A chaste woman committed zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) and then repented; should she inform her husband so he will divorce her, or should she conceal it?

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This is a woman living in the West who says she is married and that she committed zina (unlawful sexual intercourse). Due to the intensity of her regret for her sin and her shame before her husband, she asked him to divorce her or to grant her a khul' (divorce at the wife's request for compensation), but he refused her request. She asks: Is it permissible for her to inform him of her sin so that he will divorce her on that basis, or should she conceal it?

The Shaykh:
She should tell him that this child resulted from either rape or that she has an excuse, meaning that it was rape, even if by his choice, so that it is not attributed to him. She observes the 'iddah (waiting period) after the crime; she observes it while she is his wife, as she does not exit his guardianship. However, she observes the 'iddah (waiting period) after the invalid intercourse. Yes, with repentance to Allah, she remains his wife. If she repents, she remains his wife. Yes.

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh.

The Shaykh:
But as for the child, if he denies it, it is not accepted as long as the child belongs to the bed except by li'an (mutual oath-swearing in an accusation of adultery). The li'an (mutual oath-swearing in an accusation of adultery) is conducted between them before the judge. When the li'an (mutual oath-swearing in an accusation of adultery) is completed, they are separated and the child is denied to him. Yes, the child is not denied except by li'an (mutual oath-swearing in an accusation of adultery), and they are not separated except by li'an (mutual oath-swearing in an accusation of adultery). Yes, and those who accuse their wives

The reader:
recite it, and they have no witnesses except themselves, so the testimony of one of them, until the end

The Shaykh:
of the verse. Yes.