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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:
CeffylCoch · 01/06/2026 18:14

Why the fuck did you spend all night arguing with him? I would have left. And then you went back! Please stop trying to work this guy out! Get rid

Therealjudgejudy · 01/06/2026 18:15

Op, please leave this abusive prick

Loulou4022 · 01/06/2026 18:16

He’s batshit crazy and you need to pack and run now! Do not for the love of god marry this arsehole!!

Politygal · 01/06/2026 18:16

Get rid. It may be painful now but later on, you will realise he is a coercive controlling man. He is not worthy of you.

littleburn · 01/06/2026 18:18

Please say that you’re ending this relationship!

wherearethesnacks · 01/06/2026 18:19

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.

You were unreasonable to have anything to do with this loser after that point. It's insanity to continue speaking to him.

TheJuryIsOut · 01/06/2026 18:19

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 17:49

I am very sorry that happened to you.

It has been a slippery slope from feeling a bit too cozy to feeling claustrophobic.

This is how it happens, slowly so you don't notice a big change. My ex was lovely quite a lot of the time too and would always apolgise and beg me to stay with him etc, it's all part of the plan to have full control.

Kayakerpaddleboarderwalker · 01/06/2026 18:20

If my fiance acted how yours did, he would no longer be my fiance. Every red flag is franctically waving in your face. You will never be happy with an unpredictable abusive person such as this. Get out while you still can. Anyone making you choose between them or your daughter and inventing scenarios that are just not fact or logical, does not have your best interests at heart, only theirs. I cannot believe this is the first time you have seen this side of him.

Daleksatemyshed · 01/06/2026 18:20

You won't see it yet @Sunglasses1979 but you are a lucky woman, his recent awful behaviour is opening your eyes to how bad this relationship has got, now you have all these women telling you just how bad things will get if you don't find the strength to break away. I would bet good money that if you asked your friends, your family, your DD if they thought you should break up with him they would say yes, they can see the things you've been blind to until now.

Jane143 · 01/06/2026 18:22

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.

Any nice man would know you SHOULD choose your daughter over him though

Daisymail · 01/06/2026 18:22

You need to end this abusive relationship immediately.

BrokenWing · 01/06/2026 18:25

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:07

I think that he definitely has been more negative about my family lately. Whereas before he was not.

He also, weirdly, saw that I had Airbnb opened on my phone, it wasn't deliberately opened I'd accidentally clicked an ad, but he was saying he thought I was secretly booking an Airbnb and made me log into my account to prove that I hadn't made any bookings recently.

The thing that really seemed to bother him was that I would be having lunch with DD's boyfriend's dad. He was crazy jealous and kept saying I was going to have a meal with a strange man I didn't know.

I was going to have a meal with a strange man I didn't know.

This language is very odd when dinning out with your dd's boyfriend and parent, it is the kind of language you hear in countries where woman are oppressed and abused.

I would be very worried about this mans mindset, and if it will escalate once you are "his" wife.

Hopefully this thread is the start of you realising you need to leave before this man hurts you, whether physically or mentally.

bumptybum · 01/06/2026 18:25

Wtf have I just read. Why are you even pondering staying with him

PeachySmile2 · 01/06/2026 18:27

He will hit you next time. Run and don’t look back.

OchreReader · 01/06/2026 18:28

He is a ridiculous, abusive fool of a man who will never change. His behaviour is so childish I’m actually embarrassed for him. Tearing letters and cards up, throwing things around, seeking his friends’ opinions about how awful you are… And does he really think a lovey 20 year old is actually interested in him? The number probably is one she gave to get rid of him.

If when you had met your daughter’s boyfriend at the lunch you had found him to be like this, what would you have said to your daughter?

Get rid of him immediately.

LAMPS1 · 01/06/2026 18:29

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 12:58

Didn't realise how long my post was 🫠

I didn't feel very respected at all, it was horrible going out so late to what is essentially a student bar just to watch him show me how easily he can pick up other, much younger, women. I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

OP, you mustn’t put up with even a hint of this sort of abusive, vile, manipulating, crazy, abnormal behaviour from any man. Even if you had a nice couple of days before.

Now you know what he’s like, and didn’t walk out, he thinks he can do it again but worse next time.
Thats the signal you gave him by going back after the lunch for more of the same.

It’s on you to look after yourself and keep away from men like that the second you feel uncomfortable about his very unreasonable reactions.
It’s not up to him to change. He won’t.

Stop wishing it had never happened. It did happen.
Stop hoping it won’t happen again. It most certainly will happen again.

Tell him you aren’t compatible and you won’t be seeing him again but wish him luck …and then block him everywhere immediately.
He is a danger to you.
Please find a way out.
You deserve a million times better.

apokeyweeplace · 01/06/2026 18:29

Sounds like my ex. Abusive and dangerous and will only get worse. Leave as soon as you can and don't look back

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 18:31

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 17:53

And the not letting me sleep is absolutely horrible and in hindsight he has done this before, before I am meant to see friends or family etc. or an important day at work.

That’s such a cruel vidnicarive controlling man. You do know you could go to the police, coercive control is illegal.

and yet I still don’t see you say it’s over.

whistlesandbells · 01/06/2026 18:31

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.

My ex would refuse to let me sleep OP, and made me open up my private bank accounts to check what I had spent, or received. I can’t remember exactly, blocked most of the horrors out after 7 years freedom. Hated my friends, derided my family, utterly obnoxious man who waffled on, drained the life out of me and was horrifically pompous. Spent every penny he earned and in continual dispute with employers until they “pay him off”. Also had no real friends. Every accusation is a confession - he was booking sex workers and holding multiple conversations with endless women. Our marriage was largely sexless, punctuated by my own despair and rage towards his actions. They set out to upset you then act the victim. “Crazy-making”

I have required huge amounts of therapy to overcome PTSD. The evil man has alienated my children from me - I have shared custody of them and hold parental authority but he simply ignored child protection and a court ordered guardian put in place to establish contact with me.

Save yourself by ending the relationship quietly and without fuss. A narcissistic collapse will trigger rage - and you’re at more risk. I don’t like sharing my story but I do for you to protect yourself.

Mumandcarer80 · 01/06/2026 18:31

Control freak LTB.

Duvetdayneeded · 01/06/2026 18:33

Why are you now letting him abuse you?

Why have you not dumped him?

lljp · 01/06/2026 18:34

Block him and never see him again.

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 18:34

Op this is the signs of coercive control,

Coercive control is an insidious pattern of psychological, emotional, and financial abuse used to strip away your autonomy and independence. Unlike physical violence, it starts subtly and escalates over time. Recognizing these early warning signs is vital to protecting yourself: Verywell Mind +1

  • Love Bombing: The relationship moves exceptionally fast, with excessive flattery, constant contact, and intense declarations of love. This creates early dependency and makes it difficult to set boundaries. Verywell Mind
  • Subtle Isolation: They may initially frame their desire to be with you constantly as extreme affection, which soon turns into criticizing your friends, making you feel guilty for spending time with loved ones, or creating drama that alienates your support network. Verywell Mind +2
  • Micro-Regulation: They monitor your daily activities, such as demanding to know exactly where you are, tracking your phone location, or questioning who you talk to. Women’s Aid +1
  • Gaslighting and Guilt-Tripping: They make you doubt your own memory, perceptions, or sanity. When you express discomfort, they may turn it around and blame you, making you feel responsible for their emotional reactions. Women’s Aid +1
  • Financial Gatekeeping: They start making decisions about your money, insisting on controlling joint finances, or "helping" you budget to the point where you have no financial independence. Women’s Aid +1
  • Undermining Your Confidence: They use "teasing" or backhanded compliments to slowly chip away at your self-esteem, making you feel reliant on them for validation. Women’s Aid +1
If you are experiencing these patterns and feel like you are walking on eggshells, it is important to reach out for support. Explore the National Domestic Violence Hotline or Women's Aid for expert resources, safety planning, and confidential guidance. Women’s Aid +1
Hopelesscase32 · 01/06/2026 18:34

You dont really mention what you are planning to do about this.

Evasmissingletter · 01/06/2026 18:35

Raise your standards. He is abusive.

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