[UPDATE] AITAH for cutting off my family after my brother cheated on his wife and got his mistress pregnant?

In a quiet suburban home, a woman steels herself to deliver crushing news to her pregnant sister-in-law: her brother’s affair and his mistress’s pregnancy. But the plan unravels when she finds her SIL fresh from the hospital, shaken by a dog attack. As her brothers glare and shun her, the weight of family secrets and fractured ties sinks in, pushing her into a moral maze.

This Reddit update, raw with emotion and tangled loyalties, draws readers into a storm of betrayal and tough choices. The woman’s resolve to support her SIL, despite her family’s cold shoulder, captures the pain of standing up for what’s right. It’s a story that echoes the struggle of anyone caught between truth and family bonds.

For those who want to read the previous part: Original post

‘[UPDATE] AITAH for cutting off my family after my brother cheated on his wife and got his mistress pregnant?’

The OP’s dropped an update on the saga—curious? Click here to check it out!

Family secrets can fester, and this woman’s dilemma over her brother’s affair shows the toll of truth versus loyalty. Her plan to tell her pregnant SIL about the cheating and the mistress’s pregnancy was derailed by the SIL’s hospital visit after a dog attack. The brothers’ refusal to engage and the mother’s manipulation—turning another sibling against her—reveal a family dodging accountability.

The woman’s hesitation to burden her recovering SIL reflects care, but silence risks complicity. Her brothers’ shunning suggests they’re protecting the cheater, prioritizing family image over honesty. As therapist Lori Gottlieb notes, “Secrets in families create walls, not bridges” . The mother’s sway over the other brother, cutting off niece access, adds emotional blackmail to the mix.

This mirrors a broader issue: the pressure to keep family secrets. A 2022 Pew Research study found 34% of adults have faced family conflict over hidden truths . The woman’s choice to wait for her SIL’s recovery is prudent, but a timely, gentle disclosure—perhaps with a trusted friend present—could empower her SIL.

For now, she should document her family’s actions and seek support, like counseling . Her loyalty to her SIL is admirable, but setting boundaries with her toxic family is key. Her story highlights the courage it takes to choose integrity over silence.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit’s community rallied behind the woman, praising her intent to tell her SIL the truth despite family pushback. Many saw her brothers’ silence and the mother’s manipulation as shielding the cheater, urging her to disclose the affair soon to avoid looking complicit. Her care for her SIL’s health earned respect, but the consensus stressed urgency to protect the SIL’s future.

Others condemned the family’s toxicity, suggesting she cut ties entirely and build a new circle with her boyfriend and SIL. Some questioned the brothers’ motives, suspecting they feared divorce consequences. The community’s support leaned toward empowering the SIL with the truth, reflecting a collective disdain for betrayal and secrecy.

This family saga exposes the raw pain of betrayal and the strength needed to stand by what’s right. The woman’s loyalty to her SIL, despite losing family ties, shows courage, but the looming truth hangs heavy. It’s a reminder that honesty, though tough, can free those betrayed. Have you ever had to choose between family loyalty and truth? Share your stories below—let’s keep the conversation going.