Close Colleague Suddenly Distant After Discovering I'm Married - Did I Mislead Her? (M35, F30s)
I have a complicated situation with a female colleague (F30s). Over the past year, we have been very close friends at work—sharing personal updates, getting coffee, and generally having a great rapport. I genuinely value her friendship.
Recently, she started pulling away significantly. I finally asked her directly what the issue was, and she admitted that she had just found out I was married.
I was genuinely shocked by her response. While I am married, I never hid it, but I also never felt the need to bring it up since our relationship was always strictly platonic and professional in my eyes. I realize now that not mentioning it may have been an oversight.
My confusion is this: I never gave any indication that I wanted a romantic or sexual relationship with her. However, she has now created significant distance, suggesting she clearly interpreted our closeness differently.
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Did I genuinely mislead her by being so friendly and not mentioning my marital status earlier?
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Do people often assume interest in these kinds of close, cross-gender friendships?
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How can I repair the professional working relationship now that she seems to feel betrayed?
Posted Dec 5, 2025, 3:17 PM UTC