Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner isn't cheating, but is in another relationship?

66 replies

Spinflight · 01/12/2025 21:46

Curious situation...

Living with my very autistic gf for 6 years. Happily, no dramas, if a little sexless.

So from a clear blue sky she announces that she has feelings for another younger chap, who used to come with us to music events etc. I told her to choose, and was promptly booted out of her house so that she could 'begin to have sexual relations' with him.

A month or so of great upset later she asks me to come home and that was a couple of months ago. I put it all down to menopausal hormones and a nervous breakdown.

So there's two problems.

The first being that she insists upon still seeing this chap, goes to Carmarthen once a week and spends the day with him. Tells me that 'I have nothing to worry about'. Hmmmm.

The second is that I had a month to have a really good think about what I want from our relationship. A career for me (was a senior software engineer before I moved in with her) and some time with my friends in the North West along with much more physical intimacy. Trouble is I also had an inkling, a mere thought really at first... That I'd like to have more children. I had a nice midlife crisis many moons ago and ended up in Afghanistan so did not expect another one. Is is normal for 50 year old dudes to start feeling they'd like to have children? Or is that odd?

So the first problem became rather more acute a month ago when a packet of sanitary towels hit me on the head whilst opening the airing cupboard. Whilst putting them back I felt something lacy. Which turned out to be a very sexy and expensive red corset style bra with an invoice quite deliberately hidden. It was only two weeks old, I'd never seen it and it had a... stain on it. One which shone vividly under UV light.

So I insisted on knowing what the nature of their relationship was and she told me that he is a cross dresser who thinks that he should be a woman but can't due to his job in the police. She is merely counselling and helping him with childhood angsts and the like... Whilst helping him with his make up, lol.

Pull the other one, right?

Seems however this is at least partly true-ish. I've seen a couple of clothes tags for size 10 lingerie (my lass is a size 26) and one in particular from a company which specialises in fetish gear for sissy men!

So it seems most likely that she pursued him, then found out he was not entirely inclined to have a full relationship with her. Yet she goes to see him wearing lingerie, which she never wears for me, some of it also newly bought, I assume, as she's certainly wearing bras and the like I've never seen before.

She tells me that she isn't having sexual relations with him, and I do kinda believe her. In the same way that Bill Clinton merely shared a fascination with cigars with his intern, rather than full sexual relations. There's clearly something going on, though not something she'd give up a proper relationship for?

So whilst I've never looked at another woman whilst in my current relationship is it unreasonable to keep an eye out for possibilities? I don't mean Tindering or whatnot, just having an open mind to finding someone else and moving on. Accepting advances or making some new female friends etc?

She knows how I feel about her 'other boyfriend' but tries to manage my feelings, which is something I find insufferable. Each time I've tried to talk to her she's said something which completely contradicts prior conversations.

So should I just leave her for being unfaithful and dishonest? Or is it reasonable to court a new relationship first?

OP posts:
Lmnop22 · 01/12/2025 22:15

Jesus Christ the actually only viable option is to leave this disrespectful shit show (if this is in fact real which I very much doubt)

Foodylicious · 01/12/2025 22:16

Next time your writting a short story, pick a writing (character) style and stick to it.
This is all over the place.

Memeyoulater · 01/12/2025 22:20

What utter bollocks

susey · 01/12/2025 22:47

Get a job.

FenceBooksCycle · 01/12/2025 23:01

It's fine to break up. Whether or not she's having sex with this other bloke is immaterial, fidelity isn't just about who rubs their genitals to whose but about where you put your emotional energy, and hers is directed elsewhere.

Do not line up your next relationship before breaking up, that's dishonest and pathetic. Have the self respect to live as a single person for bit before you start looking. Let your next partner see that you are capable of living like grownup not like a teenage slob when it's juat you solo.

Please for the love of god do not embark on parenthood at the age of 50. Consider that boat sailed. Yes you probably could if you tried but it's not fair on the child. Just when they need your support as they embark into adulthood you will be retiring, possibly deteriorating health, not able to provide or assist.

CautiousLurker2 · 01/12/2025 23:02

BowlyLarr · 01/12/2025 21:48

What on earth have I just read?

‘50 year old dudes’?!!

Is it the end of term already?

FuzzyWolf · 01/12/2025 23:06

It’s not even fun when the posts are as obvious as this.

NoKnickerElastic · 01/12/2025 23:08

Are your initials EJ?

MatildaTheCat · 01/12/2025 23:10

Your first sentence is at least true: curious indeed.

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 01/12/2025 23:13

LTB

TessSaysYes · 01/12/2025 23:19

Leave or go poly amorous/ENM.
Might be less drama to leave

ACatAsleepInYourHat · 01/12/2025 23:22

Sorry, but really, what the actual...? Dude, leave your size 26 lass to her younger chap, the cross-dressing sissy policeman, before you have another crisis and end up in Afghanistan again. Don't forget to take your UV light with you. I'm sure there will be plenty of other "females" who'll be only too happy to have children with you now you've had the inkling. Women just love an imaginative chap like you.

CantBreathe90 · 01/12/2025 23:38

If she's a size 26 and menopausal, and you are in your 50s, your chance of conceiving is minimal. Even if it was a good idea, which it most definitely isn't.

That said, you don't have to stay in a relationship where you are openly being cheated on! And jizzy affair clothes are falling out of the cupboard on you 🤢 Unless you have some sort of cuckolding / humiliation fetish going on. In which case, fair play but why bring it up?

If you do stay with her, you could propose one of these ever-trendy "open relationships" I hear so much about. Although how well these work in real life, I don't know. Either way, don't cheat on your gf; break up or make it work.

PickAChew · 01/12/2025 23:44

Well that's quite a rambling story.

QBTheRoundestOfBees · 01/12/2025 23:47

I am sorry, I am in tears of laughter at the comments here 😂
I am not sure which I am supposed to vote for if this is real, leave.

Oneday24 · 01/12/2025 23:51
Shocked Eyes GIF by MOODMAN

Erm

Happyjoe · 02/12/2025 00:08

Is this a fine example of how AI doesn't work very well yet?

OP, if you are real, lol, leave.

trogtrogtrog · 02/12/2025 00:27

How exactly does one end up in Afghanistan?

Left · 02/12/2025 00:42

Erm.

If you’re at the “UV light checking garments for stains” stage then the relationship is defo dead.

Probably not a good candidate for fatherhood if you can’t see what a shitshow this is.

JFDIYOLO · 02/12/2025 00:53

Side question - where can I buy a UV light? It sounds fascinating.

SnowFrogJelly · 02/12/2025 01:06

Slow day at the office dear?

PinkyFlamingo · 02/12/2025 01:13

You just happen to have a UV light thing lying around ? Righty ho

BartholemewTheCat · 02/12/2025 06:02

trogtrogtrog · 02/12/2025 00:27

How exactly does one end up in Afghanistan?

Possibly like when Chandler Bing accidentally went to Yemen?

Newnamehiwhodis · 02/12/2025 06:09

Just leave and end it cleanly if things are this unclear. It sounds awful. What does she contribute to your life?
also, you want a child and you’re in your 50’s? Have you thought about how someone else might feel about that, since they’re the one who has to … you know, carry and birth the child?
you both sound incredibly self absorbed.

maybe break up and get some therapy to better yourself

Allaboutthecats · 02/12/2025 06:16

It was the day trips to Camarthen that got me!