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WE ALL FELT CHERYL COLE’S PAIN WHEN HER HUSBAND ASHLEY WAS ACCUSED OF CHEATING ON HER. SO SHOULD A WOMAN GIVE AN UNFAITHFUL PARTNER A SECOND CHANCE – OR CUT AND RUN?

 

YES...

Says Emma Bartley, 26, from Kent. She discovered her partner Alex*, 29, had been unfaithful in 2002 in the early stages of their relationship

By the time I’d been with Alex for three months, I knew I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life.

He was clever, he made everyone laugh, and I couldn’t believe he was interested in me.

Normally talkative, I was tongue-tied around him.

But one weekend, about four months into our relationship his ex-girlfriend came to stay with him while I was away.

I didn’t ask him about it afterwards, despite my suspicions.

I suppose I was too scared of losing him by appearing to be too possessive.

A year later though I plucked up the courage to ask him if he’d slept with her.

“Of course I did,” he replied.

He told me that at the time we hadn’t been seeing each other for long and he hadn’t expected our relationship to last.

His admission knocked me for six. I was stunned he could be so blunt.

Although I felt absolutely devastated, I loved him and wanted to try to salvage our relationship.

It had happened such a long time ago it had seemed futile to bring it all up again and make a big deal out of it.

Nearly six years later, we’re still a couple and we’re now living together.

We never talk about what happened.

For ages, I’d check Alex’s phone to see if there were any messages from women.

I confronted him a few times, but he denied doing anything wrong.

Despite everything, I don’t regret forgiving Alex.

When someone is so important to you, why should you lose them just to save face?

I don’t think of myself as a pushover – I’ve just fallen in love with someone who has flaws.

Sometimes it’s hard to get over things, but I love Alex enough to try.

And I think, slowly, I’m succeeding.

 

Should a woman whose partner’s been unfaithful give him a second chance – or cut and run? Does being in the public eye make it harder for Cheryl and Ashley? Do you think if you take back a love cheat he’ll cheat again?

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CLICK HERE TO READ LOUISE'S 'NO' ARGUMENT

Credits

Photography: Focus Pictures, Jamie Hughes, Mercury Press Agency
*Names have been changed