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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have told him?

142 replies

Badnewsoracle · 12/06/2022 14:54

7 years ago DH and I went through a tough patch and he started an affair with my best friend. I suspected from very early on and caught them before they slept together (I'm absolutely certain of this). I ghosted her, we cut contact with her and her husband and stopped attending group events (large close-knit friendship group of interlappping friends from uni days) beyond weddings and funerals. Some of these friends cut us out for my "unreasonable behaviour" and others didn't. Best friend and her husband "kept" the friendship group iyswim. I never told anyone about the affair and reason for us stopping being friends.

DH and I got counseling, DH was incredibly remorseful and we made amends and are doing very well.

Yesterday we attended mutual friends wedding, DH was best man. Ex best friend and her husband were there. We were civil but kept away from them as much as possible. In the evening I was at the bar getting a drink and ex best friends husband came to the bar. I said a polite hello - he and I had previously got on well. He initially blanked me, fine I just ordered my drinks but then he turned to me and said "I just don't know what happened between you, how you could just stop talking to her like that. You were inseparable". To which I responded with "she had an affair with my husband, I don't think I was unreasonable". His face. Oh my god. He didn't know. After 7 years. No one told him. I had assumed, that like us they had chosen to work through it.

I feel absolutely awful. At the time I was really ill with PND and was barely functioning myself, I didn't really have the mental energy to worry about him (I was hospitalised shortly after). But now thinking back, the only people who knew were her, DH, DHs best mate (the groom) and the bride - because I told her. He's since text me asking to talk about it and I don't know what to do. Wibu to tell him after all this time? I'm going to talk to DH tonight once the kids are in bed.

OP posts:
SlickShady · 13/06/2022 16:08

My foot you thought he knew. It was a shitty thing to do, and you should at the very least apologise.

The time for bringing things out in the open is there and then. Years later, as far as other people's lives are concerned, you keep schtum.

LadyEloise1 · 13/06/2022 16:29

I disagree @SlickShady

missymarrk · 13/06/2022 16:31

SlickShady · 13/06/2022 16:08

My foot you thought he knew. It was a shitty thing to do, and you should at the very least apologise.

The time for bringing things out in the open is there and then. Years later, as far as other people's lives are concerned, you keep schtum.

What a load of shite

hangrylady · 13/06/2022 16:33

Leave her to clean up her own shit I say. Not your problem.

billy1966 · 13/06/2022 16:34

@SlickShady

He blanked her and asked a question.

She answered him.

She owes him nothing.

His wife, her ex close friend, is a snake.

The OP has every right to answer the question any time she wishes.

He asked her with the bravdo of drink, she answered him similarly.

Don't ask a question if you don't want the answer.

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 13/06/2022 16:36

Just curious op but how come you forgave dh but not your mate? Surely he was the one who made vows to you?

WeAreBob · 13/06/2022 16:53

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 13/06/2022 16:36

Just curious op but how come you forgave dh but not your mate? Surely he was the one who made vows to you?

This is what I'm wondering.

Best friends like that are the ones who are leant to be there for you when boyfriends and husbands do this shit. You've usually been friends with them for longer than you've known the man and they're the ones who are meant to get you through a break up. For one of them to be the affair partner is unforgivable. I would never get past it and be their friend again.

But the husband who cheated? He'd be out the door too. He made vows to you. He shared your life with you. And then he went and tried to have sex with your friend. That is just as unforgivable.

But I do think any woman who stays with a cheat just lacks self respect and confidence.

Adamantspants · 13/06/2022 17:09

You told your truth. Good on ya.

BadNomad · 13/06/2022 17:12

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 13/06/2022 16:36

Just curious op but how come you forgave dh but not your mate? Surely he was the one who made vows to you?

Because she doesn't need to forgive her friend to be able to continue her marriage? That is between her and her husband.

LadyEloise1 · 13/06/2022 17:26

If my husband cheated with my best friend I would lose both of them.
I couldn't get over the disloyalty of both.

Beingadiv · 13/06/2022 17:38

SlickShady · 13/06/2022 16:08

My foot you thought he knew. It was a shitty thing to do, and you should at the very least apologise.

The time for bringing things out in the open is there and then. Years later, as far as other people's lives are concerned, you keep schtum.

He asked her a straight question. Why should she have lied?

Badnewsoracle · 13/06/2022 17:43

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 13/06/2022 16:36

Just curious op but how come you forgave dh but not your mate? Surely he was the one who made vows to you?

Because I made vows to him and owed it to us both to at least try and forgive him.

He worked really, really hard to earn that forgiveness.

I confided in her about how I was feeling, information that showed how unwell I clearly was, and she took that and used it to get closer to DH.

She gaslighted me at every turn.

She'd done similar before to others but I'd always believed her lies. DH had always been trustworthy and honest until that point.

I pushed him away, I withdrew, refused to get help for my mental health, my behaviour and attitude towards him as deeply unpleasant.

It was a genuine breakdown of our relationship where we both made mistakes and both had culpability.

OP posts:
billy1966 · 13/06/2022 17:44

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 13/06/2022 16:36

Just curious op but how come you forgave dh but not your mate? Surely he was the one who made vows to you?

Because she didn't have children with her friend.

If she hadn't children she might well have kicked him to touch.

lunar1 · 13/06/2022 17:52

I think you've handled this really well.

gogogadgetgo · 13/06/2022 17:54

@Badnewsoracle you don't need to justify your decision.

You didn't come on here asking for advice on what to do about your DH.

You've clearly worked hard with your DH and reached a place where you're happy. I hope meeting your ex friends husband and/or this thread doesn't undo all of that.

I think you've handled this well. It speaks volumes you and your DH got together to craft the response.

trackerc · 13/06/2022 18:17

I think you've handled this the best you can in the circumstances. None of this sounded easy to deal with at the time, youve described your relationship & how you both worked at this & made your peace with this with renewed strength & life you're happy with.
You sounded completely side blinded at the event and addressed it as it was put to you. I don't detect any vindictiveness & the husband didn't seem to either as he believed you & wanted to know details so he can make his own decisions. You & your DH have together shared facts, at his request, without any drama or whipping things up. You are not responsible for what choices he makes. The information was out there, he just didn't know it. It will be distressing for him realising others knew but that's on his wife who chose to withhold it.
Continue your happy life, you built it.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 13/06/2022 18:38

Sounded like he caught you on the back foot. He initially blanked you, then instead of any niceties such as "how are you, long time no see", he went straight for a rather accusatory question. Asking "I just don't know how you could just stop talking to her like that" is perfect for making the recipient defensive and liable to blurt something in response

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