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Angry at ex and his wife?

127 replies

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:14

So I have no idea if I'm in the wrong here.

I dated a guy for 5 years. I always knew he was married and I knew his wife. He told me that he'd confessed to her that he had feelings for me six months before we even got together, but when we started seeing each other she found out within a week and put a stop to it (this was about five years ago).

So... he started meeting me 'as friends' and I thought it had been okayed at home. We talked every day, hanging out. Sometimes she'd find out the extent of our contact and get upset, but he kept framing it as 'just friends' and she'd forgive him. We were obviously way more than just friends -- from my perspective it was a full-time relationship and I was honestly just waiting all the time for those two to have the difficult conversations he kept promising they were just about to have.

After a year or so he started telling me they'd broken up, were just living together but not sharing a bed. I tried ending it and moving away a couple of times but although he never asked me to stay, he kept hinting that they were going to have big conversations and sort out the future. I contacted her a couple of times (because I believed him), and she acknowledged our 'friendship' but wouldn't talk about the relationship. Like she completely blanked it out.

About six months ago I finally ended the relationship. We spoke to each other after a few months and he said he'd fixed his marriage, they had a wonderful sex life now, were the happiest they'd ever been etc. At the same time he rekindled our affair and I was a mess so I let it happen for a few more months. He was coming over all the time, spent the night twice while she was away, told me he loved me and wanted to marry me etc. I got really depressed and ended up in hospital; he stayed the night with me, slept with me, then went on holiday with her and his kid the next day.

A few weeks ago I kind of flipped and told her everything that had happened. They had a big fight and he cut off contact with me. But I guess he lied his way through it because she blanked out everything and stayed with him.

I was visiting friends in their town and passed them in the street. They looked so happy. Like she had utterly blanked out everything that had happened. As if she didn't even know that her husband had a five year affair until a few weeks ago.

The worst part is that she was the other woman once before too. He'd had a previous marriage when he met her and walked out on a newborn baby.

I know such a long affair was awful and I really regret it. At the same time I'm so angry with them both. I can't believe that they can just skip around and act like they have the happiest marriage in the world so soon after finding out about the affair.

BTW he already has a new girlfriend, she's more than half his age and is younger than his own daughter. I guess his wife just blanked that out too. I am so pissed off that she believes his lies and didn't hear a word I said, probably still believes that me and her husband were 'just friends' for five years. I have 100,000 texts, photos, videos, messages and thousands of hours of call logs proving the opposite.

I'm so angry at them both and at myself. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
EVHead · 17/06/2023 20:17

The guy’s an utter cunt. Don’t give him another thought - move on, move away, do what you need to do to rid yourself of this twat.

His wife’s choices are nothing to do with you.

Yikesno · 17/06/2023 20:17

This guy is evil and I feel very sorry for his wife. Your beef is with him, not her. One day, hopefully soon, you're going to be over him but she'll still be stuck. Please get some therapy if you can to prevent you from letting yourself be used like this in future.

Achwheesht · 17/06/2023 20:19

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CoreyTaylorsSoggyTshirt · 17/06/2023 20:20

I don't think any of you come off well in this story.

SnapPop · 17/06/2023 20:20

I don't get why you're so angry with her. She's the victim here.

towriteyoumustlive · 17/06/2023 20:22

This guy has clearly played you.

And as he walked out on someone else to be with his wife, then she also knows what he is like and was probably in on it too...

Stick to single men in future... and any whiff of a lie then run a mile.

ThreeCoursesForMe · 17/06/2023 20:23

This is disgusting, leave both of them well alone, accept your part in it and never get involved in such a horrible situation again. Hurting his wife won't change how he's treated you, what did you expect to happen?

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:24

Yeah, there's no way I'd ever do anything like this again.

OP posts:
BlinkeredBay · 17/06/2023 20:24

You blanked out he had a wife, she blanked out he had a mistress?

Both ridiculous, but her excuse could be she doesn’t want to lose her home or whatever, what’s yours?

DrMarciaFieldstone · 17/06/2023 20:25

I dated a guy for 5 years

Not really… you were his bit on the side for 5 years.

Sunnydaysareuponus · 17/06/2023 20:25

Ime his 'punishment' was having to stay married to her...
He is a weak man op. Surely you can do better?

BlinkeredBay · 17/06/2023 20:26

Sunnydaysareuponus · 17/06/2023 20:25

Ime his 'punishment' was having to stay married to her...
He is a weak man op. Surely you can do better?

Why is that a punishment for him?

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:26

I was angry at how he was treating her too and thought she deserved to know. I figured she'd have some self-respect and leave, but I don't think she even believes he cheated on her.

OP posts:
Lacucuracha · 17/06/2023 20:27

I think you know you would still be with him if he wanted you.

He sounds awful, he has done you a favour.

Leave them to their toxic marriage, it will implode eventually.

hattyhathat · 17/06/2023 20:27

Completely unreasonable. Why should she react how you want her to. Sort yourself out.

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:28

Yeah, this part is really true. You're right, that's a very helpful way to look at it.

OP posts:
ThreeCoursesForMe · 17/06/2023 20:28

Perhaps she can't leave? Appearances are deceiving, a bloke manipulative enough to have a bit on the side for 5 years and walk out on a baby previously isn't going to fret about controlling her behind closed doors.

hattyhathat · 17/06/2023 20:28

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:26

I was angry at how he was treating her too and thought she deserved to know. I figured she'd have some self-respect and leave, but I don't think she even believes he cheated on her.

So you're angry at her? Him I can understand but just leave her out of it.

SchoolQuestionnaire · 17/06/2023 20:29

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:26

I was angry at how he was treating her too and thought she deserved to know. I figured she'd have some self-respect and leave, but I don't think she even believes he cheated on her.

She knows exactly what he is, even if she’d rather pretend that she doesn’t. She will be utterly miserable and constantly on the alert for his next bit on the side. You really shouldn’t be angry with her, you should feel sorry for her that she doesn’t have the self respect to break away from this toxic relationship.

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:29

Because she pretended he didn't cheat on her for five years??? Jeez, I don't care if they stay together, get therapy or whatever. But just pretending like it didn't happen is nuts.

OP posts:
satellitesunshine · 17/06/2023 20:30

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UpaladderwatchingTV · 17/06/2023 20:31

You said that he already has another girlfriend. In that case, I think the only decent thing you can do, is warn the new girlfriend what she's letting herself in for, if you know who she is. Other than that, walk away, and never be so stupid as to get involved with a married man again. It rarely ends well for anyone!

BlinkeredBay · 17/06/2023 20:31

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:29

Because she pretended he didn't cheat on her for five years??? Jeez, I don't care if they stay together, get therapy or whatever. But just pretending like it didn't happen is nuts.

But you need the therapy! You stayed with a married man that promised to leave for five years!

Blame no one but yourself!

DrMarciaFieldstone · 17/06/2023 20:32

greypixie · 17/06/2023 20:29

Because she pretended he didn't cheat on her for five years??? Jeez, I don't care if they stay together, get therapy or whatever. But just pretending like it didn't happen is nuts.

Well you pretended to yourself that he was going to leave her for 5 years, how is that any different?

You’re also pretending that you told her out of concern for her, and not as revenge.

Achwheesht · 17/06/2023 20:32

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