Contributed by: ElyseRomano on Sunday, October 28 2012 @ 10:07 am
Last modified on
She prepared for the date like it was any other date. She had her hair styled and her nails painted, bought sexy new lingerie, and dressed in her most glamorous outfit. A little nervous, but excited to refresh her love life, she entered the restaurant and found her date.
He was attractive, but it wasn't just about physical attraction for her. She'd felt they'd clicked ever since they started chatting on an online dating site. After dinner they moved to a bar, and ended their night in an inner-city hotel room. The date was, by all accounts, a success.
"My relationship with Frank started with emails and texts," Louise told[*1] the Herald Sun, "and then we chatted on the phone and those phone conversations became longer and more personal. He'd shared what was going on in his life and I'd done the same. So although that dinner date was our first meeting, I felt I already knew Frank. I felt comfortable with him before I even saw him."
There was just one catch: Louise had been married for 13 years.
Louise was one of 15 million men and women around the world who had joined Ashley Madison, the infamous dating site for infidelity that launched in Australia in 2010. "I joined Ashley Madison for company, not to find a replacement for my husband," she explained. "I wanted excitement and more affection. My husband is always busy or tired. Time's ticking by and I want something more."
Kay had been married for 3 years and with her partner for 10 when she decided to join Ashley Madison. Her illusions of a happy family life were shattered when she discovered that her husband had cheated on her. When she had a chance to do the same, she didn't feel guilty about her choice. "Knowing I was attractive to someone else gave my confidence such a lift," she said. "There are a lot of guys in the same situation as me - kids, a loveless marriage and not getting what they want from their partner."
Helen explains her reason for cheating in just one word: boredom. "My husband works and I've been left to do everything. My life was working and raising kids. I lost myself," Helen said. "I met a guy about a year ago and we're still seeing each other. Our marriages are very similar we both have partners who aren't very motivated to make the most of life."
Readers: Have you had an affair? Would you?