He’s not letting me off the lease

Elizabeth • Editor, writer, lover of plants <3

After almost 7 years, he broke things off. We were living together so he left and is helping me with rent. I had mentioned to him that I wanted to move out around February and he said he would take over the lease if that was the case.

Recently confronted him and he admitted he cheated and had lied about it for months. He’s living with her now. So I think he’s upset about that because now that I’ve asked him to work with me to remove me from the lease and divide stuff as I found a place for end of feb, he’s saying he needs me to find a renter for this lease since he can’t afford it. It doesn’t add up because he had said to just let him know when I was planning to move so that he could find a sublease and he said he was working 7 days a week. At 30-40 an hour, I’m not sure how he’s short money.

I know I can either help him find a renter, suck it up and stay here until July, or fight my way out with the manager. I really didn’t want this to get messy. Not sure what to do.. anyone been in this sort of situation that can offer some advice?

PS I know I should have not confronted him until later but my heart was aching all the time. He never gave me a reason for the sudden breakup.