Is it easier for reconciliation to take place if the cheater confesses vs they get caught?

Anonymous

I know of two cases of someone that cheated and they're both working it out.

Case 1: My cousin is working things out. Base on what she told me, her boyfriend came forward the following day and admitted it all. A direct confession indeed.

Case 2: One of my mother's friend was caught cheating on her boyfriend. Supposedly the cheater is remorseful and they're working it out.

If someone still wanted to work things out, then wouldn't case 1 (direct confession) be easier than case 2 where they had to get caught or else it would've kept going on.

Updates
10 mo
My cousin would've never found out. She's still hurt but that's the first she has ever dealt with a cheater actually confessing.
Is it easier for reconciliation to take place if the cheater confesses vs they get caught?
2 Opinion