Last week, Meri Brown and Kody Brown announced to Sister Wives fans that their 32-year marriage was over, with fans wondering what issues caused the final demise. Meri has stuck by Kody's side since the 1990s, never letting up on her undying love for the patriarch. Fans always wished she would leave but were surprised when she finally took the first step.

As the first wife in a polygamous family, Meri felt she was afforded a higher standing within the group. However, after not being able to have more than one child and emotionally cheating on Kody in Las Vegas, Meri quickly fell out of favor. Kody has always been like a kid in a toy store, as he often gravitates to the shiny new thing. For years, Kody has been concentrating on his relationship with his fourth and favorite wife, Robyn Brown. Meri, who has now split from Kody, has had to watch from the shadows as her husband slowly pulled away.

Related: Sister Wives: Why Meri Brown Is Finally Over Kody & His Red Flags

Meri Brown Was Hoping To Reconcile With Kody Brown

In the recent Sister Wives Tell-All, viewers learned that Meri was still hoping for a reconciliation, but Kody had already "made the decision" to end his marriage. Viewers were left horrified as Meri was forced to re-watch a clip of Kody explaining to cameras that he didn't consider himself married to Meri anymore. In the clip, Kody revealed that if his first wife wanted to marry someone else, he would support her decision. Sadly, Meri revealed Kody "never said" those comments to her and, in the end, forced her into the separation.

Meri Brown Has Felt Dismissed By Kody Brown For Years

Meri Brown From Sister Wives posing in front of her home

One of the main reasons for Kody and Meri's split is that the mother of one has felt so "dismissed" over the years. Meri shared she didn't understand why the father of 18 was so frustrated with Christine Brown for leaving but did not consider Meri's feelings in his decision to leave their relationship. The lack of communication left Meri very hurt by Kody. While Kody blames the 2015 catfishing scandal on the demise of their marriage, Meri was under the impression that Arizona would be about new beginnings. Sadly, their relationship didn't make it through.

Sister Wives fans' hearts broke even more after it was revealed there was a point when Kody seriously thought of reconciling with Meri. He described a recent anniversary where Meri, who was being taken advantage of, made her famous dessert treats for him. She shared she had made 30 Rice Krispie treats to signify every year they had been married. Sadly, the clip showed Kody not even knowing the answer to how long he had been married and laughing it off. At least now, with the separation public, Meri can move on and begin a new chapter as a single woman.

More: Sister Wives: How Christine Brown Is Supporting Janelle Amid Divorce