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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I (f27) found numerous messages and calls between my husband (m30) and his new female co-worker

150 replies

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 08:50

Hi everyone. 2 weeks ago my husband changed work inside the department he was working at. He now has different co-workers and I was very excited for him. It's a better job oppertunity so I supported him all the way through. (Very early mornings, irregular timings) but always there to make his breakfast at 5 in the morning and to give him a hug for good luck.

Within the first days he and his female co-worker quickly became friends. I didn't mind cause I am grateful he's got some people around him that he likes. After a couple of days they started to text through Facebook Messenger, mostly about work but that quickly changed within a couple days. They started talking about other things too and I started to feel more uncomfortable.

Again a couple days later, and she now started messaging him late at night when my husband was home with me. I felt very disrespected but decided to keep my mouth shut to see where this would end up. She was the one starting the conversations most of the time and he didn't really try to keep the convo going, so I thought he tried to show boundaries. She started to post a lot of selfies in her Facebook stories and my husband was always quickly there to put hearts on every one of them.

Now yesterday, while he was at work, she send him a screenshot of their calling history. Don't ask me why she did that but I quickly made a screenshot of it to see how much they call. To my suprise almost all calls were made by my own husband! 6/7/8 times a day they were calling! Sometimes 5/6/7 minutes a time. Even the day before yesterday after he finished work he called her in the car ride back home. I got a bit sick to my stomach and knew it was time to confront him. The thing that made everything more suspicious is that he deleted that screenshot in their chat within 4 minutes. I think he might had a feeling that I would peek on his Facebook.

We both have eachothers passwords, never use it but since he started to hide his phone more that's when I started to log in to see whats happening. Now, I am not proud of snooping, but I am glad I did. I feel like all of this is just not okay.

I confronted him yesterday, he got all defensive and after an hour he said he understood my feelings. He's trying to paint me as a psycho for snooping, trying to turn this problem around.

I just want to know, am I the bad one in this story? I just feel really disrespected and unheard honestly

To add: He also hid that he brought her home one night after work. I told him why he didn't tell me and he said he thought that would cross my boundaries. I remember he came home late that night and when I asked him if he had extra work he said no he just brought a male co-worker home. He was very specific about the dude and it turns out it was her not a male worker. I told him that I wouldnt be upset with him bringing her home if its late and dark at night but with all of their calling and messaging all of it its just inappropriate.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 08/10/2023 08:52

You lost me when you said you were making his breakfast at 5am !

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 09:00

I tried to be as supportive as I could as I knew he was very nervous about the work change, but I get this in return so safe to say I am taking my time sleeping from now on! Lol! Totally understand what you mean though

OP posts:
liverpoolgal82 · 08/10/2023 09:02

Oh dear- I think he’s on the road to falling! Nip it now or carry on letting him and he’ll gaslight you that you’re the one with the problem. Yes so you snooped- you had reason. His calls and messages and lying is bigger than the snoop.
Tell him to google Limerance and to grow the eff up and not fall into limerance , cause it will wear off eventually and by then he’ll have lost his marriage.

It’s new and shiny and the compulsion is very strong so you put in boundaries now or leave now before you have to watch the inevitable shit show.

I’ve seen lots of marriages fall to this , then tail between legs begging to be back when the excitement has worn off.

Just know your worth, your boundaries and don’t let yourself be emotionally manipulated.

ClarkWGreaseball · 08/10/2023 09:03

Are you American? Not that it matters of course but you write on that way - or you've asked AI to write it for you!

Well, I'd stop the hugs and meal prep at 5am and then I'd boot him out for the emotional affair with his colleague

TheBolterdahling · 08/10/2023 09:04

Total disrespect from him. Hard boundary never to contact her again outside work or on a non work matter, delete her as Fb friend.

MariePaperRoses · 08/10/2023 09:07

He fell for her charms very quickly, almost as soon as he got a foot in the door of his new job!

I think you have to accept that the relationship won't survive this as he will feel resentful that you snooped and caught him out and you will always be doubting him.

The rot has set in and sadly it only gets worse unless you end it.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 08/10/2023 09:09

DustyLee123 · 08/10/2023 08:52

You lost me when you said you were making his breakfast at 5am !

Typical MN making fun of someone wanting to do something nice for their OH and completely ignoring the rest of the post.

OP from what you've said it's pretty clear they have feelings for one another. I knew when you said you'd confronted him he would turn it around and accuse you of being the unreasonable one. Its not normal for a married man to be in contact so often for so long with another woman and I think you know that.

strawberry2017 · 08/10/2023 09:11

The situation is completely inappropriate and he knows it.
He is crossing the line on a daily basis. It needs to stop or he needs to go.

echinaceadreams · 08/10/2023 09:12

Oh god OP. I'm so sorry. He fancies her and is possibly already snagging her.

echinaceadreams · 08/10/2023 09:12

strawberry2017 · 08/10/2023 09:11

The situation is completely inappropriate and he knows it.
He is crossing the line on a daily basis. It needs to stop or he needs to go.

I agree

nobodysdaughternow · 08/10/2023 09:13

MariePaperRoses · 08/10/2023 09:07

He fell for her charms very quickly, almost as soon as he got a foot in the door of his new job!

I think you have to accept that the relationship won't survive this as he will feel resentful that you snooped and caught him out and you will always be doubting him.

The rot has set in and sadly it only gets worse unless you end it.

The reason the relationship won't survive is he is most likely cheating on op.

Was she meant to ignore everything or trust him to tell the truth?

Whalewatchers · 08/10/2023 09:17

I don't think he's cheating but he's enjoying the chats. Is a man not allowed to have a female friend? What has he actually done wrong? You'll end up pushing him into her arms.

flapjackfairy · 08/10/2023 09:18

Well he has already lied and crossed the boundaries by bringing her home as he admits himself so that says it all. He knew you would not be happy with that. so what else is he lying about ? So sorry op . it is a horrible eay to be treated

ThreeLeggedPug · 08/10/2023 09:22

what sort of work do they do? Is it desk bound or out in public? Is there a safety element hence duel working?

is it work themed chatter/organising plus a little social or holiday stuff. This would be normal phone interactions in my line of work. Also work updates on way home.

The late night calls and hearts on selfies are weird. But only you can gage if there’s something more. What are the written messages between them like?

Nicole1111 · 08/10/2023 09:23

Don’t let him gaslight you in to thinking you are the guilty party. He’s been secretive, deleted things and lied. Yes you shouldn’t have checked on him but presumably that was in response to suspicions he left you with. You really really really need to put in firm boundaries and consider the future of this relationship. At least temporarily can you ask him to find somewhere else to stay? I think you both need time to think.

Emeal123 · 08/10/2023 09:24

strawberry2017 · 08/10/2023 09:11

The situation is completely inappropriate and he knows it.
He is crossing the line on a daily basis. It needs to stop or he needs to go.

Absolutely and unfortunately I don’t hold much hope for this type of situation to never happen again with him. If he can cut things off with her and work through it with you, showing you respect and considering your feelings then hats off to you both.

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 09:28

Thanks for your reply! I am not American, but I am from Belgium so I think that makes sense 😄 English isn't my first language!

OP posts:
HereForTheFreeLunch · 08/10/2023 09:30

He also hid that he brought her home one night after work. I told him why he didn't tell me and he said he thought that would cross my boundaries.

He knows it's boundary crossing. He knows you wouldn't like it.
So does he not do it? No - he does it anyway but lies about it. Hmm

That should tell you everything you need to know about him.

newmama311 · 08/10/2023 09:33

The disrespect to turn it around on you.

GCSister · 08/10/2023 09:34

Well, I'd stop the hugs and meal prep at 5am and then I'd boot him out for the emotional affair with his colleague

This.
Both me and DH work closely with colleagues of the opposite sex but we don't do any of what you have described. He's having an emotional affair.

plumtreebroke · 08/10/2023 09:37

Unless he changes job again their 'friendship' will continue and it sounds like it's heading into dangerous territory which will almost certainly mean cheating. Is she married? Could you arrange for the three of you to meet? If she sees your husband with you she might realise how inappropriate it is.

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 09:37

Thank you for all your messages. After the argument he told me he will set boundaries and tell her to not have contact outside of the office. Do I trust this situation enough? Ofcourse that's a no. He lied about these weeks so how can I be sure he won't start the conversations with her elsewhere. Also, why do I have to tell him this is disrespectful? Why hasn't he thought about that from the start. I see all of your concerns and I agree with all of them.

I know he won't physical cheat, but I know that he'll bring it to the edge. He likes the attention. I don't even think he really 'likes' her that much, but like I said he enjoys the attention he gets. I know that and he knows that.

She kept on messaging him with excuses about work, just so she could talk to him. I followed it all. I asked him if he didn't see that she obviously likes him and he told me she's like that to all the other co-workers too lol and that he wasn't sure if she actually started to like him. He obviously knows that she does he just tried to make everything less serious.

I am very torn at the moment, he's a very kind loving and helpful husband, but then yet again I am still so young! To be going through these things in a marriage already. It makes me question everything at the moment. I have too much selfworth to accept these traits of him.

Would you guys say this would be an immediate divorce for you or would you give it another shot knowing the trust is broken?

To add: i am 27, he is 30. We've been married for 3 years

OP posts:
Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 09:41

Another add: I do not want to blame the girl in this story, everything is on my husband. I don't know if I made it seem that way. He's the one calling her behind my back and trying to make it look like she's the one messaging him all the time.

I do think she's trying to see how far she can go as she knows about me and that didn't stop her from messaging him late at night.

They work at the airport in a department I can't really talk about as it's confidential and I am scared my post will get recognized... It's definitely not a desk job. I saw someone asking this question

OP posts:
5128gap · 08/10/2023 09:42

So, your partner has deliberately entered into an inappropriate relationship with his colleague which may or may not be a physical affair. He has lied and now its come out, is not remorseful and his main priority seems to be to put you back in your box so he can continue.

You have two choices really. You can set out some hard boundaries about what's acceptable going forward, or you can decide its unforgivable/ not worth fighting for, and end the relationship. Because ime unless there is genuine 'you're right, what was I thinking?' regret, these things are nearly always a fight, with more boundary pushing and lies ahead.

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 09:43

plumtreebroke · 08/10/2023 09:37

Unless he changes job again their 'friendship' will continue and it sounds like it's heading into dangerous territory which will almost certainly mean cheating. Is she married? Could you arrange for the three of you to meet? If she sees your husband with you she might realise how inappropriate it is.

So me and my husband share a car and I often bring him to work as it's not that far so I can use the car. It's his actually but he lets me use it. He told me one time last week when I picked him up at night he asked her to tag along with us so we could bring her home but she refused

OP posts: