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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:
JustAnotherCheeseburger · 08/10/2023 15:32

Oh @Annnemarrrie it sounds just so rubbish.

I think you've seen that his eyes are easily turned. My concern is that you're only 27. Do you think his eyes will be turned when you're 40/50/60+, what if you have a baby and you're knackered, covered in baby vomit and not had a shower? You see, I think this will just eat away at your confidence.

With no kids and you being so young, I'd divorce and move on. Be on your own or enjoy a marriage with someone who treasures you. Just don't settle at 27 for someone who doesn't.

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 20:39

So a little update. My husband apparently ringed her today and told her that I didn't want them to stay in contact outside of work. He didn't tell me he called her to say this, I only found out because I saw she blocked him everywhere and I asked him if he called her to tell her their contact should only be in working hours.

i don't know what to think. If everything was innocent then why would she block him, I feel like she maybe did start to have feelings for him otherwise you wouldn't block him everywhere.

OP posts:
Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 20:40

Sounds like she is angry at him and that's why she blocked him. My feelings now are not reassured at all

OP posts:
Beachwalker66 · 08/10/2023 20:45

So he actually told her “my wife won’t let me be friends with you because she’s so jealous”

He is on such an ego trip!

OuiRagamuffin · 08/10/2023 20:46

Yeh, I think yr intuition is right. It"s like, why block a guy who is consistent in his 'story'. More likely one would block a man who misrepresented himself and the did a 180,hiding behind his wife.

That would annoy me too. He's not saying anything like "I behaved shabbily and I'm sorry, I meed to be a better man".

If I read that,I'd have a little hope. No, instead he is like a boy, busted, "my wife won't let me play outside".

Are you very turned off?

RandomForest · 08/10/2023 20:47

Yeah, they've both bought burner phones.

The dance of the liars.

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 08/10/2023 20:54

OP, I could have written your post. He left me for her, 6 years on they're still a couple

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 21:52

So my husband came home today with my favorite pizza. Tried to give me a hug and told me he was sorry for crossing my boundaries. I did not accept the hug as I couldn't. We then ate in silence.

After we sat on the couch and I asked him what happened today. He told me he called her today and told her I was very uncomfortable with them having conversations outside of work and that he respected my boundaries and wanted to keep their contact minimal and just work related. She replied saying that her reaching out wasn't meant in a wrong way and that she didn't want to cause any trouble in the marriage. She did not mention blocking him but she did right after they hung up.

Now, I do not know what is the truth. Is this the truth, is this far from the truth, does the truth lay somewhere in the middle. I have no clue. I have a hard time trusting at the moment.

I thought about messaging her, but I don't know how she would react to that and if that would cause more uncomfiness in the work space. I do not believe that she doesn't like him, cause if it was innocent she just wouldn't text him anymore. She chose to block him and that leaves me with more unanswered questions. What I do know is that all their conversations didn't include anything romantically. I do not know what has been said in the phone calls but I can't imagine something on romantic level as I would've noticed that in their messages, as my husband didn't know I could read them all at that time. Though this doesn't make it less worse as he still lied and hid things from me, even if it all wasn't on a romantic level.

I am very torn at the moment. Don't really know what to think and how to act. I know that if this is all a lie I will find out eventually just by his behaviour. But I don't know if I want to stick around to find out. I really need some days to think. Will go out with my friends tomorrow to eat sushi, chat and relax. Might gives me some peace of mind cause this certainly doesnt.

OP posts:
Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 21:54

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 08/10/2023 20:54

OP, I could have written your post. He left me for her, 6 years on they're still a couple

Im so sorry you had to go through that, but really glad this opened up new doors for you to a man that is going to love you to the fullest one day. Hugs!

OP posts:
ThreeLeggedPug · 08/10/2023 22:27

is he usually truthful about things that matter? If so, maybe trust him? If not, be extra vigilant.

don’t contact her … this would be jumping the gun with a new work colleague who you don't have a relationship with.

EmbracingTheGrey · 08/10/2023 22:35

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. The truth is that sometimes, some of us who don't have a true sense of self worth get drawn to people who flatter and are hyper interested in us. This can happen even when you don't need or seek the attention. But the validation is like a high. It sounds to me like this is maybe how your husband is? I hope you work things out. For me, it helped that I did a bit of counselling that showed me how much I respond to inappropriate attention, despite having an amazing partner who I love. And that the fixation or high wasn't real. It was just a gap in me that I should fill in different ways. If he's worth it, don't give up on him (yet!)

billy1966 · 08/10/2023 22:52

OP, I don't think you should contact her.

Focus on yourself.

Within 5 minutes of moving job he has entered into a deeply inappropriate area.

Reflect on the relationship you have and why he would be so susceptible to this.

He has lied, deleted and tried to blame you.

That is what I would be focusing on, not her.

She could be anyone.

Think about what you want and what sort of future you want.

You have married very young and within 3 years he has had an inappropriate relationship within 5 minutes of meeting a new colleague.

Is this someone that you feel confident about placing your trust in for your future.

Would you feel confident about having a family with a man whose head can be turned so easily.

I am 30 years married and take my vows very seriously.

Would I have continued to believe in my marriage in your shoes after 3 years and also childless?

I really don't think so.

Whatever about the marriage limping along for a while, if you were my daughter I would be advising you think long and hard before you commit to having a child with a man whose head has been so quickly and easily turned.

You have called a day on his behaviour, he most certainly did not.

Had you not challenged him on this, it undoubtedly would have continued.

His deleting the call history means he knew well how it looks.

I really wish you the best.

You deserve so much better than this.

Annnemarrrie · 08/10/2023 22:53

ThreeLeggedPug · 08/10/2023 22:27

is he usually truthful about things that matter? If so, maybe trust him? If not, be extra vigilant.

don’t contact her … this would be jumping the gun with a new work colleague who you don't have a relationship with.

No we've had an incident like this before. My trust wasn't a 100% to begin with. It was nothing major in that time but still something that crossed my boundaries and that he lied about. I don't want to end up in a vicious cycle where this pattern will keep repeating itself.

Yes that has kept me from doing so. I also didn't want to jump her as although she knows about me, this is my husbands responsibility, not hers. I am just not really a fan of hers after this

OP posts:
billy1966 · 08/10/2023 22:56

"Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern".

You are already in a pattern OP.

Dishonesty comes easily to him.

LifeExperience · 08/10/2023 23:01

He's done it before, he's doing it now, and he'll do it again.

CherryMaDeara · 08/10/2023 23:11

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 08/10/2023 11:14

It's really pathetic and snide isn't it? The way some posters look down their nose at, and pour scorn on women who DARE to do anything for their husband! Shock Like they're letting the side down, by having the temerity to cook a fucking meal for their husband!!! You can tell these posters are single/unmarried and as jealous af Wink

Getting up at 5am to cook a man breakfast is unnecessary, even OP says she has stopped and is enjoying not doing it anymore.

It doesn’t mean we are single/unmarried, it just means we married men who can feed themselves.

If I got out of bed bleary eyed at 5am to cook DH breakfast he would think I had gone mad.

Cotonsugar · 09/10/2023 08:48

How lovely 😊

Cotonsugar · 09/10/2023 08:58

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 08/10/2023 11:10

Is that all you have to add to this thread? You AND @DustyLee123 ??? Knocking and bashing a woman (who is clearly upset and distressed,) for making breakfast for her husband? I despair. Confused

And what a predictable and lame cliché. 'Is this the 50s?' Must think you're so yoooo-neeeek saying that. 🙄

Where is the bashing and knocking? Read the op properly, she’s fed up with the breakfast making herself. Yes I’m predictable and lame - so what? Why get yourself all worked up over a stranger’s lame comments? Let it go. Plenty of ridiculous comments and illiterate opinions on mumsnet, enjoy or move onto something else if it gets you so worked up. Have a nice day😊

Tweetypie27 · 09/10/2023 09:05

My ex husband did this and more mainly emotional affairs with people from work. One time I called the number he had been ringing in his phone under the name Dan and a woman answered her name was Dannielle.
I knew then the marriage was over but I was pregnant so I forgave him but the resentment does not just go away and I ended up leaving when my baby was one. I had caught him messaging women a couple of times before that who were just ‘friends’
Dont put yourself through it I’m glad I left .

Zooeyzo · 09/10/2023 13:24

I think you know you have to leave him. That kind of suspicion and atmosphere of mistrust isn't good for your mental health and if you have children you'll be tied to this man forever.

Sumtimesiamgreen · 09/10/2023 13:51

Does not matter what he says… he is not going to tell you the truth, perhaps align the lines of.. I want of stay married because wife gets up at 5am pamper me, fulfilling my every whim…. But ffs I will shag that woman in the office first chance I get.
do you want it police that ?

Nanny0gg · 09/10/2023 14:17

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.

Most married men would want to speak to their wives on the way home, not the colleague they've just left

And he took her home and lied about it

No. Nothing to see here Confused

Dumbndumber · 04/01/2024 13:47

@Annnemarrrie how are things now?

Isabellivi · 26/04/2024 08:02

The defensive ness is such a red flag. A man will be touched by your feelings and want to comfort you. As long as you aren’t a jealous type who is draining his patience with constant drama, this sounds like a totally reasonable thing to be bothered by and if he loves you he should be jumping on how to make it right

Rosscameasdoody · 26/04/2024 10:43

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.

If it’s just ‘enjoying the chats’ why did he lie about taking her home one night ? And why is he hiding his phone and deleting screenshots ? If she’s just a work colleague why has he not set boundaries as to when he can be messaged. ? Late at night when he’s home with his wife isn’t appropriate and this screams emotional affair, if it hasn’t turned physical already.

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