I (M26) just got cheated on/dumped by girlfriend (F23). Have chance for revenge, should I take it?

Jonathan Hours
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A 26-year-old man’s world crumbled when his girlfriend of two years confessed to cheating with a fellow trainee just two weeks into a three-month job training course, ending their relationship. Left to face the fallout—losing both his partner and their shared apartment he can no longer afford alone—he’s wrestling with anger and a chance for revenge. The company’s strict no-relationship policy could derail her career, but should he pull the trigger?

This Reddit saga resonates with anyone who’s felt the sting of betrayal and the lure of retribution. His raw honesty and eventual decision to rise above sparked a whirlwind of community reactions, from fiery calls for karma to pleas for grace. As he navigates heartbreak and housing woes, his story begs the question: what’s the real cost of revenge? Let’s unpack his journey.

‘I (M26) just got cheated on/dumped by girlfriend (F23). Have chance for revenge, should I take it?’

Some quick context. My GF of 2 years had to drop out of uni last October due to money issues. I helped her move to my city to start fresh. After a few months of living separately and saving, we moved into an apartment together and she got an awesome job offer. Things were looking great. Her new job requires her to attend a 3 month training course on a campus in a different part of the country.

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She’s 2 weeks into this course and she’s just told me that she’s ending our relationship because she’s started f**king another trainee. This means I now have to move out of our apartment because I can’t afford to live here by myself (whereas she can). So I’ve lost my girlfriend and my apartment and naturally I’m pretty pissed.

However I know that the training course she is on has a strict ‘no relationship’ policy amongst trainees, and is punishable by exclusion from the course. I’m contemplating sending an email to the company explaining the situation. I don’t have any proof but I’m sure if they monitored her she would get caught out soon enough and sent home.

I don’t know whether or not to do it. I feel like she has just ruined my life, and as much as I’d like to walk away from this situation, part of me wants to get some payback.. What do you guys think? D**k move or karma?

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Betrayal cuts deep, and this man’s instinct to lash out reflects a natural response to losing trust and stability. His ex’s choice to cheat and abruptly end their life together prioritizes her desires over their shared commitment, while his hesitation to report her shows a struggle between hurt and integrity. Her actions, though, risk her own opportunity, as the training program’s policy looms large.

A 2021 study from the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (source) found that revenge after infidelity often prolongs emotional pain rather than resolving it. Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a psychology professor, notes, “Letting go of vengeance fosters personal growth and emotional freedom.” His decision to focus on keeping the apartment aligns with this, redirecting energy toward his own future.

He should secure his housing by exploring roommates, as Reddit suggested, and seek support through friends or counseling to process the grief. By not reporting her, he avoids potential regret and legal risks, letting her face the consequences of her choices.

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Check out how the community responded:

Reddit’s reactions are a wild mix, like a barroom debate after a few rounds—some cheer for petty payback, others preach the high road.

MissBee90 − If your name is on the lease, look for some buddies to move in. You shouldn't have to leave. If she starts her s**t, just say, your cheated and if you want me to go to your boss about the no relationship thing get out of my face and out of my house. There is always people looking for a place to live and being petty is always fun. Plus petty doesn't always result in bad Karma.

[Reddit User] − She cheated on you. Treated you like trash and then threw you away. I'd do it and then move on.

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Kayoss101 − Might be an unpopular opinion but if it was me , I’d let it go. No need to lower yourself to that level. It sucks that she did that to you but you’d be a better human being if you moved on

TheL0nePonderer − My first instinct was to tell you to do it, but at least she had the decency to tell you instead of hiding it from you. The best thing a piece of s**t can do for you is let you know that they are a piece of s**t early on.

My ex cheated on me for at least a year while we were engaged and only told me because the guy she was sleeping with was married and his wife was going to tell me. So all in all, you dodged a major bullet and are not going to lose a large portion of your life to somebody who is a cheater and a liar.

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hydro_flamez − I think In the long run you’ll be better off forgetting about it.Move on and don’t let her negativeness consume any more of your life

[Reddit User] − lmao I'm wrong for it but I'd prob do it for the s**t show that follows. idk sumtimes a lil mud wrastlin can be fun.

[Reddit User] − Have a chance for revenge, should I take it? Gonna be downvoted for this but please be the bigger person and walk away. What's done is done, there is no undoing it. If I had taken revenge on my ex-wife for what she out me through, I would have been no better.. Live your life to it's best and live well. That's the ultimate revenge.

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chipperskipper_952 − If you treat it as karma then karma is chasing you next. As much as I would want to ruin her training if I were you, I recommend the high road. Karma will get her on it's own. I'm sorry you're going through this, the situation sucks regardless of if you take revenge but I don't think revenge will really make you feel much better. You're a good dude, something/someone better will definitely come about.

blacktide777 − An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. I had some opportunities to really s**ew over my ex for the things she did to me.. I decided to take the high road and not take revenge and am very happy with my decision.. What do you have to gain from revenge other than lower yourself to her level?

[Reddit User] − Unpopular opinion: don’t do it. Why act so bloody childish? Walk away. Grieve. Dust yourself off and figure out what’s next. Make it so everytime she looks you up on social media you are better and better then you were last time she checked. Don’t stoop to her level. You are better than that and how win this is by reminding her of that every single time she searches you out.

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These takes swing from savage to sage, but do they capture the full weight of moving on?

This man’s choice to skip revenge and reclaim his space is a testament to resilience in the face of heartbreak. By letting his ex face her own risks, he’s betting on a better future for himself. With expert advice favoring letting go and Reddit split between karma and kindness, his path forward is inspiring yet complex. What would you do if betrayal pushed you to the edge? Would you strike back or walk away? Drop your thoughts below and let’s dive in.

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