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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:
OntheGolfCourse · Yesterday 18:14

Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with this idiotic apology for a man. So many red flags, do yourself a favour and dump him - NOW!!

Patientlywaitingforbye · Yesterday 18:15

I am worried your DD is equally as vulnerable to abusive behaviour like this as you @Sunglasses1979 if this is the kind of benchmark for men in your life she has witnessed in life

Bluestar1971 · Yesterday 18:15

Blimey you need to never see him again. Dangerous man. It will only get worse

Notsosweetcaroline · Yesterday 18:16

Sunglasses1979 · Yesterday 16:57

Thank you for the messages.

I would go to the police but I am not sure what they can do, aside from making a note? Would they be able to put a flag on the house? That would be useful, I think.

In terms of what has happened in the past; he has wanted to become financially entangled e.g. he has offered to put my phone onto his plan as it's better value for money, that kind of thing, he is always offering to pay for things that will tie me to him or make me beholden to him in some way.

I think you can see how he’s ramped up and following the path of typical coercive control exactly.

the police can potentially give you a panic button,they can give you advice on what to do when you tell him.

do you have evidence, voice mails. Emails. Texts etc? You don’t need it, but it’s all stuff to add.

you can also contact women’s aid , for advice.

he’s followed the typical coercive control path exactly, intense at the start, love bombing, isolating you , humiliating you.gaskighting your Chipping away at your self confidence, now trying to slowly start to get control of your finances.

youre in trouble op. No way round it. And you need to extracate yourself. And soon.

AppropriateAdult · Yesterday 18:18

The fact that you have to ask is very very sad, OP. This is extremely abusive behaviour. Please don’t marry this man.

jennikr · Yesterday 18:18

This is very dangerous jealousy. Please leave him.

Lollipop81 · Yesterday 18:20

This post makes me so sad. I spent almost 10 years with someone like this. He virtually destroyed me, I don’t think I will ever have another relationship again. Waking me up constantly through the night when I did have plans the next day, constantly accusing me of cheating. I was walking on egg shells, he accused me of cheating at 9 months pregnant and 1 week post Partum. My life was hell on earth.
please don’t let him do this to you. Use all your strength to get away. If you don’t succeed this time don’t stop trying. You deserve better than this.

childrenaremyworld · Yesterday 18:21

I’m sorry I’ve not read the entire thread, you say he has an anger problem. I used to say the same for many years about my ex. Until I realised it had nothing to do with anger but abuse. He started the same way throwing things in my direction and constant arguing. It turned physical when I was pregnant. He is showing you who he really is, please walk away before he causes you serious harm mentally and physically xx

Silverfoxette · Yesterday 18:23

I would wait until you’re away from him and safe somewhere and then call him to say you’re done. If you have an engagement ring leave it there so you don’t need to see him again. He sounds unpredictable

JoBrandsCleaner · Yesterday 18:24

Fiancé? You’re actually thinking of marrying this idiot?! Any man wouldn’t even fucking dare try this shit with me more then once and I can’t believe anyone in their right mind puts up with it for more then one day.

Judecb · Yesterday 18:24

Get out NOW! His reaction is utterly ridiculous and aggressive. He clearly has the psychopathy of a narcissist and a bully. Seriously, put some distance between you and him asap.

theonlygirl · Yesterday 18:27

God I just realised the title says fiancé. OP this man in UNHINGED. Seriously, seriously unhinged. Get as far away from him as possible. If this is how he behaves now, before you are married, I shudder to think what he will be like when you are married.

Fedup48 · Yesterday 18:29

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?

Girl… please walk away now… in fact run … this does not bode well and he will not change

TheGreatDownandOut · Yesterday 18:33

@Sunglasses1979 not sure if anyone else has suggested this but as the thread is nearly full, you may want to start a second one and link it here. That’s if you want to of course and you’re finding it helpful x

Isittimeformynapyet · Yesterday 18:33

TheGreatDownandOut · Yesterday 12:34

Yep same here!
He also used to cause rows with me when I was ill. I could be throwing up all night and he would be just vile to me. Any time I got a promotion or we were on holiday. He also used the sleep tactic too by dragging my pillows or quilt away from me. He would get very angry with me if I was tired or if I fell asleep. Also if I wasn’t sitting to attention when he came in the room - I.e. if I was just scrolling on my phone or whatever. They’re all cut from the same cloth!

Every other woman's personal accounts of their CC exes just rings so true! I don't know if I'm enjoying this thread exactly, but it's really fired up the recognition for me and, even over a decade later, makes me feel vindicated in some way. I was not wrong in my assessment - like I still need convincing that my perception of it all was spot on.

Yes to the tired or ill nastiness - I already mentioned how furious he got when I had to sleep during the day (my thyroid meds needed adjusting). It was literally one hour. The house was silent when I woke up and I found him sitting in the lounge absolutely fuming. I pointed out he could have put the TV on or even gone home and left a note and he spat "I didn't come here to watch fucking TV".

I was due to go to his for tea when his 2 daughters were there (he couldn't parent without me) but I had an eye infection. He'd been calling constantly when I was at work and checking that I was still going. After my 11hr shift I just knew I had to cancel even though I knew he'd be angry. That's when he snarled "I fucking knew you'd do this. You're breaking two little girls' hearts. You can go to work for 11 hours but you can't even come here for an evening. I knew you were going to let me down!"

Oh, the memories. I haven't even scratched the surface!

x

DaringQuoter · Yesterday 18:37

Like everyone else says - run for the hills!

PolkaDotPorridge · Yesterday 18:47

You have an adult daughter and you’re putting up with this shit?! He hates you. Get rid.

ClairDeLaLune · Yesterday 18:48

Sunglasses1979 · Yesterday 14:52

Yes the sunk costs thing feels very real today. I think I knew on some level that it is not salvageable but he has been my world for last few years and more and more so of late as I seem to be spending most of my free time with him. To the detriment of my other friendships I might add.

But you’re spending more and more time with him and not with your friends and family because he is deliberately isolating you from them so he can control you more.

Coercive control is a criminal offence. You would be well within your rights to report it.

angelfacecuti75 · Yesterday 18:49

The red flags be flagging .
Run woman run . 🇨🇳
Abuse.
Do not get married to this man . He is jealous, controlling , aggressive and potentially dangerous. Just be thankful he showed you his true colours before you tied the knot. He will isolate you from family. Grind you down. Tell you you are worthless, blame you for everything. This is the pattern of abusers ...to name a few.
Please heed my words you deserve better & so does your Dd.

Shell18celhave · Yesterday 18:50

Do not marry this man
Run & don't look back

angelfacecuti75 · Yesterday 18:53

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 13:01

He has always had a bit of a temper but he has never thrown my things before. He has done stuff like throwing presents he has bought me away. Or tearing up cards / letters I have written.
He has never gone out with me to get a younger woman's number before.

Then he told you who he was ..believe him x

Buffs · Yesterday 18:57

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 13:05

It was really late so I had to stay at his that night as couldn't get back to mine. In hindsight I could have got the expensive Uber at this point but didn't occur to me as I was kind of in shock, I think. I don't even know if he did get her number / instagram etc. as it was so loud in the bar and I couldn't hear anything. I could just see him talking to her.
She and her friend just looked at me with such pity, it was horrible.

Read your last sentence OP, the girl he was chatting up was looking at you with such pity. DONOT MARRY THIS MAN.

MeekSqueak · Yesterday 18:59

End it, now.

that’s unforgivable, controlling and at the very least he’s forgotten the word friend is part of boyfriend.

ditch all the way, I can’t believe he has you questioning this.

Marieb19 · Yesterday 19:06

RUN. He has shown you what he is and he won't change.

ididabigfatsmelly · Yesterday 19:08

F

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