjoy the narrative and prepare for a dramatic and revealing Journey the clock on the wall said 700 p.m. but time seemed to drag by John was sitting on the the living room couch with a glass of whiskey in his hand and his mind wandering the house which was once a Haven of love and happiness now seemed like just an
empty scene the silence was almost deafening the television was on but he was barely paying attention to the images playing on the screen his mind was Far Away lost in memories of years that seemed to have dissolved like sand between his fingers Melissa his wife had left early that morning as usual she had become increasingly distant over the past few months the warm hugs the quick kisses before work the conversations at the dinner table all of this seemed to belong to a distant past Jon remembered how she used to wait for him at the door
at the end of a long day of work there was something comforting about that routine the familiarity of always having her there but lately Melissa had transformed into someone he barely recognized he still remembered when they met she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen with contagious energy and a likeness of spirit that Enchanted everyone their laughter echoed through the hallways when he took her dancing in the city's bars John used to say she lit up any room she walked into his friends joked that he was lucky to have won her and he
believed it he felt like the luckiest man in the world with her in the beginning marriage was all he ever wanted they built a life together overcoming the challenges that came their way Melissa was his partner in everything they shared dreams plans and Ambitions they discussed having children traveling the world growing old together and for many years it seemed like they were on track to accomplish it all but over time small cracks began to appear nothing drastic at first just subtle changes Melissa started Ed working more staying out late justifying herself with the new position
she had taken on Jon wanted to believe it was just the pressure of work he himself spent long hours at the company trying to expand his business they had always been a strong Duo capable of facing anything together however something was different something he couldn't identify clearly Melissa had a more reserved demeanor less enthusiastic about the things that used to make her smile she no longer talked about her days with the same enthusiasm and when Jon tried to get closer she simply shut down there was no longer that natural intimacy the conversations that flowed effortlessly
now every word felt like a silent battle and the space between them grew harder and harder to ignore that night as he looked into his glass of whiskey John felt a weight in his chest he wanted to believe this was all just a phase Mar carriages went through ups and downs right at least that's what everyone said but deep down he knew something was deeply wrong and the worst of all was the feeling of helplessness of not knowing how to fix what was broken outside the sound of tires on gravel announced Melissa's arrival Jon glanced
at the door waiting for the familiar click of the key she entered the room with quick steps taking off her coat and placing her bag on the sofa there was a brief exchange of glances an automatic emotionless high as if they were just two strangers sharing the same roof how was the day Jon asked trying to sound casual even though the tension between them was palpable tiring Melissa replied without looking directly at him as she walked to the kitchen that brief answer had already become common it was always the same thing Jon wondered if she
even realized how far away she was or maybe she just didn't care anymore it was difficult to know what was going through Melissa's head and this uncertainty was eating him up inside that night he decided not to press any further questions I didn't want to pressure her not at that moment they sat at the table ate dinner in silence as usual the words that should have filled that empty space were replaced by the sound of Cutlery and the creaking of chairs Jon watched Melissa from the corner of his eye trying to find some trace of
the woman he had fallen in love with she was there physically but she seemed to be somewhere else and this invisible absence was what bothered him most after dinner Melissa retired to her room as she always did Jon remained in the room for a while lost in thought he knew he couldn't keep pretending everything was fine but what could he do facing the truth seemed too painful a path he loved Melissa but love seemed to no longer be enough to keep them connected as time passed he began to question his own decisions could it have
been the work the extra hours at the company that kept them away had he overlooked the signs that something wasn't right doubts formed a storm in his mind and he felt helpless in the face of what seemed to be the inevitable distance between them on the other side of the house in the bedroom Melissa looked at the mirror lost in her own thoughts his eyes reflected a mixture of tiredness and uncertainty she knew John was trying knew he still cared but there was a barrier between them that she could no longer cross sometimes Melissa wondered
if it was she who had changed or if it was the world around her that had changed she had loved JN with all her heart and I still felt something for him something deep but over time that love transformed became duded into something different maybe it was the weight of expectations of responsibilities that had Arisen over the years maybe it was work which consumed her more and more or perhaps it was herself a different woman than the one John had known the truth is that when she lay down next to him she often felt a
distance that no words could fill and this silent loneliness made her question her own choices Lissa knew that Jon deserved more but at the same time she felt that she was no longer able to offer what he was hoping for as silence took over the house they both struggled with their own emotions unaware that the fate of their relationship was about to be sealed what would happen next would change their lives forever but that night the only certainty they both shared was doubt about the future and in that doubt in the void between them something
Was preparing to emerge something that neither of them was ready to face the day dawned like any other Jon woke up early as usual but the weight on his chest wasn't the same as before something bothered him deeper something he could no longer ignore Melissa had left before him as she had been doing for the last few weeks leaving only a vague see you later echoing through the house their silent routine was so ingrained that it had become almost unbearable JN decided he couldn't continue with that emptiness that separation no longer made sense and he
was exhausted from wondering where everything had started to fall apart he needed answers he needed to understand what was really happening to his wife the silence between them wasn't just uncomfortable it was unsettling it wasn't just a phase it wasn't just the stress of work there was something more something he still couldn't name but was about to be revealed at work John tried to concentrate on his tasks but every time his cell phone vibrated he found himself wondering if it was Melissa maybe she had noticed the separation maybe she wanted to talk resolve things but
the reality was always the same work messages meeting reminders nothing but an empty routine that no longer met her emotional needs he spent hours staring at his computer screen trying to ignore the growing feeling that something was terribly wrong it was then that he remembered something that had been bothering him for days the detective he had hired to follow Melissa almost impulsively had left a message earlier but Jon hadn't had the courage to listen the phone was still there on the table like a reminder that by pressing that button your life could change forever Jon
knew that hearing that message was taking a step toward a truth he wasn't sure he was ready to face with a heavy heart he pressed the play button the detective firm voice sounded clear without any trace of hesitation sir I have the information you requested I suggest you see the images I am sending as an attachment your wife has been taking off work to meet a man at times in places that hardly leave any doubt about the nature of their relationship the words cut like a sharp blade Jon stopped unable to process everything at once
he knew deep down that something was wrong but the confirmation this concrete pain was something he didn't know how to deal with his hands shook as he opened the attachments clear photos showed Melissa leaving a restaurant laughing and talking intimately with another man there were touches looks a closeness that JN hadn't seen in months she was cheating it was undeniable Jon felt like the ground was opening up beneath his feet what would he do with that information he could feel the blood running fast fter through his veins a mixture of anger and despair Rising within
him however more than that he felt a sense of humiliation for weeks while he worried about the future of their marriage Melissa was already living a parallel life a life where he no longer had a place he left the office abruptly without even explaining on the way home his mind was buzzing with questions and scenarios why had she done that what did the other man have that he didn't have the memories of the good times of the promises they made to each other flashed through Jon's mind like flashes From A Distant movie something that now
seemed almost like a lie he had dedicated himself so much to that marriage and now all of this was reduced to fragments back in the empty house Jon sat at the kitchen table staring into space the sound of the clock echoing through the room the anger turned into coldness he knew he needed to take action but a part of him was still hesitant maybe confront her directly maybe wait for her to say something doubts nod at his reasoning but one thing was clear he needed to see her he needed to look into her eyes and
confirm if what he felt was true that night Melissa didn't come home at the usual time Jon knew where she was the photos the repeated encounters he already knew the pattern and then almost without realizing it she picked up the phone and called her lover there was a morbid curiosity in his mind a need to know what they did when he wasn't around hello the male voice sounded surprised Jon remained silent for a moment but then his words came out firm unshakable tell her I'm getting a divorce there was a long silence on the other
side he could imagine the shock on their faces Melissa of of course was pale unresponsive there was no turning back the Betrayal was exposed the world they had built together the plans the dreams all of it now seemed like a house of cards about to collapse John hung up the phone without waiting for answers he knew Melissa would try to call back try to explain herself but he didn't want to hear it not at that moment explanations wouldn't change the fact that she had made her choice the pain in his chest was overwhelming but at
the same time a strange feeling of relief was beginning to emerge he was no longer trapped in that web of uncertainty the Betrayal had been revealed and now all that was left was to deal with the consequences but there was something Melissa still didn't know something Jon had also prepared something that wasn't just limited to divorce Jon was sitting on the couch his mind still racing after the call he had made to Melissa's lover silence dominated the house but he knew it would soon be interrupted Melissa was coming back probably desperate trying to find a
way to fix what was already broken he knew that the Betrayal had been revealed but there was still something bigger to be resolved something she didn't know something that would make that moment seemed small compared to what was to come the sound of the door opening echoed through the house and and soon Melissa's footsteps approached she entered the room her face pale her eyes wide with Terror his breathing was short and his expression was a mixture of Despair and fear Jon sat motionless staring at her she hesitated for a moment at the entrance seeming unsure
whether to move closer or keep her distance John please her voice was weak almost pleading listen to me I can expl L he didn't respond his gaze was cold distant Melissa took a few steps forward holding her hands nervously trying to find words that could alleviate the situation I I made a mistake she began her voice shaking I don't know where to start but you need to understand I I was lost we were moving away and I I didn't know what to do please listen to me tears began to stream down her face but Jon
remained unshakable she continued to speak the words coming out in a rush but he was no longer listening the apologies were like a distant noise unable to penetrate the wall he had built around himself he had spent so long blaming himself looking for where he had failed but now it all seemed too clear she had made her choice and there was no going back this is isn't about us Melissa Jon's voice finally broke the silence dry and hard as a blade this is about you about your decisions she stopped her pleading look freezing for a
moment as if her words had hid an insurmountable wall I know I hurt you but I love you I still love you her voice Rose in desperation we can solve this John we can fix everything fix what Jon stood up abruptly the anger he had been trying to control finally bubbling to the surface you betrayed me Melissa it wasn't a mistake it was a choice a choice you made over and over while I was here trying to save something you had already destroyed no she screamed almost in Panic it's not like that I was confused
but I want to be with you I made a mistake but that doesn't mean I don't love you Jon stared at her his heart hammering in his chest part of him wanted to believe wanted to hold on to the idea that this was in fact a mistake that could be forgiven but another part the rational part knew that nothing would ever be the same and even worse he knew that Melissa still had no idea what was really at stake she still hadn't understood the depth of the Abyss she was about to fall into do you
think love justifies all this his voice sounded more controlled but still filled with bitterness do you think we can just erase what happened and go back to the way we were before Melissa looked at him tears rolling down her face she was visibly shaken her breathing heavy her body shaking with emotion and then John knew it was time it was time to show her that betrayal was just the surface of something much deeper he took a step forward approaching her the room was filled with almost unbearable tension the air thick with the weight of unspoken
words Jon took his phone out of his pocket and with a deliberate gesture threw it onto the coffee table Melissa looked at the device confused what is that she asked her voice breaking Jon kept his gaze fixed on her without blinking that Melissa is the evidence all the photos the meetings everything I knew what you were doing I hired someone to follow you his voice was controlled but each word seemed to stick into Melissa Like a Knife she took a step back as if the impact of the Revelation had hit her physically John she began
her voice weak but he interrupted her I knew everything I saw the photos I know where you were he took a deep breath trying to remain calm but the pain in his voice was clear the Betrayal the lie you built it all and now you're here wanting to explain yourself as if that would change anything Melissa covered her face with her hands muffled sobs filling the air she seemed unable to process what was happening to understand that the game was over but there was more Jon moved even closer his eyes fixed on her cold but
determined but that's not all he said with a calm that was more frightening than any scream I made my decisions too Melissa and I want you to know that it won't just be a divorce she took her hands off her face still confused trying to understand the extent of his words what do you mean her voice was almost a whisper Jon took a step towards the table picked up an envelope and opened it taking out a series of documents he tossed them onto the table the crunch of the paper echoing through the room I moved
all of our money to a separate account an account of my own he said his voice icy you won't have anything Melissa I made sure of that she blinked in Surprise and took a few seconds to process what he had just said what she asked her voice wavering John no you can't his expression of disbelief quickly gave way to despair you can't do this to me you can't just leave me with nothing Jon crossed his arms watching as Melissa collapsed before him I can and I did he replied coldly you destroyed our marriage and now
you will pay the price for it no Melissa threw herself towards him desperate please don't do that I I need you I the words became more frantic but Jon didn't move unshakable in his decision it's too late for regrets Melissa he said without emotion you made your choices now I'm making mine the impact of those words seemed to crush any hope Melissa still had she collapsed to the floor crying completely lost The Confident Woman Jon once loved was now reduced to a pile of regret and despair but as painful as the moment was he knew
that this was the only way to end that phase of his life Jon walked away leaving Melissa there on the living room floor he no longer felt the anger that consumed him hours before just a feeling of completion a feeling of Freedom he knew there was still a lot to resolve the divorce the financial details but at that moment he had something Melissa would never expect control Melissa's cries echoed through the room as Jon standing watched her in complete silence he had said everything he needed to say made the decisions he had been putting off
for so long the shock on her face the despair when she realized that there was nothing left to be saved was a bitter confirmation that the path he had chosen was the only one Poss possible but contrary to what I expected the feeling of Victory didn't come Jon felt an uneasiness wash over him as he looked at the woman who had once been the center of his world now reduced to a fragile figure sitting on the floor begging for something that no longer existed he tried to hold on to the anger that had driven him
here but the heat of that emotion seemed to be slowly dissipating giving way to emptiness what came after complete destruction how was the rubble with Melissa still sobbing struggled to speak her voice was broken choked with anguish but she continued to try I I don't know what to say he murmured with his eyes swollen and his face stained with tears I did everything wrong I know that but don't leave me like this John I I can't be without you not like this she desperately sought some kind of answer from him something that could give her
a modum of Hope but Jon remained motionless his hands crossed in front of him in complete silence the sound of her crying made the atmosphere heavy as if the air itself was thick with the pain that had settled between them as he watched her a part of Jon wondered at what moment everything truly fell apart not when he discovered the Betrayal not when he hired the detective perhaps much earlier when he was still trying to find Solutions but Melissa had already given up silently without him noticing that question now throbbed in his mind but the
answer seemed unreachable what do you want me to do Melissa he finally spoke his voice tired without the weight of anger that had driven it before there is no turning back there's nothing more I can do for us she raised her head her eyes full of pleading and shook her head in denial no it can't be like that you you said you loved me you said we would get through anything remember her voice Rose in desperation we can try I know I messed up but we can try again give me a chance Jon looked at
her for a few seconds as if looking for some remnant of who she was before all that but the truth is he no longer knew who Melissa was that woman before him broken and begging for something that couldn't be given was no longer the same and he certainly wasn't either I said I loved you Melissa he said feeling the weight of those words but love is not enough to fix this not after all she couldn't accept it the idea of losing everything tormented her her body trembled and she shakily got up from the ground walking
towards him as if the simple Act of getting closer could first what had been done John please don't leave me like this I know I made a mistake but she looked at him trying to hold his hand but he took a step back avoiding contact I can't do this without you not like this he watched her in silence seeing the desperation in her eyes Jon wanted to believe there was something he could say to calm the storm but there wasn't he had spent so long in silence trying to be strong trying to find ways to
save the marriage but at that moment he knew there was nothing left to save I'm lost too Melissa Jon admitted his voice low full of tiredness I thought somehow if I took control if I confronted you it would give me some peace but the truth is I don't know what to do from now on what's left isn't enough for both of us silence took over the room again again as Melissa still panting stared at Jon the penny finally seemed to be dropping there was no undoing what was done the promises the plans everything they had
built together over the years were now nothing more than ruins she felt the ground open beneath her feet as if she were falling into an abyss she didn't know how to get out of and now she asked almost like a whisper what happens now John took a deep breath looking at her with a mixture of sadness and resignation he didn't have all the answers but he knew that for him there was no turning back all that was left was to move on as best as he could now we both move on with our lives separately
he said firmly there is no other choice meissa closed her eyes the tears falling again but this time there were no more words just the sound of their heavy breathing and the emptiness that surrounded them they had reached a point of no return and as much as it hurt they both knew that was the only possible conclusion for a moment the room was silent just her heavy breathing Jon's restlessness and the sound of the wind outside the world seemed to have slowed down Jon looked down at the table at the papers he had shown her
evidence of treason the evidence that had been necessary for him to finally see the truth but now those tests seem to have a different weight they not only revealed betrayal but symbolized the end of something much bigger and at the same time something smaller the Betrayal however devastating it was was not the only reason for the end it was just the last drop in a cup that had been overflowing for a long time I didn't want it to be like this Melissa murmured looking at the floor I never wanted it to end like this Jon
watched her he believed her there was no doubt that on some level she didn't want things to end this way but the point was that the choices they had made over the years the mistakes the silences the small daily betrayals all of this had led to that moment and as much as they both wanted to go back there was no longer a way to do so finally he took a deep breath and with an almost imp perceptible nod turned around walking towards the door he knew that if he stayed here the temptation to try to
fix something irreparable might be too strong and he could no longer afford to continue in a cycle that destroyed him with his hand on the door knob he turned one last time to Melissa she was still standing still tears falling silently there was nothing more to say words no longer had power and so he left the cold night wind enveloped him as he left the house but unlike other times he didn't feel oppressed by it it was as if for the first time in a long time he could truly breathe night had completely Fallen when
Jon left the house leaving Melissa behind in her own despair the cold wind that passed through him seemed to slowly clear the weight he carried in his chest that was the end of a long journey a journey marked by pain betay Trail and silence that now found an end Jon drove through the city without a defined Direction just letting his thoughts flow he knew the worst was over but he also knew that true healing was still far away Melissa's betrayal had destroyed something inside him something that wouldn't be easy to rebuild but there was indeed
a feeling of Freedom that he hadn't felt in a long time for the first time in months maybe even years he wasn't trapped in the constant anguish of trying to save a marriage that was already doomed he parked the car in a random place looking at the emptiness in front of him the future seemed uncertain but he also knew that this time it would be a future built by his own choices there would no longer be the weight of Doubt or distrust all that was left now was to move forward even if that meant walking
a path alone for a while while JN reflected Melissa remained alone in the house the silence which had once seemed like an invisible barrier between the two was now an overwhelming presence the tears continued to fall But as time passed they began to lose their intensity desperation gave way to a deep feeling of emptiness she knew JN wouldn't come back she knew he wouldn't forgive her and that things would never be the same as before and deep down Melissa couldn't blame him she slowly got up from the floor feeling the weight of the choices she
had made the promises he broke the lies he told and the irreparable Damage he caused everything hit her with a force she had never imagined for the first time perhaps she truly understood the impact of her actions and in that realization there was a pain that she knew she would carry for the rest of her life looking at the documents JN had left on the table Melissa clearly saw what was coming divorce the end of everything but what terrified her most was the idea of having to start over alone without the stability that Jon had
always offered everything she knew was falling apart and the reality of having lost not only her husband but also the security he provided left her on the verge of panic with shaking hands she tried to organize her thoughts but nothing seemed to make sense the Betrayal that seemed at the time a momentary escape from his dissatisfaction now revealed itself as the beginning of the end and now what was left she knew Jon had taken everything from her and legally there was nothing she could do to dispute it the prospect of having to face the world
alone without money without the comfort her marriage had provided was too frightening to accept on the other side of town Jon stopped in front of a small bar it was a simple discret place where he knew he could disappear for a few hours he went in ordered a drink and sat at the back away from prying eyes as he held the glass in his hands he thought about everything that had happened he knew that however much relief was present the future would bring new challenges rebuilding your life without Melissa dealing with loneliness relearning to trust
someone but at that moment he was at peace with the decision he had made her betrayal had not only destroyed their marriage but also the person was by her side now he had a chance to find himself again back at home Melissa did the only thing that seemed to make sense she picked up the phone and tried to call her lover maybe in some way he could be your support Point your Refuge but to his surprise the link went straight to voicemail again she tried but the answer was the same it was as if the
ground was opening up once again beneath his feet her lover the person she had risked everything with was also not there when she needed him most the hours dragged by and Melissa realized with painful Clarity that she was truly alone the man she had cheated on Jon with was not a solution Just an Illusion and now with her husband out of her life and her lover gone she found herself facing emptiness the weight of her actions felt greater than anything she could carry alone that same night John finished his drink and left the bar he
knew the road ahead would be long but for the first time in a long time he felt like he was in control of his own life he had the power to decide what came next and that in itself was a huge step Melissa on the other hand was still in the house sitting alone on the couch staring into space the future she had imagined had crumbled before her eyes and now without John without her lover and without the comfort of before all that was left was regret a regret that she knew would follow her forever
the end came silently but devastatingly Jon went on his way free to rebuild his life while Melissa was left stuck with the consequences of her own choices she had lost everything and now she would have to face what she feared most the reality that sometimes the price of betrayal is greater than anyone can pay pay and you what did you think of this story leave your comment we want to know your opinion and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more impactful stories like this here we never support any form of cheating as we
believe that truth and loyalty are fundamental in any relationship