If someone told you your DH had an affair?

[WhatWouldYouReallyDo]

If you had no indication of it, had no reason to suspect it, and the info came from someone known to lie, had a known agenda to cause trouble and had already tried to cause serious trouble for other family members, by lying.

A family member by marriage living in another country has just done this. Her agenda is largely around causing significant problems for her ex-DH who is related to DH and an attempt to stop a family trip from happening. She had already tried other things to stop it happening but was unsuccessful. She has chucked this in at the last minute, knowing if it were believe, it would ruin the trip. It allegedly happened during a trip abroad that DH went on with her, her exh (his brother) and she claims the affair happened with a friend of hers, 18 months ago.

My first reaction was that she was lying to cause trouble. DH denied it. He assured me he did not, would not. It is his word against hers as it happened at a time when I was not with him for two weeks and my experience suggests that as he is my DH and is not known to lie and i trust him, vs her already established reputation as being a someone not to be crossed if she is hurt (even prior to their very unamicable split) I am inclined to believe him. And of course, I absolutely want to believe him and I have no reason to doubt him, he has never been unfaithful in our relationship before, has been away from me before and it has never crossed my mind he would be.

What would you do? Leave it? Try to find out more info? She has not given me info, but said there are photos and I should ask her friend. My BIL said she is just trying to cause trouble, but of course he is going to say that! But, as I said, she has a very recent history of causing trouble and being very nasty due to their bad split, and before that, so it's not like she is someone of good behaviour who is usually lovely.

I would like to let it go. Would you? Could you? Should I?

I would avoid the lot of them if I were you, they all sound drama lama's. You know sometimes there are misunderstandings, and misinterpretations of what people say, that then gets put down to lies, keep that in mind.

What she has said about this affair, has to be one of the other, truth or lies.

My life is usually so much more simple than this! DH and my arguments tend to be centred around who is cooking, what we are doing for the family day out. I am not saying our relationship is perfect, we have had some rough times, but also some great times and we are strong.

I feel like I have entered into some kind of TV soap

Look you both seem to love each other, do you need to know either way?

pharaoh yes, I know, and I think that is my problem. Either I dig to find out if truth or lie, or let it go. I am not sure anything good is going to come of digging - if it's the truth, do I want to know?

that's my question really!

Only you can answer it. If he is respectful, loving and you are both happy I would be inclined to leave it and get on with the marriage personally.

op what kind of trip was it?

I'd be hopping mad if some one accused me . I wouldn't be able to let it rest !

How long ago was it? What would you do if something had happened ? If you would work through it, don't bother finding out . It would have to contact the other woman - after the trip,.

What I would do now is wait. She sounds horrendous so by you not rising to her bait she will be incensed. The ball is in her court and she will thwack the bugger back by sending the photos, if they exist. Wait for the post for a goodly few days now and if nothing arrives, there is nothing to worry about. Sorry you have this person in your life Whatwould.

tinker it allegedly happened 18 months ago. Dh was in another country working for his brother on an entertainment event. Following the finishing and wind down of the event they went to a lovely island, him his BIL, BIL's now ex-DW and some friends, to 'de-stress'. He basically had a ball. And it was during this island vacation that he allegedly had an affair with friend of now ex SIL.

I was told about it one week ago, the day of a family gathering, the morning we were travelling from one end of the country to another to meet them from their planes abroad (big family event). I was told in a single line (well two lines) email initially. followed by 'sad, but true'. So a deep cleansing of her soul and helping me...

dinnae you have got her spot on. She is notoriously eager for a fight, always has been, always made it clear she will stamp on anyone who pisses her off, and I can imagine her being furious she has not succeeded in getting her own way with this. I am in fact surprised she has stopped emailing and it has gone quiet. Which makes me wonder if BIL has said something to her. They are in the middle of a very ugly custody/access battle, in another country and each is keeping score.

I shall sit for now and wait. Yes. Good idea.

What is your husband saying now after an initial denial ?

Is he losing sleep, worrying, picking over details, second-guessing himself, demanding that this woman and her friend he allegedly shagged put their money where their mouth is ?

I would want some more action from him, in your situation

anyfucker he initially said he was going to contact her and give her a piece of his mind, but then said he didn't want to speak to her as she was so horrible. He is happy to just let it go and not talk about it again. He is not losing sleep, worrying or acting weirdly, he continues to vehemently deny it, but also he is not making a huge deal about it. He has not brought it up himself, but will talk about it if I bring it up. Which, tbh I have not really done a huge amount, as what more is there to say? He said there are no photos as nothing happened. He said he did not behave inappropriately in any way which could be misconstrued as an affair through photos, ie skinny dipping when drunk, or having a snog with someone. he remains clear on his stance.

Not acting weirdly, apart from one thing. As soon as his DB arrived at where we stayed, he and his brother went out for a 'chat' and went to the pub (they had not spoken of the accusation before this, as brother was flying at the time and we were then travelling to where we stayed). However, his brother doesn't smoke according to the parents and they are very disapproving of the fact he might, he spent all trip pretending to go to the shops etc so he could smoke. He had travelled with his parents from other side of the world and I suspect was desperate for a cigerette, and put it down to that and the fact his brother likes a drink or two. But, when they returned, it had clearly been talked about as BIL said 'i hear you have had interesting emails from xx'. It was impossible to discuss further than a quick mention of how she was causing trouble for several family members and trying to ruin the trip as there were many of us there and i didn't want it to be a huge deal over the holiday for the others, (including his own child). I did have a worry that they were 'getting their stories straight' but DH said they just wanted to catch up. That is the only odd thing about it all, as they had all week to do that, and did. But, his family behave oddly like that anyway, having 'secret meetings' with the lads to discuss football and such.

and the other woman, there is no contact from her. She has not said anything to me. She has been named by SIL and allegedly has photos.

She is on his FB page, but there is no reason for her not to be. He knows her from the trip, they all had a great time, and joined FB friends as he did with others from the trip. He has not kept that a secret, he never made a point of either talking about her, or not talking about her following the trip. She has been spoken about in the same way as other people who went on the trip. She lives abroad and I do not know her other than that she is (was?) a good friend of xSIL and they used to be joined at the hip.

I asked him why he was not angry actually. He said what is the point. he has done nothing wrong so why should he be angry at her, which is what she wants. I have thought he should be more angry. As I said, i would be furious and I would not let it drop until I had said my bit to the accuser.

ok, I will be quiet all day, as off to work!

I always loved the late Paula Yates response when an excited reporter ran up to tell her about some compromising pics had come out of Bob Geldof and a waitress (I think).

Her response , without breaking step : 'Ooh , I always knew he was a dirty bastard'.

You could say something similar like a breezy 'Ooh did he really, the little bugger (or whatever).

I wouldn't believe a word this woman said. From her timings, it's clearly a clumsy attempt to put a spanner in the works. The fact that PILs were able to get a restraining order against her should tell you the police agreed she was harassing them.

Odd that you have doubts about your husband based on what a bitter ex says. It reads like you have had doubts, period and any wild accusation was going to make these come to surface.

That sort of response does a shit-stirrers head in completely. Gives them nowhere to go.

I'm sorry but my dh would be speaking to her in front of myself. He would not let any accusation as big as that alone because it is something that he knows would devastate me. Even though we trust each other completely and have been together for such a long time. It would not just be left. She cannot go around saying stuff like that and needs to be pulled up on her behaviour.

I would laugh and tell her not to be so ridiculous. But that's because I completely trust my DH, both in his actions, his words and his convictions.

Plus, he's a terrible liar. I'd know immediately

I would be concerned now OP. With you describing the bil as sneaking around and lying to his parents about smoking, and then his parents describing his exw as a liar I think there is a lot more to all of this than meets the eye. As I say keep away from the lot of them, if you trust your DH then leave it at that

pharoah I understand why you think I should be concerned, and those thoughts have crossed my mind. But, his BIL is not him. he didn't grow up in the same environment as his BIL who grew up in a different continent (long story), his values, ideals, how we live our lives, what makes us tick, makes us happy, they are, and have always been so different to his BIL and that part of his family. They live a different world to us, so I don't think his BIL's sneaky behaviour is an indication of DHs behaviour, but he certainly has tried to pull DH into that behaviour by encouraging sneakiness. He clearly feels this is usual behaviour.

notaword I don't think it's unusual to question things when someone tell you them. I would be foolish I think to at least not have a conversation with DH about this, and to have blind faith with no reassurance, so yes, there was a seed of doubt. And I have addressed it I think. I don't think it means anything more sinister about our relationship. He has given no indication of being unfaithful in our 15 year relationship so far.

I have had another conversation with DH. it has been hard to talk without family or children around, so today we had a heart to heart. I asked him why he has not got angry (again), if he was intending to speak to ex SIL and find out what she is playing at, or contacting the other woman in question. He said the same thing again. He does not want to buy into her games, does not want her to have the satisfaction of thinking she has caused some trouble. He Says there is nothing to be gained from it. He has also promised me, again, that he did not have an affair, was not unfaithful then, or at any time in our relationship. He said he would not betray the trust we have in each other, and in the trust I placed allowing him to go on a trip abroad for two weeks with no questions or demands as I didn't need to, and is fully aware that if that trust was ever betrayed, it would never be got back and it would end our marriage, our family and he would never jeopardise that. He also said he doesn't want anyone other than me and that is why he married me. I can't really expect any more than that from him can I? He has not been agitated during this time, not stressed, just a conversation where he assured me that nothing had gone on, and I told him I believe him.

I said that I would consider contacting the woman in question as she has been badmouthed here and I would certainly want to know (and of course a little shitstirring of my own - I can't be all halo niceness about this can I and told her what her supposed or used-to-be best friend has been saying about her behaviour. DH said that he understands that I think she might want to know and hasn't attempted to stop me. He said he would do it if I wanted, as he knows her, I said that I would prefer to chuck that one into the mix. So I did. She has not replied and I don't care if she does to be honest. It was more of a cathartic move. She is not married (anymore) and has no children, so it's up to her how she plays it.

And I feel better. I have had my assurance from DH. I have told the accuser to take a hike. I have contacted the alleged OW and told her she has been badmouthed. I know think I am ready to just take this as it has come across - as malicious shit stirring - and put it out the door. I will never fully know for sure if anything went on, without a camera etc, and I am happy with DH's promises.

You sound very level headed and have done right from the start of the thread. It's why I haven't been firing awkward questions at you because you have asked them for yourself.

I subscribe to the "never trust anyone 100%" philosophy too, so I can identify with your questions. At this point, I believe your H too (if that is worth anything to you at all )