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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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DH has hidden some heavy stuff...AIBU to want to separate?

829 replies

mummymalta · 29/05/2016 22:53

3 weeks ago DH revealed some very personal things which I feel I should have known before we got married. To be honest, we are all entitled to secrets and personal experiences I suppose, but where do you draw the line?

DH and I have been together for 10 years and married for 7. He's my best friend, I feel like I knew and loved him so much. Affirming these things is very strange to me. We were solid.

A "friend" of DH from the country he used to live in came to a party of a mutual friend of ours. Lets call him Bob. I don't know Bob, DH has only mentioned him briefly and my friend knows him but not well. He came with my friends brother who he is sort of close to. DH didn't want to come to the party (long day) and didn't know Bob would be there. I kissed the kids and ran out the house desperate for freedom on a friday night went to the party.

Get to the party and was enjoying child free time when my friends brother came over to say hi with Bob. "Bob you haven't met DH's wife have you? it's been about 12 years right? "
Bob: "Holy shit - you know I barely remember those days"
He then made a slick comment about him and DH being on coke half the time. I really cant remember what he said verbatim but I sort of nervously laughed (was shocked and he was drunk) and excused myself.

Naturally went home and curiously prodded DH the next morning in bed who waffled about trying it a couple of times and said Bob was a royal prick with a big bouth. I was uneasy that he didn't tell me but nothing divorce worthy. I ask why he didn't tell me and prodded as you do (smelled a rat, wife spidey sense) and then he told me:

He had a coke habit when he went to live abroad in his early twenties right before I met him. He said it was just a bit of fun and just when it started getting a bit out of control he met a girl who he really loved. They had a real relationship and spent a year getting high. Only god knows how he kept his job, but of course drug addiction doesn't necessarily have a face. Anyway she had previously had a heroin addiction and they started doing heavier stuff. He freaked out and ended it. She stopped picking up her mobile and he went to check on her she's dead in flat. Huge drama with her family/ police / drug debt I wont get into it but its fucking insane. He comes home tells no one traumatised. We meet about a year and a half later.

I didnt sense one thing - he spoke of his couple of years abroad quite normally but rarely looking back. I thought nothing of it why would I?

I'm still in shock, not just from the incident, but of the fact that he didn't tell me. I was so shocked that I just said he needs to give me time to digest it. We haven't spoken about it since because I've just shut down. I don't know what's wrong with me - I feel nothing. It's like he's a stranger now. We had a very happy and passionate marriage. Such a great banter affection. Even the kids sense something is off. He keeps trying to talk about it but i don't even hear a word he's saying. I just keep on thinking who are you?

AIBU to want to separate for a bit? I have had no time to digest this?! He said lets send the kids to their nans for half term and deal with this so off they go tomorrow.

OP posts:
wafflesplenty · 30/05/2016 11:53

I have caught up now!
I still stand by my thoughts that if he is clean of drugs, living a good life & you're happy you need to accept the past - accept why you didn't know about it (to protect your feelings as well as himself I'm sure) & try to forget about it.

Drugs do crazy things & make people do crazy things, make crazy decisions & unfortunately there are consequences.

I'm not trying to justify it but if he's completely clean now it would be a shame to throw away what you have for something that happened to a different person in a different life.

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 11:55

DaveCamoron I have no idea i just sat and listened and we haven't spoken about it since because I literally don't know what to say. I have questions but this is murder and rape I'm reeling literally reeling. I was meant to go downstairs and am dreading it. He's told me he found her already dead and didn't rape her so why am I on MN speculating otherwise. Why don't I believe my husband who I adored and why don't I want to speak to him? The family seemed to think it wasn't an overdose obviously and that he killed her and made it look like one. It was so ridiculous it's like a fucking episode of Hollyoaks which is mainly why I didn't even want it in the OP. Why didn't I say holy crap love I'm so sorry you nearly got done for murder / rape in a foreign country? What's wrong with me?

OP posts:
blinkowl · 30/05/2016 11:56

littlemonkey5 please, do read the whole thread - or even a few posts back. The OP has made significant updates. It's about much more than simply taking drugs.

Toooldtobearsed · 30/05/2016 11:58

God, reads like a block buster!

All I would say is that regarding lying, when would be the time to say 'by the way, I am a reformed drug addict/thief/pimp/woman beater'?

When they first met? When they married? The longer you keep a secret, the harder it gets to tell. As for being cold and calculating in the telling of it, perfectly natural reaction to distance yourself from the 'other you'.

I think OP already knows the end of this story.

DaveCamoron · 30/05/2016 11:58

So the girlfriends family suspected that your husband was a criminal genius, murdering her and making it look like an overdose? It's beginning to read like the script of a film TBH.

PrivatePike · 30/05/2016 12:00

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Toooldtobearsed · 30/05/2016 12:01

Sorry, posted too Soon!

Think OP already knows the end of this story, you have already decided, haven't you?

PrivatePike · 30/05/2016 12:02

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Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 12:03

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limitedperiodonly · 30/05/2016 12:06

Don't forget he's also a crack fiend

snapcrap · 30/05/2016 12:07

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blinkowl · 30/05/2016 12:07

mummymalta please take a deep breath. Don't let your imagination run away with you just yet.

How about when you talk to your DH you focus on the things he has admitted to as a starting point.

I think you're right to wonder about his coldness towards his ex too, I'd want to get to the bottom of that.

Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 12:07

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EBearhug · 30/05/2016 12:08

so why am I on MN speculating otherwise.

Because it's putting off the moment where you do have to speak to him.

clam · 30/05/2016 12:09

Hmm, I've been lurking on here since yesterday as I couldn't think of a darn thing to say to articulate how I might feel in your shoes.

I think the thing for me would be his current detachment from the events. I don't suppose that's too surprising, given the traumatic nature of what happened, but in order to continue in my marriage, I think I would need to see real emotional connection and raw pain expressed. Maybe some sort of therapy/counselling would help draw this out - I just think that if he's clamming up due to some sort of PTSD, as opposed to a callous disregard for his actions/ex's death, then that's more forgiveable.

NickiFury · 30/05/2016 12:12

My God this sounds like something from a David Cronenburg movie Shock

Apologies for my earlier post OP, I was not aware of the full picture.

PortiaCastis · 30/05/2016 12:14

I think your OHs life has been like a tv series. You need to get away to think and then have a good heart to heart

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 12:14

DaveCamoron EXACTLY!!!! Thats why i just stuck with "drama" in the OP because I knew if i went into detail what the post would look like but everyone thought I was being cold so i had to elaborate for context now here we are. He said they were distraught and it was more out of grief as opposed to hard evidence etc and the process of being an initial suspect with the potential of being charged was mortifying but he never was and came home running for his life. I've told you guys everything I know. He was so vague about everything i had to prod when I had the energy to I was becoming drained with every word. He literally said "I found her dead in her apartment and they thought I fucking did it but she overdosed" I prodded and said who is they he said "her family thought I did it and covered it up it was ridiculous". The police didn't charge him but questioned him over around 2 weeks as a suspect but in the end it was ruled as overdose. Sounds crazy but he told it in quite a matter of fact way. He said he didn't fear going to jail because he had alibi's etc (that was the first time he saw her in weeks) but the rape thing shook him up. If I believed him 100% this wouldn't even be an issue. FYI - I DONT think he killed her and can understand how a rich family (she had money too...she was an expat who got into drugs) in grief can want to point fingers and how the police in america can indulge them a little. He said it's the rape that shook him up because he can concede to rough sex but he didn't rape her and she never said no.

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 30/05/2016 12:15

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MrsPMT · 30/05/2016 12:16

agree with clam, good post.

Very shocking for you to find this out OP.

Those stating how its 'unbelievable' must have lived v sheltered lives, drugs/prostitution and resulting OD's etc is not a rare occurrence unfortunately Sad

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 12:16

Windsofwinter ?????? I don't think he bloody killed her FFS (CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST TYPED THAT AGAIN) and no I don't think he raped her i'm just saying THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I'm not 100% happy with what I've been told because I am not!!!!!! Just being honest.

OP posts:
EveryoneElsie · 30/05/2016 12:17

OP I'm sorry, but I think you are his 'alibi relationship'.
'This guy seemed irritated that Bob let his past slip.' Thats the real man. The rest is window dressing.

Now he is saying 'he can concede to rough sex'.
Get out of there. Flowers

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 12:18

PortiaCastis drug addiction usually walk hand in hand with crime and death. The only thing soap opera about this is that I'm 100% with what he has told me. Could be paranoia from being lied to for 10 years but who knows.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 12:19

You earlier:

This thread is making me think he bloody killed her

DaveCamoron · 30/05/2016 12:20

So if you believe him why are you not 100% happy with what he's told you R.E the death and rape accusation?