My (27/F) cousin (27/F) confessed that she was in love with my husband (29/F). She’s currently living with us and I have no idea how to act.

A woman shared her dilemma after her cousin, living temporarily with her family, confessed to being in love with her husband. Despite the shock, she struggles with how to address the situation while ensuring her cousin and nephew aren’t left homeless. Read the complex and emotional story below.

‘ My (27/F) cousin (27/F) confessed that she was in love with my husband (29/F). She’s currently living with us and I have no idea how to act.’

My cousin has been living with us for the past four months along with her toddler so she can save up to get her own place. Yesterday, whilst my husband was out, she asked me if we could talk.

I thought she was going to ask me if she could stay a little while longer (the original plan was for 6 months) but instead she gave me a long speech about how she was in love with my husband, how she tried to make the feelings go away but they keep getting stronger and how she thinks he might be her soulmate.

She kept apologizing but said that when she sees him with her son, she knows her family is complete and he could offer her and her son the stability they need. I was honestly so shocked I just said “Uh, I need time to process this”. I’ve been avoiding her since, my husband has been holed up in his office working so he hasn’t noticed anything weird yet. I think I’m still reeling from the shock.

I can’t even ask her to move out because her family disowned her when she had a baby out of wedlock. I haven’t told anyone in real life yet either because I know they’re all just going to tell me to kick her out but I can’t make my nephew homeless during a pandemic.. What do I do?

TL;DR – my cousin, who is staying with us for another two months, thinks my husband is her soulmate. I have no idea how to act around her now. Help.

Edit: I wrote it in the comments already but just to add she claims she’s had these feelings for at least 4 years and they’ve just grown so strong recently that she couldn’t keep it in anymore. Also, her son is 18 months!

UPDATE: I spoke to my husband. He was shocked and a little uncomfortable. He apologised and said he didn’t mean to give her the wrong impression. Neither of us are quite sure what we’re going to do yet since he also doesn’t want to leave my nephew homeless. We’re discussing it. I wasn’t going to update until we’d solved the issue but literally every comment is telling me to tell him so just to let you guys know I have!!

Check out how the community responded:

stormyllewellynn −  I mean, did she expect you to excuse yourself from the relationship so she could have him? Wtf.

Rnotmyrealdad −  She’s not in love with your husband, she’s just a single mom depending on family to get by just wants your life. Time to talk to your husband and move her out.

momusicman −  The only way you approach this is with your husband together. You and he should sit her down and explain that this will never happen, and if she so much as makes a move toward him, she will be out on the street on her ass. A unified front will do two things. First, she will be embarrassed, and second, she will know where she stands in the hierarchy of the household.

NotTodayPsycho −  What was she hoping to achieve by telling you this? You saying ‘ok I’ll divorce him and let you try it on with him’. I wouldn’t want her living with me. If she is this forward then it’s only a matter of time before she makes her feelings known to your husband

Dajabman −  If you dont sit her down with your husband at your side, and you let her stay until the end of the 6 month period, she is going to try to stay longer. Whether she loves him or the idea of a supportive male figure, she won’t give it up and move out unless you shatter that fantasy or make her leave.

Is she currently looking for a source of income or somewhere else to live? With 2 months left and a child she should be hustling to find those things, but I bet she would rather stay without any option but your house if thats the place she’s closest to what she really wants.

[Reddit User] −  Can’t wait to see the update where her cousin tries to m**der her and take her place..

MasterOfKittens3K −  First of all, it’s not your responsibility to take care of your nephew. It’s your cousin’s responsibility, and part of that responsibility should include not being a d**bass and trying to destroy the relationship of the people who are putting a roof over your head.

Second, you need to talk to your husband about it. You have given some weak excuses for why you haven’t done that. Are you afraid that he’s having an affair with her? Is that the real reason why you won’t talk with him?

Tunesmith29 −  She kept apologizing but said that when she sees him with her son, she knows her family is complete and he could offer her and her son the stability they need. “Obviously that’s not going to happen, so you can either get over your o**ession with my husband or you can find another place to stay.”

gitagon6991 −  I would have kicked her out immediately she said such b**lshit. This is like living with a ticking time bomb in your house. Sometimes we are reluctant to make hard decisions when it comes to family but they still have to be made for your own well being. You shouldn’t be uncomfortable in your own house.

tercer78 −  And why haven’t you talked with your husband about this yet???

Navigating family ties and personal boundaries can be heart-wrenching. How would you balance protecting your marriage while supporting a family member in need? Share your advice below!