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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Once a cheater...?

49 replies

1234567A · 13/10/2018 00:40

Ok this is going to be a bit long and thank you to those who read and reply as I felt like every detail was important but just wanted a bit of perspective.

I worked in a foreign country and met an “amazing handsome guy” fell in love bla bla. Eventually I was homesick as it was my first time away by myself for so long, he begged me to stay, I wanted to go home for awhile and think about things but I missed him so much and we kept in contact and he would tell me how much he loved me and he wanted me to come back. Everyone told me not to but I had the fairytale fantasy and thought if I never try, I’ll never know. I packed all my things back up and jumped on a plane.

He never paid for the flight (which didn’t seem an issue at first), he didn’t want to move in with me although his company offered a housing allowance so I rented a room, he travels a lot for work so I knew I’d only see him may 10-12 days a month but I had the same job previously which was how we met so I understood. I could only sign into his company accommodation at certain times and could never stay over (formalities).

I thought he loved me but it just seemed like he was always so tired and I felt so lonely. He was always messaging other women and when I would ask why he would say they’re just friends (these friends would pop up after nights out with the guys) multiple pictures on his phone with multiple girls in very close proximity. He told me he was in a bar and some guy kept hitting on the girl so “they had to pretend they were in a relationship and take that picture”, he *had to take other pictures on other occasions of other women because “he’s phone camera was better quality.” Basically, there were always excuses. It got to the point where he would constantly msg my friend who had moved to that country and tell her how her profile pic looked nice, I thought it was weird but didn’t want to come across crazy so never said a thing until she asked us both to go out for her birthday and started grinding up against him and dirty dancing while I was right there (he didn’t stop it).

The “friend” told me previously I shouldn’t trust him and listed so many reasons. Later I discovered she was msgn him saying she doesn’t think I’m right for him as I’m “too shy” and he’s more “social”. He would never understand my point of view and would laugh at me if I got upset about them constantly msgn or the other random girls and multiple pictures. Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore, I moved to Korea I thought I was getting over him until he took leave and came to visit me for a week. Again, he professed his love, said he wanted to stay friends or try long distance. This happened for a year and he would continue going out to nightclubs drinking but would always say how much he missed me and how I should move back.

One night he sent me a WhatsApp msg and says “let’s get married” I said no cz we talked about a propsal before and I obviously thought he was joking (he wasn’t) somehow he convinced me to go to Seychelles without telling anyone and get married (he said it was so romantic). The plan was to move back under the condition we live together and he casually mentions how happy he was to be married as he could only get the housing allowance if you’re married since the company had made cuts. Fast forward 3 months, contraceptive fails, I get pregnant and we both weren’t ready (I was still in Korea). He didn’t seemed bothered but kept saying we couldn’t have a baby and I should get an abortion (he didn’t come with me and I paid for the flights as I couldn’t speak Korean and abortion is prohibited in the other country, the procedure and the hotel) I was at rock bottom. At this stage he hadn’t told anyone we were married and told me not to tell anyone about the pregnancy. I cried so much and told him how he should’ve been there and all I wanted was to fly home and see my family he begged me to come back, apologized profusely, telling me he loved me and how stupid he is for not being there (as he couldn’t get a visa) and how he promises to pamper me when I get back. (That didn’t happen, the next day after I landed back he had a 6 day trip) I was left in our new apartment with no WiFi, no electricity, no furniture. I was miserable, I went to book a hotel and couldn’t wait for him to get back.

We seemed to have the most amazing year and a half of marriage although we still didn’t have wedding rings as I was owing him money when I found my job from him supporting me when I arrived back and was looking for work. Eventually I had enough money and told him I was going to buy the two wedding rings and he persuaded me not to, saying that women seem to flirt with married men more and he doesn’t want to draw them onto him. I thought it was strange and began having suspicions. We were just about to get a mortgage for an apartment and he tells me he thinks he should buy it himself and I live *rent free but continue to pay bills whilst he still receives a huge housing allowance. I mentioned our previous discussion where we would rent the new apartment and split the tenants rent as we would both have half share in the apartment. He said no, I got upset asked him why all our “special moments seemed to turn out crap such as no proposal, no wedding ring, the pregnancy, him trying to hide that we’re married and now the apartment etc” he ended up saying how he’s worried I might decide to move back to Korea and blurts out that he cheated on me before we got married and how he always wanted to tell me but he was so happy and didn’t want to ruin our relationship. For the first time in our 4 year relationship & marriage I asked to look through his phone and I seen multiple msgs to multiple women organizing to meet up whilst I was renting the room the first time I moved over. Msgs where he was organizing nights out or cinema outings when I was in Korea and msgs to his friends where he brags about sleeping with lots of women but how lonely it can get and that he’s in a long distance relationship and wanted me to move back. He then told me that the most recent woman was 10 days before we were married and how sorry he was and how much he hates the woman. I later found out that this was a woman from a WhatsApp group where he used to play tennis with this girl and since I don’t play tennis he would always ask me to remove myself from the group. He kept saying they never met after we got married but the group msgs seem like that’s not the case as they talk about going to play tennis and he replies ok msg me in the morning and we’ll see.

Two months has passed since he told me and I’ve flown home twice during these two months to try and think about things. I honestly feel I can never trust him again, I feel like everyone else knew about the cheating except me as people used to drop hints but I would always change the topic (I really thought he was the most caring, amazing guy) I can’t believe I lived with him for almost 2 years and he hid it from me or I didn’t see any signs, he’s job makes it harder as he’s away for so long staying in hotels and always working with females where he obviously has to talk and socialize and he’s never even met my family as he didn’t apply for eu citizenship after we got married. I kind of feel that he only married me to get the housing allowance and not feel lonely when he’s back from he’s work trips but now I feel like I’m scrutinizing everything I feel like I’m going crazy and for him to tell me that our relationship only counted since the day we got married made me feel so worthless as I would never have moved back the first time.

Aibu to want a divorce? Is he taking me for granted or is he genuinely sorry? Is this a case of once a cheater... always a cheater? Do you think he will ever change?

OP posts:
Weenurse · 13/10/2018 00:44

Run away, run far, far away

Sweetpea15 · 13/10/2018 01:04

I’m sorry you’re going through this but he’s already made a fool of you so many times. He will only continue to hurt you and everyone can see it.

LTB.

Wussypants · 13/10/2018 01:05

Get your running shoes on. Once a cheater, always a cheater.

Also his idea about buying the apartment and you living "rent free" while you pay all his bills? No thanks mate. He's taking the piss.

I know it's shit and horrible that this is happening now, but at least it's not after another 4 years down the line, and you can make a fairly clean break as you don't have a mortgage together. Feels rubbish now, but you know you can't trust him, it'd send you mad if you tried.

You deserve better.

Purpleartichoke · 13/10/2018 01:06

Infidelity is the least of your worries. Get away from this man as quickly as you can.

CanuckBC · 13/10/2018 01:06

He’s been using you. He has been cheating all along. He likes the thrill. He used you to get the housing allowance. Did you keep the baby? Did you want to??

Run, far and fast.

1in4FrogsIsALeapFrog · 13/10/2018 01:16

Read your post back to yourself....

you know the answer, leave him and never look back

1234567A · 13/10/2018 02:29

Thank you for the replies, it does sound crazy when I read it all together but because it was happening over time and I would forgive and try to move on it didn’t seem so heart wrenching.

We didn’t have the baby as he hadn’t even told his parents we were married which he says he now regrets not telling them sooner. They’re Arabic and apparently he’s parents would have been upset if they knew he was sleeping with someone outside of marriage.

I have a Muslim friend who explained to me that no matter what I should make the marriage work as divorce is apparently not good for Arabic people. But it just sucks that I feel like all the things every woman dreams of as a child was taken away from me and now I’m thinking of a divorce at the age of 28

OP posts:
KC225 · 13/10/2018 03:16

And read it again out aloud. And imagine if that had been written by your sister or your best friend. You would be in tears begging them to leave this man.

He is not a good man. He humiliates you, you go away and he reels you back in again. What decent husband would let his wife go through a termination on her own and when she flies back to be with leaves her without electricity, furniture and WiFi.

He won't tell his friends you're married, won't tell his parents, won't wear a wedding. Now he won't have you on the mortgage. He wants the married living allowance and to be single.

Please leave this man. He will not change. He has had ample opportunity to change and treat you with respect but he hasn't. You are too good for him. Go back to your family. Start again. Don't still be writing posts like this in 10 years time.

MsChanandlerBoing · 13/10/2018 03:22

Forget about what your ‘friend’ said. That’s patently bullshit - Muslim people can and do get divorced if they want.

Check first of all that your marriage is legal - it’s not uncommon for people to find that they’ve actually had a ceremonial blessing or some sort when you have a rushed wedding abroad. In quite a few countries there are lots of hoops to jump through so if you’re in a rush they can’t actually do a legal wedding but do a similar ceremony.

Also does he consider you married? If he’s saying that you didn’t have the baby because his parents wouldn’t have been happy about extra marital sex - you got pregnant after the wedding so if it wasn’t a religious wedding does he actually consider you his wife?

He’s a manipulative cheat, run as far as you can. As others have said you would be telling your friends the same so please do it

moredoll · 13/10/2018 03:41

Divorce him. He's a user and totally bad news.
You'll have a much better life once he's part of your past.

FittonTower · 13/10/2018 03:43

Oh my god. Leave, divorce, run far far away.
And are you Arab or Muslim? If not why do you care that divorce is "not good for Arabic" people? The prick should've thought of that shouldn't he?

IamSerena · 13/10/2018 03:44

Please please please leave. You deserve better than this. You can start again and one day this week be just a bad distant memory. It will be hard to do now, but definitely is the right thing to do.

RightYesButNo · 13/10/2018 03:48

@MsChanandlerBoing is 100% right - make sure your marriage is even legal. I know most people get married legally in their home countries and then just have a “blessing” when they go to the Seychelles as a sort of escape to Paradise. He may not want to buy the apartment with you because you will then find out the marriage is not legal and never happened.

Maybe once a cheater, you could move past it and rebuild trust if you both decided to. But this guy seems to be roughly 186 times a cheater, so I think you need to leave as soon as you possibly can. I’m sorry Flowers

LanguidLobster · 13/10/2018 03:58

Get out, you're still young.

Sorry he was a wanker and do check all the formalities first like PP have said, if you were actually married. You can do this.

trojanpony · 13/10/2018 05:36

Your Muslim friend is an idiot.
Even if you are Arabic - I can tell you for free leaving him would be very good for you.

This man is appalling. He does not respect you and nothing about your relationship is healthy or normal. (Reread your post)

Everyone deserves more than this from a relationship and in life.

Run like the wind, if your marriage is actually legal Divorce him and never look back.

LanguidLobster · 13/10/2018 05:46

There's a quote from a book which I really like:

Have you ever stayed in a place where you wanted someone who didn't want you? Well don't - never do. Get out. Don't stay in a place where you want someone who doesn't want you. Get out as quickly as you can and don't come back. That's all I can say. That's all you can do.

I'm sure he loves you in some way but not in enough ways to make you happy

PositiveVibez · 13/10/2018 05:53

You cannot live the rest of your life like this. He has already taken your self-esteem.

You are that blind to his abusive behaviour, that you now cannot see the wood for the trees.

Please, please leave him.

You could have a very happy life, but you will always be miserable with this horrible pig.

You are worth so much more than the scraps he gives you.

IAmAllAsttonishnent · 13/10/2018 05:58

Run run, as fast as you can ....

No seriously RUN

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 13/10/2018 06:08

Infidelity is the least of your worries. Get away from this man as quickly as you can.
This.

Once an arsehole, always an arsehole. If your marriage is legally binding, then get a divorce. Wouldn’t surprise me if this prick chose Seychelles because it only counted for the housing allowance.

0rlaith · 13/10/2018 07:04

Please leave him. See a lawyer about how to get a divorce.

MemoryOfSleep · 13/10/2018 07:24

Run fast, run far. And share this info with family and friends back home so they can help you be strong when he inevitably tries to get you back. Do check the legality of the marriage as PP said. Do you have a marriage certificate?

Happygummibear · 13/10/2018 07:42

In answer to your question... in this case yes he will always be a cheater.... I was with a cheater.... he emotionally and financially abused me...

this story could be in take a break.... you need to leave him before you get in any deeper. He doesn't love you, he Is just using you.

Go back to where it is safe and you have some support. Block all contact and make sure he doesn't know where you have gone

IJustLostTheGame · 13/10/2018 07:47

Go go go go go go
He will never stop cheating on you
Your friend is a dick.

Sohardtochooseausername · 13/10/2018 07:50

He’s treated you so badly. Do you want your life to be like this? Leave him. Go and be near people who like you and are kind to you. You don’t need this man in your life. He sounds completely vile.

bridgetreilly · 13/10/2018 08:13

Sweetheart, he hasn't cheated once. He's cheated continually for years. This isn't a question of forgiving him for one mistake, it's recognising that he has never actually been committed to you.