20 Questions

Questions to Ask Your Husband's Mistress

Sensitive questions for difficult conversations about infidelity, designed to seek understanding, closure, and healing while maintaining dignity and emotional safety.

1

How long has this been going on?

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Why this works

Establishes the timeline and scope of the relationship, providing context for understanding the situation.

2

Did you know he was married when this started?

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Why this works

Determines their awareness of the situation and their level of responsibility in the affair.

3

What did he tell you about his marriage?

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Why this works

Reveals what information they had about your relationship and any false narratives they may have been given.

4

How did you two meet?

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Why this works

Understands the circumstances that led to the affair and provides context for how it developed.

5

What did he say about me?

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Why this works

Reveals how your husband portrayed you and your marriage to them, which may provide insight into his perspective.

6

Did he ever mention wanting to leave me?

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Why this works

Determines if there were discussions about ending the marriage and the level of commitment to the affair.

7

How often did you see each other?

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Why this works

Establishes the frequency and intensity of the relationship to understand its significance.

8

Where did you meet?

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Why this works

Provides details about the logistics of the affair and helps understand the practical aspects.

9

Did he give you any gifts or money?

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Why this works

Reveals the financial aspects of the affair and any resources that were diverted from the marriage.

10

What did you think about his character?

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Why this works

Gets their perspective on your husband's behavior and may reveal patterns or red flags they noticed.

11

Did you ever feel guilty about the situation?

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Why this works

Understands their emotional response to the affair and their level of moral awareness.

12

What did you think would happen long-term?

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Why this works

Reveals their expectations and whether they saw this as temporary or permanent.

13

Did he ever talk about our children?

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Why this works

Determines if your children were discussed and how they factored into the affair.

14

What did you think about his relationship with me?

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Why this works

Gets their perspective on your marriage from the outside, which may provide different insights.

15

Did you ever try to end it?

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Why this works

Reveals if there were attempts to stop the affair and what obstacles prevented that.

16

What did you think when you found out I knew?

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Why this works

Understands their reaction to discovery and their thoughts about the consequences.

17

Do you have any advice for me?

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Why this works

May provide insights from their perspective about your husband or the situation, though this should be taken with caution.

18

What would you do if you were in my position?

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Why this works

Gets their perspective on how they would handle the situation, which may reveal their understanding of the impact.

19

Is there anything else I should know?

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Why this works

Gives them an opportunity to share any additional information that might be relevant to your understanding.

20

Do you plan to continue any relationship with him?

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Why this works

Determines their intentions going forward and helps you understand if the affair is truly over.

Best Practices for Difficult Conversations About Infidelity

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Prioritize Your Emotional Safety

Only engage in this conversation if you feel emotionally prepared and have support systems in place. Your wellbeing comes first.

Choose the Right Setting

Meet in a neutral, public place where you feel safe and can leave if needed. Consider bringing a trusted friend or counselor.

Set Clear Boundaries

Decide beforehand what information you need and what you don't want to know. Stick to your boundaries during the conversation.

Question Sequences

The Information Gathering Sequence

1
How long has this been going on?
2
Did you know he was married when this started?
3
What did he tell you about his marriage?
4
How did you two meet?

The Understanding Sequence

1
What did he say about me?
2
What did you think about his character?
3
Did he ever talk about our children?
4
What did you think would happen long-term?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Blame Yourself

The affair is not your fault. Avoid questions that seek to understand what you did wrong - the responsibility lies with your husband.

Don't Seek Revenge

Focus on understanding and healing rather than getting back at anyone. Revenge rarely leads to the closure you're seeking.

Don't Make Major Decisions Immediately

Wait before making major life decisions. Give yourself time to process the information and your emotions.

Conversation Templates

The Information Seeker

1
Step 1: Start with: "I need to understand what happened. How long has this been going on?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "Did you know he was married when this started?"
3
Step 3: Clarify with: "What did he tell you about his marriage?"

The Closure Seeker

1
Step 1: Begin with: "I'm trying to understand what happened. Can you tell me how you two met?"
2
Step 2: Explore with: "What did he say about me?"
3
Step 3: Conclude with: "Do you plan to continue any relationship with him?"

Further Reading

"After the Affair" by Janis Abrahms Spring
"Not Just Friends" by Shirley Glass
"The State of Affairs" by Esther Perel

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