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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think my fiance overreacted by getting a younger woman's number because I double booked by accident, and threw my belongings about?

1000 replies

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 12:52

I am trying to work out whether I am being unfair or whether my fiancé genuinely overreacts to situations.
I was spending a long weekend with him and we had plans for Monday. Friday to Sunday eve were lovely and we did sightseeing etc. then went to his and were planning to stay there for a few nights.

However, I realised I had accidentally double-booked the Monday because my adult DD had arranged for me to meet her new boyfriend and his father over lunch. It was important to her and had been organised for a while. DD has is ND and has severe MH issues; this is the first "normal" relationship she has had and it's a huge deal for her.

I told my fiancé on Sunday afternoon that I would go to the lunch for a few hours and then come back afterwards so we could still spend the Monday evening together and the following days.

He was furious. He said I was choosing other people over him and repeatedly referred to my daughter's boyfriend and his father as "strange men". He seemed particularly upset that I would be spending time with another man, even though it was DD's BF's dad not just a random stranger.

After I had told him I had double booked and would need to go for a few hours we were arguing about it non-stop for hours. I was crying at one point and I kept saying I was sorry, it was human error, not deliberate. After all this arguing I was tired and wanted to stay in, but at around 11pm he insisted we go out. While we were out he deliberately started talking to a much younger woman, introduced himself to her, claimed he got her Instagram and then repeatedly talked about how he was meeting her for dinner the next day. His argument was that if I was going for lunch with strange men the next day, then why couldn't he meet up with a new person too? Even though it was not the same at all, obviously. The young woman must have been about 20 and we are both in our 40's so it just felt really weird and "off".

The argument continued after we got back to his for most of the night and I got very little sleep. The next morning I had to get an extremely expensive Uber to make sure I did not let my daughter down and miss the lunch. He had said not to come back to his after lunch but then called me when I was in the Uber and asked me to come back to his after all.

The lunch itself was lovely. Afterwards, I travelled back to his. However, when I arrived we had another argument. During it, he picked up my bags and threw them across the room in anger, they went everywhere as he threw them so hard.

He later continued to use the lunch as an example of me not caring about him enough and prioritising other people over our relationship, and how I like "strange men".

From my point of view, I attended an important family event for a few hours and still made the effort to return afterwards. From his point of view, I had disrespected him and chosen other people over him.

When I told him how much the Uber cost he took offence because I have never gotten an Uber to his even if I am running late; he said he didn't realise I have money in this way.

When I went back to his after the lunch I had to get a standing room only train in the middle of the heatwave; I don't like public transport at the best of times and he kept asking when I arrived what did I want to do; meet his friends in the pub or go straight to his. I said I don't care and was almost in tears as I was finding the journey so stressful. I didn't realise but he had me on loud speaker so all his friends heard me when I said "I don't care" and now he's saying his friends all think I am horrible and rude to him. When it was taken out of context and they didn't know we had been arguing all night and that he'd got a much younger woman's contact details the night before.

Am I missing something or was he overreacting?

OP posts:
Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 15:33

whistlesandbells · 01/06/2026 15:21

This is how my vile ex husband abused me. Relentless arguing to wear you down being the hallmark. He used to throw things about - it escalates to violence and personal attack. It is about control and not wanting you have to contact with anyone unless he allows it. Do note that everything he said always led back to him, how he feels, how it makes him look blah blah blah.
You will be deeply unhappy if you stay with this man with huge regrets. I wish I had paid attention to this - my ex husband has now intentionally alienated me from our children because I dared to leave. Do not continue with this man - get out now.

The words "relentless arguing" have really resonated with me as that is what it was, I kept saying can we just stop talking about this, I'm sorry, it was a mistake to double-book but it wasn't done with malice. I think he thought he could persuade me to not go for lunch with DD to meet the new boyfriend and his dad. But I obviously did and that seems to have annoyed him because in his mind I chose DD over him.

OP posts:
Ricequark · 01/06/2026 15:35

This reply has been deleted

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TheresAsilverLiningInTheSkyee · 01/06/2026 15:37

This will be what your whole life is like if you do not immediately dump this controlling, self centred, violent dickhead.

All aspects of his behaviour here have been outrageous and disrespectful. Please just get rid of him.

MrsJeanLuc · 01/06/2026 15:37

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:50

Yes absolutely. I think writing down what has happened that weekend and the thing with the Airbnb too has helped me see clearly.

I was hesitant to post as the whole thing sounds so crazy and ridiculous, of course he was being unreasonable, and so on. Took me a good few days to get round to posting because of the element of shame / embarrassment and I knew people would be thinking I am a total fool for letting it get to this stage.

@Sunglasses1979 I'm glad you're starting to see things a little more clearly now.

If you start to doubt yourself again just go back and read through this thread ... every single poster has told you that you did nothing wrong and that your (ex?) fiance's behaviour is unhinged and coercive.

You need to end your relationship with him and focus on getting back in touch with your family and friends.

Good luck!

AllaFieraDellEst · 01/06/2026 15:37

Please do not marry this man OP. He will ruin you if you do. Get out while you still can and don't look back x

FeliciaFancybottom · 01/06/2026 15:38

You're not married, you don't live together, you don't owe him anything. What's stopping you from just ending it?

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 15:38

Crikeyalmighty · 01/06/2026 15:28

This took me back OP - I lived with someone like this for 3 years between my 2 marriages- initially I was very flattered as compared to my perfectly ok but self centred ex H he was very ‘attentive’ and yes it did feel like a very ‘us’ cocoon - gradually though it became very claustrophobic, wanted all my time, always wanted to pick me up after events, then started getting moody and aggressive if I didn’t always have the same plans - it just ‘ramped up’ - and it occurred on me I didn’t want to be someone’s whole life, just part of it - I ended up doing a runner when he was out for a day - banged stuff in storeage , had sorted somewhere to live in advance - I always wondered how women ended up being with guys who flipped and did them harm - OP these kinds of guys become very controlling , please get out whilst you can .

Yes it is starting to feel very claustrophobic in that it is just us most of the time.
Interesting you say about your ex picking you up after nights out as this is what he has offered too, and he always wants a phonecall before bedtime too. Once when I was surprised by a night out when I was meant to be stayign in he sounded like he was annoyed but was trying to hide it.

OP posts:
Greenwitchart · 01/06/2026 15:39

Please leave this man OP.

He sounds controlling and abusive.

If you marry him this is what your life will be like everyday and he will likely try to distance you from your daughters and your friends.

Run!!!

Ricequark · 01/06/2026 15:39

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mn5962 · 01/06/2026 15:40

@Sunglasses1979 You know this behaviour is not normal, nor acceptable. You are in an abusive relationship. The question is what are you going to do about it.

Are you going to stay with him or leave?

Ricequark · 01/06/2026 15:40

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FriendlyMedusa · 01/06/2026 15:41

I'm so sorry OP. I know it's hard to leave when you're vulnerable to this pattern in a man, but I believe you can do it. Nothing you described here happens in a healthy relationship. Not one bit of it. Even tearing up your letters and throwing away gifts was dreadfully cruel and the kind of line most people don't cross. And that was many lines ago.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he failed to get the girl's number and his friends didn't actually hear you but he's telling straight lies to mess with your head. This man is, by no exaggeration, evil.

Babyboomer50 · 01/06/2026 15:42

Run for your life .

ScottChegg · 01/06/2026 15:42

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 15:33

The words "relentless arguing" have really resonated with me as that is what it was, I kept saying can we just stop talking about this, I'm sorry, it was a mistake to double-book but it wasn't done with malice. I think he thought he could persuade me to not go for lunch with DD to meet the new boyfriend and his dad. But I obviously did and that seems to have annoyed him because in his mind I chose DD over him.

If you stay with him, soon enough you doing anything at all he doesn't agree with will be you choosing something/someone else over him and result in an argument like this.

SunnyRedSnail · 01/06/2026 15:42

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:50

Yes absolutely. I think writing down what has happened that weekend and the thing with the Airbnb too has helped me see clearly.

I was hesitant to post as the whole thing sounds so crazy and ridiculous, of course he was being unreasonable, and so on. Took me a good few days to get round to posting because of the element of shame / embarrassment and I knew people would be thinking I am a total fool for letting it get to this stage.

You are not a fool at all.

You have been cleverly manipulated. Made to feel that anything that goes wrong is your fault, and you should be grateful for everything he has done for you etc... standard controlling behaviour.

Well done for realising that perhaps this wasn't normal, and being brave enough to ask others. You now have your answer - leave! This is not a healthy relationship.

I would perhaps also consider a Clare's Law disclosure, which will involve talking to the police, but it also means there will be a marker on his file, so if he tries this sort of behaviour with anyone else, they will be able to see he has done this before. Clare's Law

Home - Clare's Law

Also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is a police policy giving you the right to know if your partner has an abusive past

https://clares-law.com/

Picklelily99 · 01/06/2026 15:43

Get out. GET OUT NOW!

Anyahyacinth · 01/06/2026 15:43

He wanted a row, enjoyed it. He would have manipulated any circumstances to get it. This person enjoys your being upset and playing with his ‘supposed’ control of you. Thoroughly unpleasant and unwarranted. You have been clearly warned who he is

BillieWiper · 01/06/2026 15:46

Pathetic arsehole who's highly abusive.

Yeah and I bet his lunch with the 20 yo stranger went great.

Tell him you're not standing for his behaviour for another minute and kick him out.

This is the worst case of coercion control I've seen this afternoon on here.

NotAWurstToIt · 01/06/2026 15:46

OP as everyone else has said this is classic abuse.

I know he will have drawn you in slowly - very attentive, love bombing and then the little things “Don’t go out with your friends, I love you so much, I just want to spend time with you” and you think that’s not unreasonable, so you change your plans.

Then it escalates into the temper and anger and punishing you for not doing what he wants. And he’s done it so insidiously that you doubt yourself and try to justify what’s happening, because it must be you that’s in the wrong.

So there you are, isolated from family and friends and stuck in an abusive relationship that you don’t necessarily see as abusive, wondering what the hell happened.

The good news OP is that you are starting to see it, and you’re not married to him and you don’t live with him and you can change this starting right now.

If he has keys to your place, change the locks. Speak to Women’s Aid, report him to the police, as PP have said and dump him.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/06/2026 15:47

He is abusive.

Please re read this and imagine your daughter or best friend wrote it, what would you advise them?

don’t marry him please. Leave him.

FrostyPalms · 01/06/2026 15:49

I can't add anything more to what everyone has already said. This man is abusive and you need to get him out of your life.

One other thing though, and this is purely for your benefit. Find a calendar app that really works for you. Then when you schedule important things like lunch with your daughter it will be on your calendar and you won't accidentally double book yourself.

1983Louise · 01/06/2026 15:49

I sometimes can't believe what I read, you're in your 40s have some self respect and leave him. Why you would want to be with this man I can't understand, he obviously hates you.

Mumofsondownunder · 01/06/2026 15:50

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 12:52

I am trying to work out whether I am being unfair or whether my fiancé genuinely overreacts to situations.
I was spending a long weekend with him and we had plans for Monday. Friday to Sunday eve were lovely and we did sightseeing etc. then went to his and were planning to stay there for a few nights.

However, I realised I had accidentally double-booked the Monday because my adult DD had arranged for me to meet her new boyfriend and his father over lunch. It was important to her and had been organised for a while. DD has is ND and has severe MH issues; this is the first "normal" relationship she has had and it's a huge deal for her.

I told my fiancé on Sunday afternoon that I would go to the lunch for a few hours and then come back afterwards so we could still spend the Monday evening together and the following days.

He was furious. He said I was choosing other people over him and repeatedly referred to my daughter's boyfriend and his father as "strange men". He seemed particularly upset that I would be spending time with another man, even though it was DD's BF's dad not just a random stranger.

After I had told him I had double booked and would need to go for a few hours we were arguing about it non-stop for hours. I was crying at one point and I kept saying I was sorry, it was human error, not deliberate. After all this arguing I was tired and wanted to stay in, but at around 11pm he insisted we go out. While we were out he deliberately started talking to a much younger woman, introduced himself to her, claimed he got her Instagram and then repeatedly talked about how he was meeting her for dinner the next day. His argument was that if I was going for lunch with strange men the next day, then why couldn't he meet up with a new person too? Even though it was not the same at all, obviously. The young woman must have been about 20 and we are both in our 40's so it just felt really weird and "off".

The argument continued after we got back to his for most of the night and I got very little sleep. The next morning I had to get an extremely expensive Uber to make sure I did not let my daughter down and miss the lunch. He had said not to come back to his after lunch but then called me when I was in the Uber and asked me to come back to his after all.

The lunch itself was lovely. Afterwards, I travelled back to his. However, when I arrived we had another argument. During it, he picked up my bags and threw them across the room in anger, they went everywhere as he threw them so hard.

He later continued to use the lunch as an example of me not caring about him enough and prioritising other people over our relationship, and how I like "strange men".

From my point of view, I attended an important family event for a few hours and still made the effort to return afterwards. From his point of view, I had disrespected him and chosen other people over him.

When I told him how much the Uber cost he took offence because I have never gotten an Uber to his even if I am running late; he said he didn't realise I have money in this way.

When I went back to his after the lunch I had to get a standing room only train in the middle of the heatwave; I don't like public transport at the best of times and he kept asking when I arrived what did I want to do; meet his friends in the pub or go straight to his. I said I don't care and was almost in tears as I was finding the journey so stressful. I didn't realise but he had me on loud speaker so all his friends heard me when I said "I don't care" and now he's saying his friends all think I am horrible and rude to him. When it was taken out of context and they didn't know we had been arguing all night and that he'd got a much younger woman's contact details the night before.

Am I missing something or was he overreacting?

Dump him. Right now.Before it's too late.

Canoodler · 01/06/2026 15:50

Please leave this abusive unhinged man. And do it safely. This could include changing your locks and preferably staying with friends or family for a while.

Hollycoco · 01/06/2026 15:50

This is highly abusive and controlling behaviour. I’m honestly concerned for you. Have you considered doing a Claire’s Law request on him? The results might help give you the strength to leave him.

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