“I gave my cheating wife a second chance – but this time as my husband!”
Jewls Peart-Watson had called time on her marriage – until incredibly, her partner’s gender transformation brought them back together…
Jewls PeartWatson couldn’t be more in love with her husband Brandon, 53. But she admits their relationship has been a roller coaster.
When Jewls first met and fell in love with Brandon, he was a woman called Ilana and they became wife and wife when they married in April 2013.
But four years later,
Ilana revealed she wanted to transition to be a man.
Jewls not only supported her choice but helped by making appointments with doctors and therapists.
But in a devastating betrayal, while starting to transition, Brandon embarked on an affair with a female colleague and their marriage fell apart and they divorced in November 2017.
BOND
But now, four years on, Brandon and Jewls have found their way back together and remarried in June this year, this time as husband and wife. Jewls, 42, who lives in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, says, “I know some people will be sceptical, but people can change, and Brandon knows he did wrong.
“What connected us from the beginning was our friendship. Even if someone turns their back on you, that bond never goes away.”
Jewls, a compliance worker, met Brandon on a dating website in April 2012 when he identified as Ilana.
Jewls says, “It was never about sexuality for me. It doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man, attraction is about being drawn to someone’s soul. I was attracted to his honesty and sense of humour.”
In October 2012, Jewls left her home in Germany and relocated to Wales. Ilana, a tradesperson, proposed three months later. But as the couple planned their whirlwind union, Brandon, then Ilana, revealed he was struggling with his gender identity. He felt that, as a woman, he was born in the wrong body and he was unsure about what to do.
Jewls says, “I wasn’t surprised. I’d always treated Brandon like the man in the relationship. He’d thought about transitioning before but he was worried about losing his family. I reassured him there was no pressure – I loved him, no matter his gender, and he could make the choice when he was ready.”
Following their wedding in April 2013, Brandon continued to live as a woman. Jewls devoted herself to building Brandon’s selfesteem, planning holidays and embracing their new life.
Then, in 2016, Brandon’s mum passed away following a battle with dementia. Jewls says that Brandon became “negative” and “snappy,” so she arranged for him to see a therapist and confront his grief.
She explains, “It put a strain on our relationship but he talked through his issues and realised that he needed to finally transition and live as the man he was born to be.”
SUPPORTED
Jewls contacted their GP and supported Brandon as he was formally diagnosed with gender dysphoria and changed his name via deed poll.
She says, “We were relieved that, despite Brandon’s worries, his family reacted really well, though it took a while for them to get used to his new name.”
But as the months passed, Brandon started to behave strangely. One day, Jewls received a nasty Facebook message from one of his colleagues, calling her a
“bad wife.”
She explains, “The messages said that I was controlling and unsupportive and that I didn’t look after him. I was stunned.
“Brandon had been texting this woman quite a bit but apparently she was having a bad time at home and he was just being supportive. I trusted him completely and I was so naïve.”
Jewls confronted Brandon about his suspicious behaviour several times, as he was going out a lot and hiding his phone. Then she discovered he was at a house party from a post on Facebook, with the woman that he had lied about.
HEARTBROKEN
She says, “I got in my car and I confronted them. He finally admitted to having an affair and my entire world came crashing down."
Heartbroken, Jewls called
time on their marriage and in November 2017, the couple were granted a divorce. Brandon had stopped seeing the woman but, as he continued his transition, Jewls still felt compelled to support him.
She says, “I didn’t feel I could just end all contact with Brandon, when I knew he was going through such a big change. He filmed his first hormone injection as he knew I’d want to be a part of that moment.
“I got into a new relationship but it was rocky. And when we split up, Brandon helped me find a new place to live and spent a lot of time making sure I was happy. We realised we still loved each other.”
THERAPY
Bravely, Jewls found a way to forgive Brandon for the affair, signing them both up for couples’ therapy to ensure their love could survive a second chance.
She says, “Counselling has helped us a lot. There were no more lies and Brandon was open about his mistakes.
“Of course my friends were worried about us getting back together, but
I just couldn’t pretend I didn’t love him. Brandon has proven people wrong by showing how much he loves me.
“The only difference in our relationship now, is that we both work to make each other happy. We took each other for granted before but now we are so much happier.”
Now, Brandon has undergone a breast removal procedure. He is on the waiting list for a hysterectomy and would like to have sex reassignment surgery in the future.
Jewls adds, “I do get nervous thinking about Brandon’s surgeries, but I know the operations are necessary. I want my husband to be happy and I love his new confidence.
“I fancy him just as much as when I first saw him. Our relationship is even better now we have all our cards on the table – we’re more open and honest.”
Three months ago, the couple wed for a second time.
Jewls says, “When we broke up, Brandon said, ‘I will marry you as a man.’ Upon reflection, I feel that when we got married the first time, he wasn’t his true self, so it was never going to work. But now as a man, he’s happier than ever.
“He proposed on
Christmas Eve in 2019.
We then planned every step of our big day together – it brought us even closer.”
Jewls adds, “I’m sure people will say we’re unconventional and make comments about the affair, or Brandon being transgender, but they’re just ignorant. Is it worth throwing away someone you love just because they’ve made a mistake?
“My cheating wife is now my faithful husband and I’m so excited for our next chapter as man and wife.”
Brandon says, “I was dealing with so much and I feel awful that I let Jewls down in the process. She’s always been there for me and I’m so happy we’ve married all over again. I’m still waiting to transition fully, but I know, whatever happens,
Jewls will be by my side.’’
❛ HE ADMITTED TO HAVING AN AFFAIR AND MY WHOLE WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN ❜
● You can purchase Jewls’ book, Colours Of My Rainbow: My struggles through the rain, on Amazon now