9 people share the stories of how they cheated — and they're juicier than any TV drama

scandal fitz olivia

Affairs can look glamorous on shows like "Scandal," but they can be even more dramatic IRL.
ABC

1. She was (accidentally) the other woman

It's possible to unintentionally be the other woman.
20th Century Fox

"I was the mistress in a marriage. The guy was an old boyfriend from high school, we dated off and on. When we were off he would date this girl Kelly, and when we broke up for the final time he went and married her. Almost a year after we broke up, I was back in town on summer break from college and ran into him at my summer job.

"He gave me this sob story about how Kelly wanted a divorce and was taking his kid from him. I (stupidly) believed him, we exchanged numbers, started talking daily. He invited me over to 'his' apartment, showed me his divorce paperwork, and ultimately things got sexual for a couple weeks.

"One day I swung by to pick up a pair of earrings I'd forgotten the day before. His best friend from high school answered the door. I asked if Guy was around, best friend said no why would he? Turned out Guy was actually house-sitting for best friend, it wasn't his apartment. Best friend also informed me that Guy and his wife were in the process of buying a house, their marriage was fine.

"I was livid and disgusted. I went to work the following day, and in walks Kelly. I ask her what she's doing later that night and if she's available to talk. We meet up after I get off and I lay it all out for her. She teared up a bit, but ultimately she was pissed. She gives me their address and tells me to show up there unannounced the next day.

"I do and Guy is white as a sheet trying to get me to leave. Kelly shows up and they end up in a screaming match. So Guy ended up getting divorced and settled with a chunk of child support because his wife informed the right people about Guy's pot plants. None of us talk anymore. When I think about it, I have to shower at least twice." — Reddit user PeanutPhotography

2. He hooked up with an old coworker … then got a picture of a sonogram

A picture of a sonogram isn't what most people want to receive after an illicit hookup.
Africa Studios/Shutterstock

"Was in a five-year relationship with my girlfriend at the time. I started to talk to an old coworker from my teens that I always had a thing for, but she lived a couple states away so I knew nothing would come of it. Well, it turns out that she still had family in my area and regularly visited.

"We made plans to get some dinner and catch up, for old times' sake. It ended in both of us getting drunk, renting a hotel room and having some fun. This happened a few times over the next several months until I get a text from her … it's a picture of a sonogram of our child.

"I was going to come clean to my girlfriend because I never had a father growing up and I didn't want to put my child through that. However, she ending up losing it a month or so into the pregnancy and we stopped talking.

"It left me feeling very guilty and anxiety stricken. 0/10 would not do again." — Reddit user RedBombX

3. He met someone who made him believe in love at first sight

When you know, you know.
20th Century Fox

"I was young — 19. I had been with a girl for a year when my parents decided I needed to pay rent, so I found a roommate and got an apartment. Day one I go to the office to turn in my walk through paperwork. The girl in the office made my heart skip. She made me a believer in the idea of love at first sight.

"She moved in across from my apartment a couple weeks later and we started to hang out. One night we slept together. The next day I broke up with my girlfriend. Me and new girl talked and we both wanted to be together.

"She moved in with me a month later. That was 17 years ago. She's currently asleep upstairs next to our daughter." — Reddit user optimaloutcome

4. They fell for someone who was unavailable

It's never a good idea to get involved with someone who won't be there for you.
AMC

"I once began a relationship with a guy from work who was separated from his wife. Then she found out and contacted me. Turns out he had done this before, many many times and they were not separated or considering divorce as they are Muslim. They weren't close emotionally or sleeping in the same bed but they were very much officially together. I felt f---ing awful, I'd fallen so hard for this guy. His wife was absolutely amazing, a truly wonderful person. I'm a piece of s--- for what I did to her. They're still together as far as I know." — Reddit user mixxvixen

5. They both cheated out of spite — then decided to open up the relationship

Sometimes, an open relationship is exactly what works for people.
Annapurna Pictures

"He cheated on me, things weren't going great. I decided to go cheat as well. It took no time before we opened the relationship and things have been better in terms of that since." — Now-deactivated Reddit user

6. He started hooking up with his girlfriend's close friend

Affairs sometimes with the people who are closest to your SO.
Showtime.

"I feel like I have no excuses to offer for the reason I cheated on my girlfriend. I was 18 at the time and had been with my girlfriend for three months, and during that time I became close to one of her other friends. Soon I found myself happier with her friend and I started wanting to spend more time with her than with my girlfriend.

"The reason why I cheated instead of breaking up with my girlfriend was because they were friends for a long time and I didn't want to be the reason as to why their friendship ended. In addition to this, I didn't want her to look like a 'slut' who just moves in on her friend's boyfriend. Overall it seemed like a tricky situation for both of us but we were young and didn't know how to navigate the situation properly." — Reddit user CaptainLeviA

7. They had a work flirtation that turned into something more

Even if something feels good at the time, it might not be worth it later.
ABC

"I was the other guy in a two-plus year-long affair. She was married and still is. No happy ending for me at least.

"Former work associates, we'd hung out a few times and just watched TV/movies, smoked, drank but nothing happened for a long time. I had an emotional and physical attraction to her, and the feeling was mutual. But we never crossed a line.

"One time at a party she got too drunk and since I was her ride, we both stayed there, in a spare bed together. Honestly, I wanted the intimacy of being close to somebody, and I wanted to make sure she didn't get sick in her sleep. I didn't do anything, and neither did she. Nothing happened that night.

"We hung out a week or so later, and she said she had liked my beard rubbing against her, and then asked me to do it again. This progressed over days to more intimately cuddling, grinding, groping and finally I kissed her. It was awesome.

"Making out progressed to oral then she really wanted to have sex one night. I declined at first (really) but we had sex. Then again, and again.

"She explained sometime after this that at the beginning she was feeling distant from her husband, he was pushing her to have kids and, according to her, being a d---. I wasn't that guy.

"It ended fairly recently because she was 'trying to distance herself from me,' and kept saying that, to the point I just said f--- it and gave up. It ended up in a minor argument and she asked if I wanted to break up, I said I wasn't certain, so she dumped me instead." — Reddit user other_guy123

8. They had an affair with someone from the office

Office affairs never end well.
Showtime/Mark Schafer

"I was 40, had been married 10-plus years and had a couple of kids. Our marriage had turned into something that made me really unhappy. We barely had sex and our connection seemed completely gone. We fought a lot and it was always me who needed to apologize and compromise.

"I met a woman 15 years younger at the office. We started flirting and it turned into an intense emotional affair that lasted about a month. I fell deeply in love with her and decided I should really divorce my wife, since I was so unhappy. I told my wife about the other woman and that I wanted to divorce.

"My wife begged me to try and work it out, go into couple's counseling, and started having sex with me every day. I stayed and agreed to take three months to see if we could work it out. It was incredibly hard but we eventually did feel like we overcame it and we're still together." — Reddit user giantemotionalmess

9. They saw an old flame at a concert and knew it was meant to be

Sometimes, things are just meant to be.
Columbia Pictures

"A few years ago, I met this amazing guy. Let's call him Guy A. Fell very much in love with him, he was so kind and sweet. We kissed a few times and hooked up once, but he was starting to see this other girl, so it never went further than that. I was pretty heartbroken over it.

"Fast forward a few years. I'm a year and a half into this horrible relationship. We'll call him S---head. S---head is a compulsive liar, yells at me, threatens to break up every time I do something he doesn't like, like whenever I had a panic attack .

"I'm at a concert without S---head and I look across the dance floor, and I see Guy A, dancing his heart out, laughing and just being amazing. Hadn't seen him since the time we hooked up, which was a few years ago. My heart skipped a beat. I approached him, we talked for hours, and I told him I was living with a really s---ty guy and that I wanted out. When he kissed me goodbye, I just knew.

"I continued the relationship with my S---head for about a week (while still seeing the other guy on the side) before I finally worked up the courage to break up with him. I've been with Guy A ever since, and haven't looked back once." — Reddit user tsbae

Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.

Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Keep reading