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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:
luckylavender · 11/01/2026 16:49

Also get caught up with him when it wasn’t allowed. You are very lucky you kept your job.

QueenBambi · 11/01/2026 16:46

They're clearly in love with each other. If you have to ban your DH from ever contacting her and are wondering why her DH hasn't respectively banned her from contacting your DH then you have a massive problem.
TBH I'd leave him. He needs to be with her and you need to be with someone who wants to be with you. You'll feel a lot better for it. What's holding you back? You can forge a decent life for yourself alone. You've said your career has sky rocketed so make the most of the benefits and enjoy your life without a load of anger, distrust and pain.

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:45

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:41

That's fine. You do you. But saying people who do meet up with the opposite sex are dating or in an open marriage is rude and wrong.

When we meet with a close friend eg a guy I've known since school days we both go and vice versa. I agree though each to their own.

loislovesstewie · 11/01/2026 16:43

Apparently my late DH and I were in an open marriage for over 35 years. I just didn't know it. 😕 Even worse, he often went out with 2 women at the same time!

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:41

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:38

We have no issue with work related lunches we both do this when necessary. We just couldn't imagine arriving home, changing and saying I'll skip dinner tonight I've arranged to meet....... for dinner & drinks, have a nice evening 😂

Edited

That's fine. You do you. But saying people who do meet up with the opposite sex are dating or in an open marriage is rude and wrong.

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:38

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:29

I meet male friends for lunch in the same way I meet female friends. It's not a date. I'm not quite sure why you think it's so hard to spend a few hours with the opposite sex without it being linked to infidelity? Dh doesn't get a say in this as I'm an adult.

Edited

We have no issue with work related lunches we both do this when necessary. We just couldn't imagine arriving home, changing and saying I'll skip dinner tonight I've arranged to meet....... for dinner & drinks, have a nice evening 😂

britneyisfreebutnotokay · 11/01/2026 16:37

Wtf

TwistedWonder · 11/01/2026 16:33

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:29

I meet male friends for lunch in the same way I meet female friends. It's not a date. I'm not quite sure why you think it's so hard to spend a few hours with the opposite sex without it being linked to infidelity? Dh doesn't get a say in this as I'm an adult.

Edited

Agree. I’ve got a really good male friend I’ve known for 30 years who I meet for lunch or a drink in the same way I meet up with any other close friend. If we were going to shag we would have done several decades ago.

So no I wouldn’t expect a partner to tell me I couldn’t be in contact with any of my close friends, male or female

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:29

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:25

So with this opinion if your in a close friendship with someone else's husband and you know his wife isn't comfortable with him regularly meeting this 'friend' on a one to one basis her feelings are unwarranted & she just wants to shackle him which isn't healthy. My DH & I do what we like when we like as long as we're both happy. We draw the line at one to one dates with the opposite sex🙄😂

I meet male friends for lunch in the same way I meet female friends. It's not a date. I'm not quite sure why you think it's so hard to spend a few hours with the opposite sex without it being linked to infidelity? Dh doesn't get a say in this as I'm an adult.

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:25

Allisnotlost1 · 11/01/2026 16:05

This kind of policing of friendships as a proxy for trust and commitment is just… well, it’s a bit lame isn’t it? If your partner is committed to you, they know the line. And if you trust them, you trust them not to cross it. I don’t want to have to force someone to love me by keeping them shackled to me. OP is trying to do that and look how well it’s going…

So with this opinion if your in a close friendship with someone else's husband and you know his wife isn't comfortable with him regularly meeting this 'friend' on a one to one basis her feelings are unwarranted & she just wants to shackle him which isn't healthy. My DH & I do what we like when we like as long as we're both happy. We draw the line at one to one dates with the opposite sex🙄😂

DarkForces · 11/01/2026 16:15

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:03

It may appear ridiculous to those who support close friendships with the opposite sex when married but it's not ridiculous to those who decide this can be too close for comfort. So many others feel the same. An emotional relationship which detracts from a marriage and causes upset is quite simply an emotional affair under the cover of friendship, especially if it's a regular one to one meeting. Again within an open marriage there is absolutely no issue.

I have male friends but not an open marriage. An open marriage is where you both can have sex with other people.
A happy new year text and going to the funeral of someone you've known your whole life is barely an acquaintance if that's the extent of their contact in the last year. Hardly marriage breaking stuff.

Allisnotlost1 · 11/01/2026 16:05

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:03

It may appear ridiculous to those who support close friendships with the opposite sex when married but it's not ridiculous to those who decide this can be too close for comfort. So many others feel the same. An emotional relationship which detracts from a marriage and causes upset is quite simply an emotional affair under the cover of friendship, especially if it's a regular one to one meeting. Again within an open marriage there is absolutely no issue.

This kind of policing of friendships as a proxy for trust and commitment is just… well, it’s a bit lame isn’t it? If your partner is committed to you, they know the line. And if you trust them, you trust them not to cross it. I don’t want to have to force someone to love me by keeping them shackled to me. OP is trying to do that and look how well it’s going…

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 16:03

loislovesstewie · 11/01/2026 15:50

Sorry, but I find that ridiculous. There is no evidence at all that Sarah wants to be romantically/sexually involved with the husband. Lots of people have friends of the opposite sex, I don't want to shag every man that I'm friends with, and neither would my husband have wanted to have had sex with his female friends . We were quite capable of being friends with people. And just friends. The issue is with the husband, the OP knows what he's like because she was the other woman.

Edited

It may appear ridiculous to those who support close friendships with the opposite sex when married but it's not ridiculous to those who decide this can be too close for comfort. So many others feel the same. An emotional relationship which detracts from a marriage and causes upset is quite simply an emotional affair under the cover of friendship, especially if it's a regular one to one meeting. Again within an open marriage there is absolutely no issue.

loislovesstewie · 11/01/2026 15:50

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 15:40

There should be no other woman involved in an up close and personal relationship with someone else's husband and the husband should not reciprocate. It's as simple as that, especially if it causes upset within a marriage. That is unless there is an agreement to have an open marriage which is a whole different story.

Edited

Sorry, but I find that ridiculous. There is no evidence at all that Sarah wants to be romantically/sexually involved with the husband. Lots of people have friends of the opposite sex, I don't want to shag every man that I'm friends with, and neither would my husband have wanted to have had sex with his female friends . We were quite capable of being friends with people. And just friends. The issue is with the husband, the OP knows what he's like because she was the other woman.

Oncloud918 · 11/01/2026 15:40

loislovesstewie · 11/01/2026 11:00

Even if there are other messages, the person to blame is the husband. I notice that women don't do that, they blame the other woman as though the man is a poor, week individual who can't say no.

There should be no other woman involved in an up close and personal relationship with someone else's husband and the husband should not reciprocate. It's as simple as that, especially if it causes upset within a marriage. That is unless there is an agreement to have an open marriage which is a whole different story.

throwawayimplantchat · 11/01/2026 13:02

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:39

So you are telling me, if your partner called out another woman’s name during sex, you’d be happy for them to maintain contact, regardless of whose fault it is?!

You would honestly want to ban her from your partners parents funerals because of that, even though it’s not her fault at all and they were so close that she called them mum and dad? Blimey.

5128gap · 11/01/2026 11:44

ponytailcapbadge · 10/01/2026 20:53

I'm sorry - I'm not a crazy,. I'm a nice rational person. I do a responsible job. I dont understand why I just cant get this bit of my life sorted and its tearing me apart. Maybe I shouldnt have given the back story but I didnt want to drip feed.

You might be a rational reasonable person in all other aspects, by your marriage is a 'crazy maker'. You got your husband through his willingness to cheat on his wife and because he was desperate when things fell apart. You know he has strong feelings for another woman who isn't you, and its only her choice that he's not with her.

No one in their right mind would feel secure in that marriage, and your insecurity is causing you to behave in extreme ways as you try to control sonething you can't.

TwistedWonder · 11/01/2026 11:31

This does sound like the OP did the pick me dance and has now realised play stupid games, win stupid prizes. And he’s definitely not a prize worth winning.

He was an absolute idiot to lose his career and home for an illicit shag and it does seem like he’s tried to make the best (for himself) of a bad job by becoming a cocklodger to his OW. And realising that he’ll be entitled to a share of her home by marrying g her.

Its a complete and utter shit show.

I think Sarah sounds like the most normal person in this car crash

shouldofgotamortage · 11/01/2026 11:25

Hardly Sarahs fault your husband (who you was well aware piror) has a thing for Sarah. You should never of married him knowing he is obsessed with her. Yabu.

Allisnotlost1 · 11/01/2026 11:16

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:57

Nobody knows what their text message conversations entail, or what they talk about face to face.

they could both be as bad as each other for all anyone knows.

but standard MN’s everyone jumps on the bloke or the wife asking her husband to cut a threat out of their marriage. I’d love to see everyone who is on the “Sarah’s” side in the same situation

This is wild to me. Who wants fo stay in a marriage with someone who wants someone else? The ‘threat’ in the marriage is that the husband doesn’t love OP, and OP is behaving like a maniac as a result. Split up, be happy

Hegharty · 11/01/2026 11:06

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:39

So you are telling me, if your partner called out another woman’s name during sex, you’d be happy for them to maintain contact, regardless of whose fault it is?!

You haven’t answered my question.

How is that Sarah’s fault?

It’s the husband that has the crush or whatever it is, but do tell me how you can blame Sarah for the husband calling her name out during sex.

Gosh, I know people often blame the OW rather than the man when someone has cheated, but even with no cheating and no suggestion that she’s done anything wrong, this is whole new level of blaming the woman.

OneZanyPoet · 11/01/2026 11:05

Is this the plot of a novel? I find it hard to believe three people would act so bizarrely and make such insanely bad decisions.

if true:
I think it’s likely the love for Sarah is unrequited or they would be together. Stop blaming her.

Your whole relationship is based on being the best option after he screwed his life up by beginning a relationship with a subordinate. Of course it’s a disaster. It should never have happened.

Leave him and get some therapy to help you understand why you have been so blind to the enormous red flags here and unable to make sensible decisions or take control of your own destiny.

loislovesstewie · 11/01/2026 11:00

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:57

Nobody knows what their text message conversations entail, or what they talk about face to face.

they could both be as bad as each other for all anyone knows.

but standard MN’s everyone jumps on the bloke or the wife asking her husband to cut a threat out of their marriage. I’d love to see everyone who is on the “Sarah’s” side in the same situation

Even if there are other messages, the person to blame is the husband. I notice that women don't do that, they blame the other woman as though the man is a poor, week individual who can't say no.

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:57

3luckystars · 11/01/2026 10:52

I definitely wouldn’t be blaming her!!!

Nobody knows what their text message conversations entail, or what they talk about face to face.

they could both be as bad as each other for all anyone knows.

but standard MN’s everyone jumps on the bloke or the wife asking her husband to cut a threat out of their marriage. I’d love to see everyone who is on the “Sarah’s” side in the same situation

3luckystars · 11/01/2026 10:52

cauliflowercheeseplease · 11/01/2026 10:39

So you are telling me, if your partner called out another woman’s name during sex, you’d be happy for them to maintain contact, regardless of whose fault it is?!

I definitely wouldn’t be blaming her!!!

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