Recently, I visited my parents and found out my former best friend, Mary, told them that my fiancé, Dave, was cheating on me. While my dad believed me, my mom remains on the fence, unsure who to trust. Here’s the story, including the fallout.
Mary (31F) and I (23F) have been friends since childhood, but our relationship has always been complicated. Growing up, Mary was manipulative and often lied, but I ignored it because she was a close friend. Over the years, her behavior became harder to dismiss, yet I maintained the friendship, hoping things would improve.
Things escalated recently when Mary demanded I break up with Dave, my fiancé. Her reasoning? She claimed Dave was “too good of a boyfriend” compared to her own partner, Julian. Her jealousy and inability to handle her own relationship frustrations were obvious, but it still hurt coming from someone I considered a best friend.
When I refused, she doubled down, spreading a false story that Dave had been cheating on me with a coworker. According to Mary, she’d seen them together at a café months ago, though she conveniently never mentioned this before. She even told my parents her fabricated story, twisting the narrative to make herself seem concerned for my well-being.
The Aftermath
Visiting my parents was tense. My mom, who is close friends with Mary’s mother, seemed more inclined to believe Mary’s lies, despite how outlandish they were. I spent hours trying to explain what had really happened: Mary’s jealousy, her manipulation, and the lies she’d told. I even showed my mom text messages to prove my point.
My dad sided with me immediately. He admitted he had concerns about Mary’s influence on me when I was younger but felt powerless to intervene because of my mom’s close friendship with Mary’s mother. My mom, however, continued to defend Mary, claiming she “just wanted the best for me.”
When I reminded her that Mary had been dishonest and manipulative for years, my mom dismissed it as a misunderstanding. She even suggested speaking to Mary to “hear her side,” despite already having had a one-sided conversation where Mary lied to her. This sparked a heated argument.
Where Things Stand Now
I left my parents’ house feeling frustrated and defeated, but my fiancé was supportive, helping me calm down. Right now, I’ve decided to cut off contact with Mary entirely. Mutual friends who’ve taken her side won’t be hearing from me either. My fiancé and I agree that there’s no point in clearing our names with people who clearly believe Mary’s false narrative.
As for my mom, I’m still grappling with how to handle our relationship. While her behavior has been deeply hurtful, she’s my mom, and cutting her off isn’t a decision I take lightly. I’m hoping she’ll eventually see Mary for who she truly is, but if she doesn’t, I’ll need to reevaluate our relationship.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice on my original post. It’s been comforting to see that I’m not alone and that cutting out toxic friends is sometimes the best decision. To those who’ve gone through similar situations: I’m sorry, and I hope you’ve found peace with your decisions too.