There could be several reasons. It could be that she was attracted to the novelty of a new person. In a long - term relationship, things can become routine, and she might have been seeking that new - relationship - energy. Another aspect could be that she had some unmet emotional needs. If her husband was not supportive or understanding enough, she might have turned to someone else. Additionally, she may have had self - esteem issues and thought that having an affair would make her feel better about herself, which is clearly a wrong assumption.
She might be feeling guilty and wants to come clean. The guilt could be eating her up inside, and she believes honesty is the best way to start dealing with the situation.
The husband should first try to stay calm. Reacting impulsively with anger or aggression won't help. He could listen attentively to his wife's story, understand her reasons (although cheating is wrong, there might be underlying issues in the relationship). Then, he needs to communicate his feelings honestly, like if he feels betrayed, hurt or confused. It's a very difficult situation, but communication is key to deciding what to do next, whether it's trying to work through it in therapy or making the tough decision to end the relationship.
Perhaps she heard a really interesting story about cheating from someone else and just wanted to share it as a form of conversation. It could be that she doesn't fully understand the implications of sharing such a story with her husband, thinking it's just an interesting anecdote.
Perhaps she has reached a point where she can no longer bear the weight of her secrets. It could also be that she hopes by being honest, they can work through the issues in their relationship, like if there were problems that led her to cheat in the first place, such as lack of emotional connection or sexual dissatisfaction.
There could also be issues within the relationship like unresolved conflicts. If there are continuous arguments and no proper way to resolve them, the wife may feel frustrated and look for an escape. Additionally, changes in personal values over time can lead to this situation. For instance, if she starts to value a more adventurous or carefree lifestyle which her husband doesn't provide, she might be attracted to someone who seems to offer that.
He should first stay calm. Reacting impulsively might make the situation worse. He could then ask for details like why it happened and if there are still feelings involved with the other person. After that, he needs to think about whether he can forgive her and if their relationship can be rebuilt.
One common reason could be a lack of emotional connection in the marriage. Maybe she feels unheard or unloved by her husband. For example, if they have grown apart over the years and no longer communicate deeply, she might be more vulnerable to forming an inappropriate connection with someone else. Another reason could be a mid - life crisis of sorts. She might be feeling old or unfulfilled in her current life situation and the attention from another person seems exciting and new.
One possible reason could be a lack of satisfaction in his own marriage. Maybe he feels unappreciated or neglected by his wife. Another reason might be the proximity and familiarity with the wife's friend. They might have spent a lot of time together, which could lead to the development of inappropriate feelings. Also, some people have a tendency to seek novelty and excitement outside of their committed relationships.
Sometimes, it could be due to personal insecurities. If she has low self - esteem, she might seek validation from other people. When her husband is sleeping, she might engage with someone else who makes her feel good about herself through flattery or false promises.
She may become distant emotionally. For instance, she stops sharing things with you like she used to. There could also be changes in her sexual behavior. Maybe she is less interested in sex with you or, on the other hand, suddenly more experimental as she might be comparing you to someone else. Additionally, she might start picking fights more often so she has an excuse to leave the house or be away from you.