Forgiveness can wrap up the grief, but it does not prevent the inevitable and necessary suffering. When there is a serious injury or loss, there is no way to avoid pain. If you want to have a satisfactory future, you will need to feel the loss and then let go of the hurt it has caused you. You need to forgive.
Even if you decide to divorce after a betrayal, you will still need to forgive…. When you forgive, you are able to be at peace even though rejection, disloyalty, and dishonesty have been a part of your life.
Your best chance for successful future relationships and overall happiness is to forgive your former partner. Forgiveness is not a substitute for grief, nor does it preclude the pain caused by your partner’s cheating. But it does gently allow your grief to ebb so that you can move on and live a successful life.
— Dr. Fred Luskin, Forgive for Love, p. 21