A 48-year-old man who began an affair with a younger colleague after being passed over for promotion now faces a dilemma: his mistress is pregnant and wants him to leave his wife of 18 years. The reader, who has two children under ten, says he never intended for things to go this far and feels sick at the thought of leaving his family.
The man explains that his confidence was knocked when he was overlooked for a promotion, and a younger female colleague suggested going for a drink to cheer him up. He found her company uplifting and they soon began a passionate affair. She is in her early thirties and works from home part-time, but they would meet regularly on her office days.
Now that she is pregnant, she wants him to leave his wife. The reader says he never meant for the situation to escalate and is struggling with the reality of the consequences. He sought advice from Metro's sex columnist, Laura Collins.
Collins advises him to end the affair immediately and tell his wife before she finds out from someone else. She notes that if the mistress decides to keep the baby, he will be financially responsible. Collins suggests that the wife may not want to break up the family but recommends counselling to navigate the complex situation. She also warns against rushing into a full-time relationship with the lover.
