When you discover your partner is leading a double life, incomprehension reigns. Why stay with someone you’ve hurt? Why insist on preserving a relationship when the bond seems broken? In reality, the reasons a man stays despite his infidelities are numerous—and often far more pragmatic than one might imagine.
He already has everything… or almost everything.

Contrary to popular belief, many men are not unfaithful because they’ve fallen out of love. They may, on the surface, have a stable life: a house, children, memories, a well-established routine. And even if the spark fades or communication falters, this stability remains a reassuring foundation. Leaving that behind means losing a precious emotional and social anchor.

The other woman? She often represents excitement, novelty, an enchanted interlude. But an interlude, by definition, is not supposed to last.

He still cares about his partner

Yes, it’s possible to love and still hurt someone. It’s hard to hear, but in many cases, feelings don’t disappear overnight. Infidelity can stem from a void, a frustration, an unexpressed unhappiness. This doesn’t erase the pain caused, but it explains why some men try to stay despite everything: perhaps they hope to rekindle the flame, to recapture that “us” from before, to repair what has been damaged.

He dreads the consequences of a separation.
A divorce or a long-term breakup is never easy. Between the paperwork, child custody, financial issues, and the judgment of others, some prefer avoidance to action. This isn’t emotional courage, but a very human defense mechanism.

For some, staying is a way to minimize upheaval. They try to compartmentalize: family life on one side, the secret affair on the other. An unstable equation, often doomed to failure.

He’s afraid of starting all over again.