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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think there’s no coming back from these messages between DH and his colleague?

419 replies

Queens26 · 28/04/2026 16:43

‘D’H and I haven’t been in a great place for a while but both have said we want to try to make things work. It has mainly been the stress of having a young child and a couple of other big arguments.

I know he is quite friendly with an older colleague (late 40’s, he’s 32) but have grown a bit suspicious for a couple of reasons which meant I have checked his phone. The first time, what I found gave me reason to look again, and I found really (to me) explicit messages.

I don’t believe the colleague is single, but she’s in a very casual relationship which she isn’t happy with and sounds like it has been over for a while.

I think this is the most upsetting exchange, I took photos on my phone so he couldn’t deny things. There are various emojis which I’ve not added in:

Colleague: I feel like we’d have so much fun, you wouldn’t need to complain about a lack of excitement with me:
H: I just feel bored, we never do anything different and it’s the same thing she wants every time
C: I am always up for trying different things
H: I am all ears haha
C: I am open minded, there’s nothing to be ashamed of if two adults on same page
H: Yeah I don’t want anything hardcore just something other than missionary once in a while would be nice
C: What do you class as hardcore?
H: No idea, S&M I guess haha
C: That’s tame
C: Most men want anal
H: Yeah I think I’d get punched if I suggested that at home haha
C: I wouldn’t punch you but my rule is you’d have to be willing to receive for me to agree haha
H: Sounds scary haha
C: I’d be gentle and start small
H: You wasn’t lying when you said your open minded haha
C: That’s what you get with someone experienced

I confronted him last night, he became upset and said he hated himself for sending these and didn’t mean anything by it and that it was a ‘fantasy’ and no more.

I can’t help but think a line has been crossed, I am sure they haven’t done anything physical but for me messages that extreme have to be deemed cheating?

OP posts:
BreezyMintHiker · 28/04/2026 16:45

Yeah there’s no coming back from that.

Rachelshair · 28/04/2026 16:47

That's gross. He's complaining about your sex life to a colleague! And she sounds like a right pick me girl. It may not be cheating as such but it's not acceptable. If he's so unhappy with you, you can do him a favour and dump him.

Renamedyetagain · 28/04/2026 16:47

Ffs. Dump. You deserve SO much more. Basic decency and respect for a start. Those messages are so base, cringe and sad.

CheeseAndTomatoSandwichWithMayo · 28/04/2026 16:48

Wow! There is NO coming back from that exchange!

DuchessOfStuffit · 28/04/2026 16:48

Wow. Hes crossed a line massively. If this was my husband- im sorry to say op- i would feel like he had made a fool of me. Betrayed me.
How dare he discuss the intimate details of YOUR life and also flirt with the idea of sex with another woman.
He should have shut her down IMMEDIATELY and disengaged. However he should also have NEVER discussed your marriage.

I am sorry your having to face this!

UpmingtonHeights · 28/04/2026 16:48

It is a line well crossed. She is revolting but he is worse. This is a betrayal I couldn't move on from.

Miranda65 · 28/04/2026 16:49

You checked his phone - that in itself shows that he shouldn't trust you! So there is "fault" on both sides, tbh.

myhorriblehands · 28/04/2026 16:50

Fuck that !! He might aswell have actually fucked her. And she sounds vile.

AmberTigerEyes · 28/04/2026 16:50

I agree no excuse for this sexting.
It depends on your relationship whether sexting is cheating.
I would say it is cheating by my standards.

Is this the only exchange? Because in this one the older colleague initiated the sex talk. Is this colleague also senior to him or otherwise in a position of power over him?

Or is he the one senior to her or in a position of power? Because if she goes to HR with that exchange, he will be guilty of gross misconduct.

myhorriblehands · 28/04/2026 16:50

Miranda65 · 28/04/2026 16:49

You checked his phone - that in itself shows that he shouldn't trust you! So there is "fault" on both sides, tbh.

🙄🙄

Createausername1970 · 28/04/2026 16:51

I would struggle to get past this to be honest.

Putting this to one side, is the rest of your relationship ok? Do you want to try to rescue it?

If you are unhappy in other respects then I would question whether it's worth it.

appleberryhandcream · 28/04/2026 16:51

I’m not sure.
She took the talk to anal.
He didn’t reply about doing anal with her. He replied that you wouldn’t like it.

Yes, it’s not ideal, but he wasn’t salivating all over her and asking her to do anal.

She was very much the one leading it.

Depends on the other messages, I would say.

CoffeeAndACroissant · 28/04/2026 16:52

I'm sorry. That's awful and absolutely is cheating. It might not have been physical, it could be all talk, but it is still him being unfaithful.

You don't have to make any decisions right now. You will still be in shock.

Ultimately you will have a choice. Either stay with him or not.

If you choose to stay, then the absolute bare minimum on his end must be to change jobs, go completely no contact with the OW, have an open phone / device policy with you, and be willing to undergo relationship counselling. If he is not willing to do any of that then he is not willing to do what is necessary to save your marriage.

If you choose to go, then start looking at financials etc. Lots of wise MNetters can help with this.

But right now, take some time for yourself to gather your thoughts. Can he move out somewhere for a few nights to give you space?

Megifer · 28/04/2026 16:53

Ummm....yea no going back from that at all im afraid. Sorry op.

So what you checked his phone, he gave you reason to and your instinct was spot on. Id absolutely own the snooping and wouldnt have a shred of guilt or feel bad in the slightest about doing it 👍

Hobbittyhobbs · 28/04/2026 16:54

I’m so sorry OP. I don’t think I could come back from that either. You’re the mother of his child and he is complaining to a colleague that you’re not providing him with the specific kind of sex he likes, all the while he’s moving closer to an affair. You deserve so much better, his behaviour is so shitty.

Littlebitpsycho · 28/04/2026 16:55

@Miranda65 what? Way to victim blame! So she can just sit at home with her husband cheating - its not as if he was planning to admit it!

Absolutely way over the line and I'd be gone instantly

euff · 28/04/2026 16:56

Miranda65 · 28/04/2026 16:49

You checked his phone - that in itself shows that he shouldn't trust you! So there is "fault" on both sides, tbh.

She proved her instincts right, not like she’s been monitoring it. Hardly an equal offence.

OP, the sharing of details of your sex life is such a violation.

CeciliaMars · 28/04/2026 16:56

Yeah he is being unfaithful emotionally. I couldn't forgive these messages.

Forty85 · 28/04/2026 16:56

She started and led the convo and he was wrong to go along with it and make the comments he made but he didn't sound as if he was into her suggestions.

I don't think id end my marriage over this to be honest but id be reading him the riot act and it would be a final warning. Ask him to look for a new job and I'd also be addressing our sex life.

Megifer · 28/04/2026 16:57

appleberryhandcream · 28/04/2026 16:51

I’m not sure.
She took the talk to anal.
He didn’t reply about doing anal with her. He replied that you wouldn’t like it.

Yes, it’s not ideal, but he wasn’t salivating all over her and asking her to do anal.

She was very much the one leading it.

Depends on the other messages, I would say.

He didnt reply asking her exactly wtf she thought she was doing talking to him in that way either though, did he?

SnappyQuoter · 28/04/2026 16:57

Your relationship is over. To talk like that about you to a colleague is totally out of line, because it wasn’t confiding in a close friend, it was inciting flirting and he knew what he was doing and absolutely went along with it. And she sounds disgusting, desperately trying to be a cool girl and just comes off as thirsty. If that’s who he would go behind your back with then he is just as desperate and deluded, and totally not worth your time or effort, love or forgiveness. It’s over.

Jellybunny98 · 28/04/2026 16:57

appleberryhandcream · 28/04/2026 16:51

I’m not sure.
She took the talk to anal.
He didn’t reply about doing anal with her. He replied that you wouldn’t like it.

Yes, it’s not ideal, but he wasn’t salivating all over her and asking her to do anal.

She was very much the one leading it.

Depends on the other messages, I would say.

I sort of see this side, she was leading the messages although he wasn’t shutting her down and encouraged it with the “I’m all ears” comment.

It’s definitely not appropriate for someone in a relationship though and if nothing else it shows he is clearly speaking to her about your sex life which would be a big issue for me too. I’m not someone who thinks you absolutely can never talk about sex life issues with friends, I’ve confided in friends before and they have me, I’m sure my husband has at some point, but for him to do it with this woman who clearly would be all too happy to step in crosses a line.

DalmationalAnthem · 28/04/2026 16:58

Apart from making himself unfuckable, even if you did have sex with the man again, you know he goes around telling random people what position etc. you do.

Acting like he was upset at his gross misconduct texts getting caught is just pathetic.

This is him 'trying to make things work'? 🤢

forgivingfiggy · 28/04/2026 16:58

He’s a bloody idiot. But yes, she is pushing it and he is (stupidly) responding. He needs to find a new job.

peonysinthesun · 28/04/2026 16:59

There’s no coming back from that. Even if you tried to move past it, you would always remember and it would stay in the back of your mind, every work night out, every time you’re going through a phase of missionary etc. you need to get rid of him.