Did she stay with John for their children?

Elizabeth Edwards stood by her man in the interest of staying strong for their two younger children, her best friend tells New York's Daily News.

"It's just tragic. That's all I can say about it," says Hargrave McElroy.

Previously McElroy told People magazine that Elizabeth experienced "excruciating anguish" over husband John Edwards' affair with documentary filmmaker Rielle Hunter. She added that Elizabeth and John's 8-year-old, Jack, and their 10-year-old, Emma Claire, "are, to a certain extent, oblivious [to the controversy], but children are very wise and know things."