When OP’s wife realized he was home, she rushed to check on him. He lied, saying he had come back for his water bottle, choosing to deal with his emotions alone.
After thinking deeply, he decided to make things easier for her. To prevent anyone from blaming her for leaving him, he planned to make himself the villain by pretending he was having an affair. He believed this would give her the freedom and happiness he thought he couldn’t provide.
However, people online urged him not to act too quickly. They explained that his wife might have simply been venting her frustrations to her friend and that such moments don’t always reflect someone’s true feelings.
One commenter shared that their mother sometimes complained about their terminally ill father out of frustration, but she still loved him deeply. Many people vent about loved ones without truly wanting them gone.
Despite the advice, OP still believed his plan would free his wife from guilt and judgment. Though it would hurt her, he felt it was the only way to let her go.
“She’ll be free from guilt… free from me,” he said painfully.