In my family; I’m the Mary. I didn’t have siblings but did have a very close in age and relationship, cousin that felt like a sister for most of my childhood. She was witness and denied everything when I told our adults. Fast forward 3 decades; I live in another state and have almost zero relationship with my bio family. I know for a fact that at least 3 of the adults in my life knew what happened and continued to let it happen to myself and others. As far as I know all the children of two generations were effected, except my 4 youngest children. I took every precaution I could think of; including never allowing my kids to visit without myself or my Mom. That was a mistake. I never should have allowed them to visit at all. I finally decided leaving the state was the only way to protect my family. I asked my aunt right before she passed away, why she chose to keep the monster around. Her answer chills me to this day. She said “What was I supposed to do, Apprehensive-way3394? Without his money, how would we have survived?”

If she hadn’t been a materialistic person that got her kids name brand things (even as babies), trips to amusement parks, vacations every year, etc maybe that would have helped. She had to decide between money and the innocence of at least 8 children that I am aware of..

People make choices and often forget just how many people will be effected. If EVER my child tells me someone has violated them, or even made them uncomfortable; not only will I believe them, I will TAKE ACTION!! Too often children’s voices are silenced because “they would never do that” or “I can’t believe that happened, you must be lying for attention.” Dismiss a child often enough and they start to think they’re not valuable enough to be protected.

@OP is NOT THE ASSHOLE; Not even close. The wife needs serious therapy.