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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

my husband is in love with another woman.

359 replies

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 18:59

Sorry this is a name change and a long one so as not to drip feed. I would like to hear people’s opinions as I am considering leaving my DH as he is in love with someone else, lets call her Sarah. He has known Sarah since they were 4 years old. Their parents and grandparents were all friends.She is who is parents thought he should and would marry and she is utterly adored by his who family. She called his parents mum and dad. My husband claims they were never an item (although he wished they were) and they have only kissed once when they were teenagers. She’s nothing to look at but has done very well in her career. We are now all in our late 50s.
This is a second marriage for both me and DH. I met him and his DW at work. I was friends with his DW1 and she would often speak about Sarah and how much she hated her and how she had banned her husband from ever contacting her. When DH marriage broke up, I was already divorced and we started seeing each other. Unfortunately in the job we do this is utterly banned and within 2 weeks we were discovered and he was sacked on the spot. He also lost his home at the same time as it went with the job. I was protected because he was my boss and so was considered a victim. DH had to move in with me and I supported him while he searched for a new career. I wanted a commitment from him and he proposed in a very theatrical way within 6 months of us getting together and it was wonderful – or so I thought.

It turned out that he had immediately got in contact with Sarah when his marriage failed and was messaging her several times a day. They also met up at her house. She told him not to marry me. At this point I understood why DW1 hated her. We got married anyway. It’s fair to say it’s been a pretty tempestuous union. My career has skyrocketed and I’ve moved up through the ranks. He’s struggled to find work and earns now a fraction of what he did when we worked together. I knew that he still thought about her and once he called out her name during sex.
When his mother died Sarah turned up at the funeral. I was furious that she should insert herself into our family grief. When DH father died a few years later she also came to that funeral and had the cheek to bring her husband and child as well. I told him in no uncertain terms that if he spoke to her there that the marriage would be over. She glared at me the whole time.
After the funeral I said he could never speak to Sarah again and told him to remove all social media links to her. I don’t understand why Sarah’s husband hadn’t stopped them speaking to each other.
It’s been 6 years and I really thought she was out of our lives and then on NYE his phone pinged.I checked his phone and it was a text from Sarah saying HNY. I then realised she is never going to be gone from our lives. Our respective kids are almost grown up. AIBU to think now is the time to call this a day. I’ve never even spoken to this woman and yet I want to kill her. I hate what she has done to my marriage. Do I really want to spend the last part of my life with a man who is in love with someone else?

OP posts:
Jugglingalltheballs · 10/01/2026 20:22

Reading your post it sounds to me like you’re military?

Oncloud918 · 10/01/2026 20:21

Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee · 10/01/2026 20:18

I don’t really see why you hate her except that your husband called out her name during sex. Of course she went to the family funerals. You haven’t given a lot of info regarding what else has happened exactly

'Except that your husband called out her name during sex'

There are some extremely liberal views floating around 😂

sprigatito · 10/01/2026 20:20

Did we all miss “she’s nothing to look at”?

Nothing about this situation is bringing out the best in you OP. I would really be thinking about moving on, and maybe some counselling (and I don’t mean that nastily).

ultracynic · 10/01/2026 20:20

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 19:40

ok I admit we did get together when technically he was still married ,but their marriage was over, she was extremely abusive towards him and I was a shoulder to cry on and developed from that. What I'm struggling with is why wont Sarah just leave him alone. She knows I dont like her. She knows that he is meant to be no contact with him. Why doesnt she stick with her own husband rather than messaging mine? i cant sleep since I saw that text. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

Because they’re lifelong friends?

I don’t really understand what she’s done wrong tbh. You’re the one who nicked your mates husband. Are you worried Sarah has the same gutter morals as you?

DarkForces · 10/01/2026 20:19

YankSplaining · 10/01/2026 20:17

Sarah is the only likable person in this whole story.

I like Sarah's dh too

throwawayimplantchat · 10/01/2026 20:19

“Why doesn’t she stick to her own husband” is a bit of a rich comment from someone who shagged their married boss despite knowing it could cost one or both of you your careers. And then it did.

Perhaps question your own decisions rather then hers?

Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee · 10/01/2026 20:18

I don’t really see why you hate her except that your husband called out her name during sex. Of course she went to the family funerals. You haven’t given a lot of info regarding what else has happened exactly

AllIdoistidyup · 10/01/2026 20:17

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 19:40

ok I admit we did get together when technically he was still married ,but their marriage was over, she was extremely abusive towards him and I was a shoulder to cry on and developed from that. What I'm struggling with is why wont Sarah just leave him alone. She knows I dont like her. She knows that he is meant to be no contact with him. Why doesnt she stick with her own husband rather than messaging mine? i cant sleep since I saw that text. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

Oh dear. The original OW doesn't like the OW.

throwawayimplantchat · 10/01/2026 20:17

Sorry gave your husband an on the spot ultimatum about your marriage at his own father’s funeral? Jesus Christ.

YankSplaining · 10/01/2026 20:17

Sarah is the only likable person in this whole story.

Dinkydash · 10/01/2026 20:16

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 18:59

Sorry this is a name change and a long one so as not to drip feed. I would like to hear people’s opinions as I am considering leaving my DH as he is in love with someone else, lets call her Sarah. He has known Sarah since they were 4 years old. Their parents and grandparents were all friends.She is who is parents thought he should and would marry and she is utterly adored by his who family. She called his parents mum and dad. My husband claims they were never an item (although he wished they were) and they have only kissed once when they were teenagers. She’s nothing to look at but has done very well in her career. We are now all in our late 50s.
This is a second marriage for both me and DH. I met him and his DW at work. I was friends with his DW1 and she would often speak about Sarah and how much she hated her and how she had banned her husband from ever contacting her. When DH marriage broke up, I was already divorced and we started seeing each other. Unfortunately in the job we do this is utterly banned and within 2 weeks we were discovered and he was sacked on the spot. He also lost his home at the same time as it went with the job. I was protected because he was my boss and so was considered a victim. DH had to move in with me and I supported him while he searched for a new career. I wanted a commitment from him and he proposed in a very theatrical way within 6 months of us getting together and it was wonderful – or so I thought.

It turned out that he had immediately got in contact with Sarah when his marriage failed and was messaging her several times a day. They also met up at her house. She told him not to marry me. At this point I understood why DW1 hated her. We got married anyway. It’s fair to say it’s been a pretty tempestuous union. My career has skyrocketed and I’ve moved up through the ranks. He’s struggled to find work and earns now a fraction of what he did when we worked together. I knew that he still thought about her and once he called out her name during sex.
When his mother died Sarah turned up at the funeral. I was furious that she should insert herself into our family grief. When DH father died a few years later she also came to that funeral and had the cheek to bring her husband and child as well. I told him in no uncertain terms that if he spoke to her there that the marriage would be over. She glared at me the whole time.
After the funeral I said he could never speak to Sarah again and told him to remove all social media links to her. I don’t understand why Sarah’s husband hadn’t stopped them speaking to each other.
It’s been 6 years and I really thought she was out of our lives and then on NYE his phone pinged.I checked his phone and it was a text from Sarah saying HNY. I then realised she is never going to be gone from our lives. Our respective kids are almost grown up. AIBU to think now is the time to call this a day. I’ve never even spoken to this woman and yet I want to kill her. I hate what she has done to my marriage. Do I really want to spend the last part of my life with a man who is in love with someone else?

It's your husband that's the problem. Leave him unless you're happy to be a convenience. He's had enough time to get on his feet and I'm sure he resents you for the loss of his career.

KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 10/01/2026 20:15

She’s done nothing wrong. She went to the funerals of two people she’s known almost her whole life and of whom she was very fond, despite a good friend’s wife giving her evil looks the whole time (which is very weird behaviour). She sent a friend a text wishing them a happy new year. She’s married with a family. Your husband’s feelings towards her (if they exist) aren’t her fault or her problem. You sound nuts.

Savoretti · 10/01/2026 20:15

What makes you think he is in love with her?

Potteryclass1 · 10/01/2026 20:14

Easy to blame Sarah for everything but she’s not the root cause.

Oncloud918 · 10/01/2026 20:13

Sarah obviously knows her presence, especially given her close history with your DH, will have an effect on your marriage as has already been proven in his previous marriage. No woman likes to feel she is playing second fiddle to a female 'friend'

You need to set boundaries and let your DH know exactly how you feel. If he is genuinely in love with Sarah & it's reciprocated they should end their respective marriages & get together. If not then they should both back off & get on with their own relationships and stop playing mind games.

TwistedWonder · 10/01/2026 20:12

There’s huge red flags here and they’re not coming from Sarah

You knew his wife, fucked him behind her back, stayed with him despite knowing he was apparently obsessed with Sarah, rushed into marriage, gave him a ridiculous ultimatum.

Your DH sounds like a bit of a freeloader who lies to you and you sound extremely jealous and controlling.

Yes you probably should get divorced do you’re both free from this car crash of a marriage. Though tbh sounds like you deserve each other.

And I think you’re an absolute CF to expect any sympathy here. I bet his ex wife is relieved as fuck she’s out of this mess.

Anonanonanonagain · 10/01/2026 20:10

Haha the mistress gets married to the man she was seeing while he was married and now is jealous as hell of another woman because she knows HE has form. Sarah has done nothing wrong here op.

Rainbowdottie · 10/01/2026 20:09

I’m the same age as you and I’ll be honest to say that I’d be devastated if I thought my husband was in love with someone else. But is he in love with her? Does he just have a crush on her? Has she become “the forbidden fruit “ because you and the first wife hate her so much? Maybe if she’d been brought into your family as the family friend that she’s always been, maybe there wouldn’t this continual “big thing” about her? It seems from reading your post that she’s just got on with her life, got married, had kids etc and her crime is to turn up at funerals of people she was very close to. I think that’s pretty normal.

I can see how the happy new year has upset you if you absolutely think he’s in love with her….but from her point of view it might just simply be a very normal round robin text to do. Unfortunately your husband knows your reaction to her so he’s probably a nervous wreck. Again I’d be devasted I think if my husband called out another woman’s name during sex, but that’s a him issue, quite honestly not Sarah’s.

Again I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think I could bothered with all this at my age. I think I’d have to give myself the options of getting over it and getting on with my own marriage….accepting Sarah and looking at her in a different way (because really what’s her crime?)….or deciding I can’t accept it or get over it so decide to move on alone ….

NormasArse · 10/01/2026 20:07

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 19:40

ok I admit we did get together when technically he was still married ,but their marriage was over, she was extremely abusive towards him and I was a shoulder to cry on and developed from that. What I'm struggling with is why wont Sarah just leave him alone. She knows I dont like her. She knows that he is meant to be no contact with him. Why doesnt she stick with her own husband rather than messaging mine? i cant sleep since I saw that text. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

Is this real?

You had an affair with your friend’s husband. You listened to your friend slag off her husband’s childhood friend, who he kissed once and never again, all the time he was single, and decided on the basis of that, that she was a threat to your already tainted relationship?

You are the grubby one in all of this (and him)- not Sarah. I would also wish a close childhood friend HNY. I would go to the funerals of people I’d grown up with.

You are coming across as an absolute loon here.

TiggersTheOnlyOne · 10/01/2026 20:07

He’s not just a walking red flag he’s flaming bunting!

thr age old “my wife is abusive and doesn’t understand me@ he’s probably telling Sarah the same thing about you. They say you lose them how you get them so this shouldn’t come a huge surprise

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 10/01/2026 20:05

This cannot be real. It is utterly bonkers.

Celestialmoods · 10/01/2026 20:05

What do you think his first wife, your friend, feels about you?

Did you consider her feelings at all when you started shagging her husband?

You reap what you sow.

FrodoBiggins · 10/01/2026 20:04

CraftyMintHedgehog · 10/01/2026 19:43

@ponytailcapbadge your relationship was doomed from the start.

Sarah was right to tell him not to marry you. It was way too soon. Sounds a bit of a rebound thing and he wanted drama given he knew he could lose his job.

If he wanted to marry Sarah he would have done so.

I think he would pick his friendship with Sarah over your marriage by the sounds of it.

Tbf Sarah would have had to agree to this and he doesn't sound much of a catch. She's probably perfectly happy with her (much less jealous) husband

DarkForces · 10/01/2026 20:03

Gymnopedie · 10/01/2026 20:00

Why doesnt she stick with her own husband rather than messaging mine? i cant sleep since I saw that text. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

Because she doesn't want him but she absolutely laps it up that he wants her. So she involves herself just enough to keep him keen, she doesn't want to lose the thrill of knowing how he feels.

Though I'm not sure that is the only reason she appeared at the funerals, the families go back a long way and seem very intertwined, but it would nonetheless have had the same effect and she may not have been too sad about that.

You're getting a lot from a happy new year text to someone she's known since she was 4!

Arlanymor · 10/01/2026 20:03

OP seriously... "She told him not to marry me." Do you think it could have been because "I wanted a commitment from him and he proposed in a very theatrical way within 6 months of us getting together and it was wonderful."

She knew he was still married - so maybe shouldn't be getting engaged.
She knew he was your boss - so maybe shouldn't be getting engaged.
She knew you had been dating for six months - so maybe shouldn't be getting engaged.

Maybe she just has heaps of common sense which you appear to be lacking in? If she wanted him, she has had ample opportunity to get together with him. She's not once made a play for him. She's only ever been a friend. If a friend of mind was getting engaged while still married, to someone they had only been dating for six months, and which went against both of their work's company policy I would be telling them not to do it and wondering why they were acting like a total loon.

You are insecure and controlling - or at least this is how you are coming across on this thread. And although you are getting a lot of tough love it is for your own good. Please read through all of these responses over and over, because YABU to put all this blame on Sarah who has done NOTHING as opposed to have a proper conversation with your husband who you have a lot of insecurity over. Also agree with the others that your behaviour at the funerals was reproachable.