I’m Peter, a 38-year-old pediatrician, married to Evelyn, a wedding photographer, for 15 years. We’ve struggled with infertility and found comfort in our Labrador Retriever, Max. Recently, Evelyn transformed her lifestyle, losing weight and buying new clothes, including a pair of jeans that inexplicably upset Max. He barked incessantly every time she wore them, puzzling us deeply.

One evening, a police officer, responding to noise complaints, inspected the jeans and found traces of blood. It turned out to be cow’s blood, leading to a shocking revelation: Evelyn had been unfaithful. She confessed to dating a local butcher, explaining the bloodstains. Her affair shattered my trust and left me devastated.

Despite her apologies and promises to end the affair, I couldn’t forgive her. The love and trust I once had for Evelyn were overshadowed by betrayal. We decided to divorce, sell our house, and part ways. The positive changes I had seen in her were due to the affair, and the distance between us made sense now. The jeans, the barking, and her late nights out were all connected to her infidelity.

Now, I’m at a crossroads, grappling with the pain of betrayal while longing for the life and family I dreamed of. Moving on seems daunting, but I know I need to rebuild my life and find a way forward without Evelyn. Life without her feels unimaginable, yet living with the pain of her infidelity is equally unbearable. I miss her and the wonderful times we shared, but I know that if we were back together, I would only think of her with the butcher. What I need now is advice on how to move on and start my life over again.