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My dh has been messaging a colleague. Please can I have some practical and moral support

854 replies

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 15:25

NC but been here forever. Not really sure why as he would recognise the whole thing in an instant but I need the help and I’d rather he didn’t know. Please can I ask for some support?

I’m on holiday and finally plucked to the courage to ask my dh to let me see his phone. Told him it’s because I was feeling jealous of this woman (true). He let me, but obviously didn’t realise that he has to delete his deleted messages from the recently deleted file and I found quite a lot but only up till about 3 months ago, nothing before. Him telling her that he misses her. Texting when he was away telling me how much he misses me. Telling her that she’s one of the greatest people he has ever met. That he wants her in his life. Then arranging to pick her up from her house on his mid-life crisis car that i stupidly encouraged him to treat himself to. I feel so fucking stupid.

I took screenshots of everything and send them to myself but he’s insisting that nothing happened, that she was just his friend and he’s crossed the line but no affair. I haven’t found anything in emails or what’s app either. Is there anywhere else I can check without alerting him. I have full access to bank accounts and nothing untoward there so far but we don’t have online banking for one account (I can check that when I get home).

I feel so betrayed but the fact that he’s lying to me is worse. He’s treating me like an idiot. He insinuated in the texts that he was going to get her a company car but is saying he hasn’t actually done it. Funnily enough emails seem to be missing re this. He’s clearly been deleting calls from his call log but I don’t know whew do look to find them and I’m pretty sure they will be all gone now if not before. I know he’s lying is there anywhere I can look to find evidence of this? He won’t let me have the phone without him being there now.

I know it won’t make me feel better but it will make me feel like I’ve outsmarted him a bit and I wave him to feel as on edge as I do. I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach and I’m trying to be normal for the kids but I’ve just been sick. I’m supposed to go out for fucking dinner with them all now and be normal. I‘m trying so hard to not upset the kids, they deserve better. This is horrendous. I’ve honestly told so many women on here what to do in this situation but I can’t believe this has happened to me. How could he do this. Any why does he think that shagging her is worse than lying to me? Thanks in advance for any help, and for reading ny ridiculous essay. I will respond to and replies as and when I can after dinner.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 19:14

fleurdolease · 22/07/2024 16:42

OP, I'm really sorry this is happening to you. Did you know he was with her when he was picking her up?

No I didn’t have a clue. He said he was going to work. I keep thinking did he actually pick her up or did they sleep together. She gave him her postcode so I know he hadn’t been before this. It was only a couple of weeks ago.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 19:12

Buildingthefuture · 22/07/2024 16:37

You aren’t stupid, first of all. But he bloody is! Copies of phone bill, and restore backups to get WhatsApp chats back. Tell him you are doing this and he has ONE chance to be honest. He WILL lie, they all do, because he’s spent the last 3 months justifying this shit to himself. Unfortunately, being caught doesn’t immediately make them realise exactly HOW shitty they’ve been and that the only option is to be truthful. It makes a sick kind of sense really - he has spent the last 3 months doing Christ knows what with this woman and somehow being able to justify it to himself. He has not been sat there thinking “I am in fact a cheating, lying cunt” he has been justifying it, denying it to himself and minimising it. The cognitive dissonance when he is FORCED to look at your face and start to realise what he has actually done to you and your children and how much of a cunt he REALLY is, is a lot to take. So they lie. Tell him you know he will do that. And he’d better think long and hard before he does.
Make him take the kids out on his own (claim a headache) and tell him you will speak to him when he returns. Cool and calm is your friend here op. Whilst I’m sure you want to chop his balls off, staying ice cold is the BEST way to get to the truth.
Does she know about you? If not, tell her. If so, tell her what you think of her. Blow this shit right out of the water.

Thank you. I have said this, although I haven’t managed the cool and collected except sign the dc.

I’ve told him I know he’s lying, he’s still minimising. I’ve told him that I need the truth. He’s still lying to me (and I am pretty sure he’s lying).

She knows about me and the kids. She has been to our home. I have considered messaging her but I don’t want her to know how upset I am. Plus I was always raised to keep my own council. I doubt it would achieve anything anyway. He’s still done it.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 19:02

Gazelda · 22/07/2024 16:31

OP, I'm so sorry. This does sound like an emotional affair.

If possible, I'd try to keep your powder dry until you're home. No big convos, no interrogation.

Let the kids enjoy their holiday. Maybe go off for a day to see something the others wouldn't be interested in?

Tell him you don't want to discuss it while you're on holiday. Repeat, repeat.

Maybe message a good friend or family member to say you'd appreciate a coffee with them as soon as possible after you get back. Then you can talk it through with someone who can hug you and support you and listen while you talk through your thoughts.

Thank you, unfortunately it’s a bit too late to not discuss. I’ve given him full pelt all day since finding out (kids have been off doing their own thing by the pool).

I want to ring someone but I’m so embarrassed to say what he’s done. I’ve always been so proud of our long marriage. I lost my mum last year and I wish she was here to talk to.

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 22/07/2024 19:02

A betrayal is a betrayal. There aren't really degrees. He's thinking of another woman, wanting to be with her, telling her so and trying to hide the evidence. Guilty as hell and he knows it.

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:58

Chocolate12345678 · 22/07/2024 16:29

You deserve more - the fact he has tried to cover it up rather than be open and honest is enough

You do you - he stuffed right up

Thank you.

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PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:57

butterfly0404 · 22/07/2024 16:29

If my partner was messaging another woman with that sort of message (miss you/want you in my life) his shit would be in a bin bag dumped on her doorstep and I'd be lawyering up hard and fast.

I did do this when I found my husband of 20 yrs messaging his best mate's wife (had gone beyond messaging - sex in his car in grotty industrial estate carparks!)

I feel for you but he is clearly besotted with this woman

God you are right, I’m going to try and channel your energy.

If we were home I think it would be easier. We’re on the holiday of a lifetime paid for by me using an inheritance. We’ve all needed this break for such a long time and he’s ruined it.

Can I please ask, do you have kids? If so, what did you tell them? He’s always been such a great dad and they genuinely idolise him. I don’t want them to know what he’s done but at the same time I don’t want them to blame me for us separating. They aren’t young children, ds is off to uni in Sept and dd is sitting her GCSE’s next year. I really don’t want this to affect them. He’s such a fucking knob.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 22/07/2024 18:55

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:32

I have confronted him. He was there when I retrieved the deleted messages. He’s still insisting it was just ‘flirting’ and an ego boost. He did admit that he enjoyed being the ‘big man’ to her but hasn’t admitted anything else. He is still swearing blind that he hasn’t touched her. It wouldn’t be worse if he had.

He’s a shit
im so sorry

Mrsgreen100 · 22/07/2024 18:54

Get smart , get though the holiday
when home get your finances in order
without him knowing
sorry Op I smell a rat , been there wish I’d got my ducks in a row before he knew
you deserve better
keep your head on and mouth stuff till you check
bank account etc etc
good luck

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:52

ALunchbox · 22/07/2024 16:21

I don't know enough about technology to advise but if I understand correctly, you already have screenshots that you have saved? Do you need more to proceed? You already know he has lied to you and attempted to hide evidence. Perhaps best to focus on the next step. I'm sorry you are going through this.

Thank you, you’re right. I already know he’s a lying, cheating twat. It doesn’t really matter just how much of one he actually is.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:50

SummertimeMadness24 · 22/07/2024 16:19

This is ridiculous, amazing how some people have no idea about respectful boundaries in a relationship.
Sorry you are going through this OP, what a dick. As others have said he if hasn't done anything physical it's only because she didn't give him the opportunity. But you will never know that for sure without confronting her. Re checking any deleted folders, he's probably going through everything with a fine tooth comb now he knows you're on to him. Why some men do this and why some women enable/encourage them is because they are inherently selfish people with no self control.

Thank you.

I have considered confronting her but thankfully I don’t think my pride will let me.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:49

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2024 16:04

The only reason he hasn't already shagged this woman, if that's even true, is because she hasn't agreed to yet. He is cheating, end of. How he is carrying on with her is cheating.

This really hurts but I needed to read it.

Thank you. I know you are right.

OP posts:
ThatsCute · 22/07/2024 18:49

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:48

Yes he was sat with me when I found it.

How did he explain it?

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:48

ThatsCute · 22/07/2024 16:08

OP, does he know you’ve found the deleted folder, or is he oblivious?

Yes he was sat with me when I found it.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:47

Hellskitchen24 · 22/07/2024 16:02

Context needed please. How did you find out about this? And what’s the background; what do you know about the colleague?

The texts are really weird. Even if he’s not having a physical affair, he’s having an emotional one.

I know the colleague well and really respected her. I have her phone number - one of only two colleagues of his that this is the case. Ironically I had always felt that even if he might be tempted she was sensible enough to put him straight. I have occasionally had my suspicions as they get on so well, but last week, she dropped another colleague off at my house to pick something up for dh and she was in a work loan car that used to belong to another senior colleague. A very nice car. Dh would be the only person who could authorise this and he’s generally very hesitant to do so. I think I knew then.

I told dh then that I thought it was inappropriate and looked bloody dodgy, I was worried what his other colleagues would think. He told me I was being ridiculous and jealous and possessive. That she’s integral to the business and deserved it. This really isn’t true. I didn’t shout or argue but I didn’t back down. Later that day he came and apologised and said that he understood how It looked and he’d take care of it. We went on holiday the next day.

Since then he has been overly nice and loving. All the things that he hasn’t for the last few months. I knew in my gut but I had to build myself up to asking as I didn’t want to admit I didn’t trust him. He never leaves his phone so I had to ask. Then I found the deleted messages.

He denied and denied and said that I didn’t understand the context. The context was clear but the us no evidence of anything physical. I supose as a pp says it doesn’t actually matter, I just need to decide what to do with the info I have.

OP posts:
AstonMartha · 22/07/2024 18:44

What are you going to do @PleaseVipersHelpMe ?

Is it over? I know that you want more evidence, you want to know everything but you may never know all of it. You will always wonder if anything else has happened.

I’m sorry that you are having to deal with this.

GingerPirate · 22/07/2024 18:43

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2024 16:04

The only reason he hasn't already shagged this woman, if that's even true, is because she hasn't agreed to yet. He is cheating, end of. How he is carrying on with her is cheating.

Spot on again.
And he's gonna say as little as possible
and lie and make stuff up.
There isn't much point of an "emotional affair" for these men, if it doesn't lead to more.
Sorry.

GettingStuffed · 22/07/2024 18:38

Has she replied in a similar way? Or is he a sex pest trying to get into her knickers.

PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:34

Runbunny · 22/07/2024 15:55

It doesn't matter what he's doing, it only matters what you're going to do. Let him worry about that and don't waste your energy.

I have given people this exact same advice and you are absolutely right. Whether he shagged her or not the betrayal is still horrendous.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:32

rubyslippers · 22/07/2024 15:50

He’s having an emotional affair
time and energy he should spend on you
He’s lying and being deceitful

confront him - he’s seeing what he can get away with before it turns physical (if it hasn’t already)

his messages are deeply inappropriate

sorry that you’re going through this

I have confronted him. He was there when I retrieved the deleted messages. He’s still insisting it was just ‘flirting’ and an ego boost. He did admit that he enjoyed being the ‘big man’ to her but hasn’t admitted anything else. He is still swearing blind that he hasn’t touched her. It wouldn’t be worse if he had.

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

He definitely has. The ‘wrong’ isn’t in doubt it’s the degree of wrong,

OP posts:
PleaseVipersHelpMe · 22/07/2024 18:25

Hankunamatata · 22/07/2024 15:27

I know with o2 you can get itemised bill of numbers called

I should have said, they are both work phones I would need him to get them for me.

OP posts:
SeatonCarew · 22/07/2024 17:36

CovertPiggery · 22/07/2024 16:03

There are some replies that you think wtf is this person wibbling on about, but then you seen the username and it all makes sense.

Spot on.

LordPercyPercy · 22/07/2024 17:33

Ignore the troll, I spotted them on another thread bragging about how they'll smoke where they like.
School holidays and all that.

FloordrobeIsGoingToGetME · 22/07/2024 17:21

@SwannWay

Are you a man or woman?

And would you mind sharing a bit about your romantic situation?

I would not want, expect or accept my husband to be texting similar messages to another woman, work colleague or otherwise. To me, it crosses a boundary - I'm the only woman he should be messaging in that way, that's a boundary I have.

I do like to hear other's perspective though, so genuinely interested in yours.

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