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It’s eating me up. Family friend cheated on wife

146 replies

Window82 · 02/08/2023 13:24

Hello, our family is good friends with a couple. I really wish I hadn’t been told this info but a group of my family (all male) and this family friend they all went on holiday. He cheated on his wife.

i found out from a male member of my family who really was upset by it all, these family friends are really like family. It was full sex with another woman.

I don’t seen them very often as I live in a different part of the country. But yesterday it was the FFs wedding anniversary and the wife posted a lovely photo of them and their kids.

And in my head all
i can think is you bastard. You cheated on her all of two months ago. I get the feeling this isn’t the first time. I can’t say anything but I wanted to get it off my chest. I really love his wife. She honestly is such a good person.

OP posts:
WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 21:50

Comedycook · 02/08/2023 21:47

I didn't write that post but I'm in the mind your own business camp. Honestly if my dh cheated on me as a one off, I wouldn't want to know. Its easy to say you'd want to know but ignorance is bliss.

Each to their own but then how would she know that?

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 21:51

I'm the opposite.

I could accept a emotional fell in love thing but not a one off sex. That's a choice.

WantingToEducate · 02/08/2023 21:59

What a nightmare.

when I was younger my best friend’s
fiance cheated on her a few months before the wedding. It was full sex and I saw it with my own eyes. I was horrified.

A few weeks after it had happened I did tell her fiancée that I knew what he’d done.

For various reasons I chose not to tell my friend beciase of the rippling effect it would have on other friendships and relationships, never mind the fact their wedding was so close.

I was bridesmaid at their wedding and I get sick.

I hate myself now for never telling her.

That was about 12 years ago and even now when I see them together I feel so angry with myself and with him. He’s such an arsehole and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d cheated on her during the marriage, and I feel like I could have saved her from all of this and I hate the fact that I didn’t. She deserves so much better and I really, really should have told her.

I think you should tell her OP.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Weonlyhavealoanofit · 02/08/2023 22:00

If you believe that it’s best to let her know about her husband’s betrayal, why not put him on the spot first? Let him know (by whatever means you feel are appropriate) that it’s common knowledge and that he needs to come clean to his wife. Let him feel the discomfort and anxiety ….let him worry about it, before you inform her. He doesn’t need to know who knows, he needs to understand that several people know and have told their partners about it….

mrsneate · 02/08/2023 22:05

To put it in the perspective of the poor wife.

I was the poor wife. I'm very glad my friend told me. Yes the process wasn't easy. But 9 years on I'm happier than I've ever been. Away from the bastard

MissJoGrant · 02/08/2023 22:08

MayThe4th:

"And anyone who sends anonymous letters is a gutless cunt and no better than the cheater."

No better! Really?

mommatoone · 02/08/2023 22:12

I would have to tell his wife. I couldnt live with myself. And from your (cousins) description of what happened OP, it all seems that this guy is cock sure of himself. The guys he were with know about it, the girl was possibly a prostitute . Hes not even trying to hide it! Good god Then hes got this wife sat at home none the wiser. Cheeky fucker.

cinzanoandcoke · 02/08/2023 22:25

I'd want to know. Someone sat me down and told me my BF did this many years ago. I didn't even really know her, but I'm still so grateful that she did.

CrazyArmadilloLady · 02/08/2023 22:27

What an utterly shit situation to be in, OP - full sympathy.

Here you are genuinely in turmoil. Whereas the cheating man swans round without a care in the world.

In terms of saying anything, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

Everyone always says they’d want to know (fair play to the person upthread who said they wouldn’t). That’s not the truth, though. Far from it.

Most people, on finding out, shoot the messenger. They just do. AND, they simultaneously turn their humiliation and anger on all the people who knew, but kept their mouths shut.

As I say, it’s a completely shit situation to be put in - all the while, the cheater is fully protected.

No advice, I’m afraid. There’s zero way of knowing whether your poor friend would want to know, or if she’d cut you off forever to protect her husband.

The only approach I’d venture suggesting, would be to tell the cheater you know (or get someone else to - I doubt any of the men would be willing, though), and urge him to come clean.

Even if he doesn’t, if he realises some of his wife’s friends know, it might force him to tone things down a bit.

Canisaysomething · 02/08/2023 22:43

This man sounds vile. I couldn't stand back and say nothing, I care more about morals than I do about keeping the peace. Shame on everyone else keeping silent, absolutely disgusting behaviour from everyone involved.

watersprites · 02/08/2023 23:06

Why does everyone assume she knows? Of course she doesn't know -she wouldn't be posting "happy family pics" if she knew

Err why not?

Maddy70 · 02/08/2023 23:17

I would stay out of it. They should tell him to tell her

CrazyArmadilloLady · 02/08/2023 23:22

watersprites · 02/08/2023 23:06

Why does everyone assume she knows? Of course she doesn't know -she wouldn't be posting "happy family pics" if she knew

Err why not?

Yes, there’s a chance that they’re in an open relationship, and she knows full well about what he gets up to (odd that all the men are staying firmly schtum to keep it secret, if that’s the case), but realistically? She doesn’t know.

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 23:24

I canr abide the what if she knows posts. I cant.

watersprites · 02/08/2023 23:31

@CrazyArmadilloLady someone posting happy shots on social media is not a necessarily a true reflection of what's actually going on.

MaggieFS · 02/08/2023 23:39

Don't do the anonymous letter bollocks. It'll make it ten times worse for her wondering who knows, how much knows, is it true and on and on.

If you feel she should know, and then what happens after that is up to her, then tell her.

If you can live with keeping it from her, so be it.

If it were me, my heart says I'd rather not know and carry on in ignorance. But my head says that if that many other people know, and there's potential he'd do it again/has done it before, I'd rather know. She deserves respect.

Window82 · 02/08/2023 23:40

Part of me is horrified with the group that went out there and all knew. It makes me think he wasn’t the only one. The fall out would be huge if they were all at it!!!!

It’s just one big pile of shit and I have to see her posts, her adorable kids - she literally loves him so much when we’re on nights out they’re so loving to each other. I am so fucking angry with him.

OP posts:
RantyAnty · 03/08/2023 00:06

I guess I'm not sure why it's your job to tell.

Why aren't the ones who were there like the cousin who told you and others tell?

WildUnchartedWaters · 03/08/2023 00:07

RantyAnty · 03/08/2023 00:06

I guess I'm not sure why it's your job to tell.

Why aren't the ones who were there like the cousin who told you and others tell?

Who decides who's job it is?

saraclara · 03/08/2023 00:19

without first hand knowledge you need to leave this alone.

That..if you'd been on the trip and witnessed the pick up, that would be different.But you've just heard this third hand. The cousin doesn't know, but this woman might have been a prostitute. He's fairly sure they had sex because they were in the apartment opposite? Hmmm.

I'm sorry, but that's not enough for you to get involved. The cousin could, but you're basically just repeating gossip. You weren't there. It's not your story.
One of the (so far) gutless men needs to be the one to tell her or give him an ultimatum. Not you.

CrazyArmadilloLady · 03/08/2023 00:24

watersprites · 02/08/2023 23:31

@CrazyArmadilloLady someone posting happy shots on social media is not a necessarily a true reflection of what's actually going on.

Of course it’s not - we all know that.

It’s still highly unlikely that the wife knows.

neilyoungismyhero · 03/08/2023 00:37

No one told me..our whole group of friends knew, we had all met around 17 years old, we grew up together loved each other in a way but no one said a thing..
I moved away I keep in random touch still love them but have never really forgiven their shitty silence. I'm late 60s now.

Royalsrumbled · 03/08/2023 00:45

I wouldn't publicly get involved as it may backfire and cause a lot of trouble for you. I would however, find a way to anonymously tell her. Whether that's by an anonymous email or social media message. I wouldn't tell anybody you'd done it though.

WildUnchartedWaters · 03/08/2023 00:46

Royalsrumbled · 03/08/2023 00:45

I wouldn't publicly get involved as it may backfire and cause a lot of trouble for you. I would however, find a way to anonymously tell her. Whether that's by an anonymous email or social media message. I wouldn't tell anybody you'd done it though.

This causes damage.

WildUnchartedWaters · 03/08/2023 00:47

saraclara · 03/08/2023 00:19

without first hand knowledge you need to leave this alone.

That..if you'd been on the trip and witnessed the pick up, that would be different.But you've just heard this third hand. The cousin doesn't know, but this woman might have been a prostitute. He's fairly sure they had sex because they were in the apartment opposite? Hmmm.

I'm sorry, but that's not enough for you to get involved. The cousin could, but you're basically just repeating gossip. You weren't there. It's not your story.
One of the (so far) gutless men needs to be the one to tell her or give him an ultimatum. Not you.

Why? Does a mans word carry more than a woman's?