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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:
MemoryOfSleep · 13/10/2018 08:34

Also, I feel compelled to point out the following because it is awful but gets lost in the litany of awfulness that is your relationship:

I was owing him money when I found my job from him supporting me when I arrived back and was looking for work.

This is not how marriage works. You don't owe your husband money. All money is joint. Also, why is it solely up to you to buy wedding rings? The guy must have been gaslighting you like crazy to get you to put up with all of this.

Sohardtochooseausername · 13/10/2018 08:38

I think you need a big hug Flowers

Samantha2018 · 13/10/2018 08:44

You need to get away for your own sanity.
I do think once a cheat always a cheat you will never trust him

Returnofthesmileybar · 13/10/2018 08:49

Definitely get yourself out of there! And you really need to get yourself checked medically too, I know you don't want to think about that now but you really do need to

SandyY2K · 13/10/2018 08:58

You know you should never have married him. All the signs were there.

Get divorced and thank God you don't have a child together.

MrsReacher1 · 13/10/2018 09:14

You really do have to leave. He has treated you so very badly and clearly will continue to do so.

You can get out now relatively easily as you don't have a child or a mortgage. He is a user - it is that more than the cheating that would bother me. He will always use you, financially, sexually, socially - whatever is convenient for him. Leave.

Maelstrop · 13/10/2018 09:15

He sounds like a twat. He’s cheated and kept your relationship secret. Why are you with him? Who cares if divorce is bad for Arabic people? Marriage to him is bad for you!

1234567A · 13/10/2018 13:02

Thanks for all your replies it really helps to know that I’m not “too sensitive” like he says I am. He’s Egyptian and I’m Irish, we have a marriage certificate and it’s attested in the the country were staying in now. He didn’t tell his parents we were married at the time I was pregnant although I was really upset about it as we had visited Egypt (we had suspected I was pregnant but wasn’t confirmed at the time) I had to stay in a hotel by myself, I was really upset but I assumed that he’s parents would think differently of me if they thought we were intimate before “marriage” so I wanted to respect him and his culture until he was ready to tell them we were married.

I was paying him back as he had lended me money to pay for a course and paid for my flights, let me borrow money to pay for the hotel and spending money in Egypt and other expenses that added up so all together I had to owe him £12,500 GBP and I obviously wouldn’t expect to have it just handed to me. He said he hasn’t told many people that he’s married as he doesn’t want anyone to know about his private life but it just feels like I don’t exist.

OP posts:
KC225 · 13/10/2018 13:23

OP your latest post is very depressing. I don't think you are redyy to leave him. If this thread goes on for longer, I can see you will end up defending him and disappear from the thread altogether.

Asisde from the first couple of sentences, the rest is you making excuses for his piss poor treatment of you. None of it is excusable. He is using his parents, his culture, his privacy to keep you hidden away and at his beck and call socially and financially. You are married, and he refuses to introduce you to his parents, so convinces you it reasonable to borrow money from him in order to hide yorself away in a hotel.

0rlaith · 13/10/2018 16:13

Do you have a legal marriage or just a religious one?

Miggeldy · 14/10/2018 08:08

Oh god. What a mess.
Run.

Duckherding · 14/10/2018 17:39

Get a divorce, but leave immediately you owe him nothing

IndieTara · 14/10/2018 18:33

Op I too married an Egyptian ( met him while I worked there ) whilst he didn't do anything like your husband as you've described things, culturally we were poles apart but this didn't really come to light until after we were married.
I can honestly say his attitude towards me changed completely once we'd married.
Cultural and religious differences and beliefs can be difficult to overcome in a good marriage. In the circumstances you describe it will be even harder.
We have been divorced 6 years but did have a child so I can never get him out of my life. I can never regret my child but I do regret tying myself to him

1234567A · 14/10/2018 23:06

Tbh all of these replies have helped me to believe in myself because whenever I would get upset he would always tell me I’m too sensitive and I actually began doubting myself. It only hit me when I came home and my parents seen me and were telling me I looked like I had lost weight and asking why I don’t wear makeup or dye my hair anymore (he told me I looked amazing without it) my parents booked me in for a salon appointment and I started to wear my makeup again and I felt so much more confident. When I arrived back to him he didn’t compliment me on my hair, makeup, new clothes, nothing! Instead he was late to collect me at the airport just like when I had the abortion and he was 2 hours late when I landed back that time.

I just didn’t see the bigger picture until I realized that I hadn’t bought myself anything in the last year as I was paying him back what I owed him although he would never take me shopping or surprise me (not that I feel entitled but absolutely nothing) after I finished paying him back every penny I wasn’t able to get him a birthday present so when I received my next salary I bought him a tissot watch that cost over 1000 pounds (I told him it was an expensive birthday gift as a thank you for helping me pay for my course and lending me money as I wouldn’t have been able to do those things without that help). He stood beside me at the counter while I paid for it and just when we were a week away from putting a deposit down and getting a mortgage he told me he cheated.

I can only say that all the responses have only made me feel stronger to be able to move on and believe that I’m worth more than what he’s giving me. Thank you everyone for all the positive responses!

OP posts:
garethsouthgatesmrs · 14/10/2018 23:19

let me borrow money to pay for the hotel and spending money in Egypt a

but you had to stay in a hotel because of his pathetic refusal to tell his parents about you, so him "lending" you money for that is ridiculous.

Yes agree with all the others RUN A MILE! Go home now to ireland and get the divorce sorted from a safe distance. Leave as soon as you can and resolve never to see him again.

KC225 · 15/10/2018 02:55

I agree with the above poster. Go back to Ireland, go back to your parents and sort the divorce out from there. Do not tell him your plans, get out of there now.

penisbeakers · 15/10/2018 03:20

Fucking making the marriage work because divorce isn't good for Arabic people - this kind of behaviour isn't good for YOU.

He's taken you for a ride repeatedly, you need to get away from him yesterday, stop letting him walk all over you.

Henrysmycat · 15/10/2018 06:13

Why nobody has mentioned the big P word? Do you realise how lucrative an EU passport is?
He’ll keep you hidden for a few more years, get the passport and then divorce you. He might even recommend you go back home for a year so he can get residency. Ireland has one of the best ways to get an EU passport. 2-3 years married and 1 year living in Ireland. You’d be the 100th case, I’ve seen.
All this divorce is bad for Arabic people is bullshit.
I know divorce for Irish is hard, especially if you come from strict religious background but seriously, you life is worth more at 28.
I’m not even going to touch on the rest of the ridiculous lies he’s fed you.
Do yourself a favour, free yourself.

IABURQO · 15/10/2018 08:31

Sorry but he doesn't love you, he couldn't treat you like this with the abortion, hiding you etc if he loved you. I'm so sorry your heart is breaking, but you deserve better and in time when you're back home rebuilding your life you will feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.

Marygoround17 · 12/05/2020 08:38

Greetings to you all. My story goes, I found out DH is still in contact with his ex after DH had promised to stop all communication even said he had blocked the numbers. When l confronted him he denied the relationship, said he never read the msgs. It's been weeks now he has not said anything or apologised. We're living like brother and sister now and it has spoiled what was otherwise a good relationship. Usually l would initiate a conversation but this time am not going to because l feel he owes me an explanation and apology. Am l being unreasonable? What does the silence mean? Your options would be greatly appreciated.

zscaler · 12/05/2020 08:49

He will never change. You hit the nail on the head with this: 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

He has used you for what he wants without ever respecting you or caring about your wants and needs. He wasn’t there for you when you needed him, he has been constantly unfaithful and will continue to be, you are not a priority for him.

Get the divorce in motion and stay at home with your family - you deserve so much more than this, and the more of your life you throw away on this guy the less you will have left to enjoy on your own terms, without this constant deception and humiliation.

MaxNormal · 12/05/2020 08:55

You deserve much better treatment than this. I'm concerned that you'll put up with way too much in your next relationship too if you don't address that. He's bloody awful, of course, and you should leave asap but please don't settle for someone so shite again in future.

BubblyBarbara · 12/05/2020 08:56

Cheaters are like book authors. You either write no books or you write like ten or more. Almost no one cheats just the once so if you’re not into cheaters, never ever trust anyone who’s “just done it once”

WarmSausageTea · 12/05/2020 10:23

Zombie thread.

@Marygoround17, you will probably get more/better responses by starting a new thread either in AIBU or Relationships.

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