Relationships are all about communication but what happens when one half of the relationship starts acting irrationally?
One distressed woman took to social media to ask for advice following a major falling out with her husband - who has thrown her out of their family home.
The incident began when the wife, who works in research, received a late-night drunken email from her colleague who professed his love for her.
The 32-year-old wrote: “My colleague confessed to me that he is, and has been, infatuated or in love with me for pretty much the duration. It took place via a long email that was written after an evening of drinking.
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“This was totally unexpected - in retrospect, there may have been some signs, but nothing that wouldn't just as easily be accounted for by a considerate personality.”
The woman has been working closely with her colleague on a project for two years, and it is expected to continue to 2023, so she wanted to tread carefully.
Wanting advice on how to reject him, the woman showed her husband the email - but this backfired.
The woman wrote on Reddit: “I was again surprised at my husband's reaction - he seemed offended, to think I must have invited my colleague's affections, and that I should immediately quit my job.
"As in, put in notice tomorrow. I was so taken aback my immediate reaction was to laugh/snort at this suggestion, which was probably a mistake.”
Things took a turn for the worst and the couple are still completely at odds almost a week later.
“My husband has been alternating between irate and the silent treatment and suggested several times that I should move out of the house to be with my new spouse.
“I swung by the house on my lunch break and found the locks changed and my luggage on the patio. I have been blocked on his work number and cell.”
The wife legally owns the house after inheriting it from her late father - but her husband still says she's only welcome back after quitting her job.
Taking to the Am I the A***hole community for advice, the devastated woman was flooded with supportive comments.
One said: “He changed the locks on a house you own? Call a lawyer and the police to get back in and have him move out immediately.
"Protect your home and other financial assets. Don’t consider taking him back unless he gets therapy and sincerely apologises for his insane, insulting tantrum."
Many commenters suggested the disagreement is a watershed moment.
"This is abuse. He locked you out of a home that YOU OWN. He’s trying to force you to quit your job. He’s giving you the silent treatment," wrote another.
"He’s blaming you for his bad actions by saying it caused ‘anxiety’ and he ‘buckled under the pressure’. These are excuses. This will not be fixed by an adult conversation. Leave."
