Why not leave his wife for good? Because:
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That’s the mother of children
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Fears for his career/reputation withing the community (which he doesn’t seem to being going a good job of concealing…since people are already on to him).
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Doesn’t want to upset his family or his wife’s family
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I wonder if the wife’s plausible inability to support herself on her own might be another reason.
Not justifying his actions.