How common are 'double lives'?

[MerryAnton]

My friend has been with her boyfriend for 3 years, they live together in a flat they both rent.

When they met, he said he was separated from his wife who lives 3 hours away, they have 2 children together. The divorce was in motion, but the ex wife wanted him to pretend to still be together for a while.

Fast forward to today, the divorce is still pending, and he goes back to the marital home every other weekend to see his kids, he says he sleeps on the sofa. He speaks regularly to his wife and says it's because they're sorting divorce details.

My friend has never met the kids, and he forwards 80% of his wage into his wife's account and says this is their agreement post breakup. He earns 80k and my friend earns 25k and they go 50/50 on everything.

It's none of my business and my friend seems happy with him, but there are a few unusual things here, I wondered if anyone themselves knew of anyone actually leading a double life successfully? Or is my imagination in overdrive

I knew someone whose dad was living a double life. He had 5 kids with her mum and another 3 with the OW who lived about 10 miles away. My friend and one of her siblings found out about the other family when she was an adult. I’m not sure if her mum ever found out but this situation went on for years only ending when the OW died. 😳

@FizzyPink

The Bigamist is a really good book showing how an intelligent and independent woman was completely taken in by the lies of a man she was in love with. She’s obviously out of the relationship now hence writing the book but it’s shocking how he manipulated her with his lies as I’m sure lots of other men do as well.

Ordered this book on the basis of this post, and finished it this morning. Fascinating!

Thank you for recommendation, @FizzyPink.

Ex FIL had a second family, he worked away during the week and started a relationship with the woman he lodged with.

Ex mil found out about an affair in due course and kicked him out. When he took the kids for the first time for the weekend a few months later he introduced them to their brother, their brother was 5 years old!!

I wouldn't have thought anyone could get away with it these days though with social media etc.

Well according to MN my husband has another couple of families and kids. It's quite funny actually.

@RevolvingPivot

Well according to MN my husband has another couple of families and kids. It's quite funny actually.

Eh?