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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Please please help … messages to another woman

143 replies

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 02:35

Please help me in spiralling.

I’m in a relationship with someone I’d thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. He proposed to me a year ago. I’ve embraced his kids and his problematic ex and I’ve struggled with insecurity issues from this. I don’t know what to think anymore

My partner has always been vocal about how much he hates cheating. Says it’s abhorrent and if there’s someone else you like you should just end the relationship. His dad had a whole other family with another woman behind his mums back and tore the family apart. I’ve always trusted him 100%.

Last few weeks my minds been screaming at me “he’s cheating”. It came out of nowhere until I noticed he’d followed a random (very pretty) girl on Instagram. Insecurity got the better of me and I asked who she was. He said she was his little sisters friend and he knew her briefly as they’d grown up in the same area when younger. Told myself I was being insecure and moved on.

The thought kept coming but I tried to ignore it. The other day I noticed her story at the top of his instagram page whilst he was showing me reels, again I asked, and he said “oh yeah me and Tina (not real name) are a thing”.

Today again he’s showing me stuff on instagram. He clicks on his messages and I see her name. I asked to see his phone, he grabbed it back off me but eventually gave me it and said I could read it.

They’ve been messaging for 2 weeks ish. Catching up about life. She started it sending him a picture of them from when they were younger (she’s not his little sisters age like he told me). Then she said she’s just ended a 10 year relationship and rediscovering life. Talking about a “group reunion” with the friendship group.

I asked him why he’d told me she was his sisters friend, he said they were in a friendship group but she was younger so assumed he was his sisters age (his sister is 12 years younger than him wtf).

The messages go on and he talks about his kids and his time in the army but there’s zero mention of me.

I asked why? He said “it didn’t come up” and “she can see pictures of you on my page anyway”

She most recently sent voice notes on Friday but he didn’t reply. In them she’s talking about how she nearly came by our city for a trip with her sister and she should have just come because a “reunion is needed”.

I lost my mind and said he was massaging his and her egos and it’s not what people in committed relationships do. This is the man who constantly says men and women can’t be friends as they always end up sleeping together.

He said he didn’t think it was weird but said he did think it got weird when she sent voice notes so didn’t reply.

I asked why I wasn’t mentioned. He said well she’d just told me she’d ended a 10 year relationship so it didn’t feel “kind” to “rub in her face our happiness”

He threw his phones at the wall, grabbed my wrist to get his phone, broke the fan and threw it at the wall leaving a dint.

Am I reading too much into this - is it my insecurity? I would never have expected this from him, I really wouldn’t. I just don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
XiCi · 13/07/2026 08:26

I'd be far more concerned about him grabbing your wrists and throwing stuff at walls and being verbally abusive than the messages. You need to get away from this person. It will only get worse

KaterinaSunrise · 13/07/2026 08:28

Inmyuggs · 13/07/2026 08:26

Why is a man isn not allowed to talk, message, habe female friends from a childhood is beyond jelous.
Wow. So sad.
Voice messages...easy convienent and my child sends them to me in a rush or to save spelling it out.
My theory is if he wants to leave he will.
I wold love to hear a therapists on such thouhhts of anti women friendships.

I would love to hear a therapist’s opinion about a man who throws things, describes his partner as “tapped” and grabs her wrist.

chocoluv · 13/07/2026 08:38

So you’re going through his phone, questioning on who he’s talking to, being jealous because there’s a woman on his SM etc?

And he’s being aggressive, throwing things against the wall, breaking things and grabbing your wrist?

The woman is irrelevant.
The relationship is not working and probably hasn’t been for a while.
Accept the relationship is over and move on.

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 13/07/2026 08:40

13 paragraph about you, and him, and the other woman, and the messages, and your insecurities, and his fhoughts about cheating, and then suddenly a single casual sentence about his violent temper - it's like you barely even noticed it yourself.

That's the real problem - if you don't perform the way he expects his woman appliance to perform, he will insult you, stomp, shout, smash things, and eventually hit you. Forget the other stuff, you need to end this relationship.

Wordsmithery · 13/07/2026 08:42

He didn't respond to the voicemail as - maybe - he realised he'd be crossing the point of no return.
You are 100% focusing on the wrong thing though. Your message should read 'Please help me. I need to leave a violent man'. Throwing things, grabbing you, making holes in walls. You know how this story ends. Don't be his victim.
Work our a safe exit strategy, and leave today.

Harrumphhhh · 13/07/2026 08:43

He threw his phones at the wall, grabbed my wrist to get his phone, broke the fan and threw it at the wall leaving a dint.

Get out. Regardless of what’s happening with ‘Tina’, this is not who you want to spend your life with.

SamuraiSally · 13/07/2026 08:44

This is a toxic relationship, pure and simple.

Stay and have years of misery, eroding self esteem and a messy traumatic breakup eventually. Or get out while you can and find a much less chaotic relationship that won't cause misery.

You've had a glimpse of your future and it's your choice.

allthingsinmoderation · 13/07/2026 08:44

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 02:35

Please help me in spiralling.

I’m in a relationship with someone I’d thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. He proposed to me a year ago. I’ve embraced his kids and his problematic ex and I’ve struggled with insecurity issues from this. I don’t know what to think anymore

My partner has always been vocal about how much he hates cheating. Says it’s abhorrent and if there’s someone else you like you should just end the relationship. His dad had a whole other family with another woman behind his mums back and tore the family apart. I’ve always trusted him 100%.

Last few weeks my minds been screaming at me “he’s cheating”. It came out of nowhere until I noticed he’d followed a random (very pretty) girl on Instagram. Insecurity got the better of me and I asked who she was. He said she was his little sisters friend and he knew her briefly as they’d grown up in the same area when younger. Told myself I was being insecure and moved on.

The thought kept coming but I tried to ignore it. The other day I noticed her story at the top of his instagram page whilst he was showing me reels, again I asked, and he said “oh yeah me and Tina (not real name) are a thing”.

Today again he’s showing me stuff on instagram. He clicks on his messages and I see her name. I asked to see his phone, he grabbed it back off me but eventually gave me it and said I could read it.

They’ve been messaging for 2 weeks ish. Catching up about life. She started it sending him a picture of them from when they were younger (she’s not his little sisters age like he told me). Then she said she’s just ended a 10 year relationship and rediscovering life. Talking about a “group reunion” with the friendship group.

I asked him why he’d told me she was his sisters friend, he said they were in a friendship group but she was younger so assumed he was his sisters age (his sister is 12 years younger than him wtf).

The messages go on and he talks about his kids and his time in the army but there’s zero mention of me.

I asked why? He said “it didn’t come up” and “she can see pictures of you on my page anyway”

She most recently sent voice notes on Friday but he didn’t reply. In them she’s talking about how she nearly came by our city for a trip with her sister and she should have just come because a “reunion is needed”.

I lost my mind and said he was massaging his and her egos and it’s not what people in committed relationships do. This is the man who constantly says men and women can’t be friends as they always end up sleeping together.

He said he didn’t think it was weird but said he did think it got weird when she sent voice notes so didn’t reply.

I asked why I wasn’t mentioned. He said well she’d just told me she’d ended a 10 year relationship so it didn’t feel “kind” to “rub in her face our happiness”

He threw his phones at the wall, grabbed my wrist to get his phone, broke the fan and threw it at the wall leaving a dint.

Am I reading too much into this - is it my insecurity? I would never have expected this from him, I really wouldn’t. I just don’t know what to do.

The messages aside,"He threw his phone at the wall,grabbed my wrist to get his phone,broke the fan and threw it at the wall leaving a dint" .......He's violent,please leave.

Kepler22B · 13/07/2026 08:47

You are building it up in your head so you can say to yourself that he was justified in grabbing you so you don’t need to leave!

It doesn’t matter now at all! He was violent, he has thrown things before, he has made you feel afraid. It is getting worse.

MrMucker · 13/07/2026 08:47

Yes but "I'm just trying to work out if I was justified in".... anything terrible I did to make him this way.

Classic gaslighting. He seems to be quite good at it.

Also, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, given what you've said about his own father.

Open your eyes.

Wordsmithery · 13/07/2026 08:49

Inmyuggs · 13/07/2026 08:26

Why is a man isn not allowed to talk, message, habe female friends from a childhood is beyond jelous.
Wow. So sad.
Voice messages...easy convienent and my child sends them to me in a rush or to save spelling it out.
My theory is if he wants to leave he will.
I wold love to hear a therapists on such thouhhts of anti women friendships.

You may be right @Inmyuggs about some male/female relationships. They're not all intrinsically bad. But is that really the most important point you've picked up from OP? Isn't the comment on her partner's violence worthy of rather more attention, and a more pressing matter than a When Harry met Sally debate?

abracadabra1980 · 13/07/2026 08:51

I'm older than you, and have been married twice. Each time my gut told me the relationship wasn't right, it was 100% correct. I have left two abusers and have never been happier than the day I moved into my current home, with my two dogs. Mental peace is priceless. He is not worth your time or emotional energy.

MayTheFourth25 · 13/07/2026 08:51

Please listen to the advice on here. Please leave. He is violent and it will get worse.

Skyflier · 13/07/2026 08:52

As I comment all too often on here - what a prince amongst men!!

TheWonderhorse · 13/07/2026 08:54

Inmyuggs · 13/07/2026 08:26

Why is a man isn not allowed to talk, message, habe female friends from a childhood is beyond jelous.
Wow. So sad.
Voice messages...easy convienent and my child sends them to me in a rush or to save spelling it out.
My theory is if he wants to leave he will.
I wold love to hear a therapists on such thouhhts of anti women friendships.

Look I appreciate that sometimes people think it's fun to come on AIBU and be argumentative. At what point did you choose to be this person though? Maybe do a bit of soul searching?

OP was the victim of violence and is deeply distressed. Save your attacks for the trivial things, the grown ups are trying to help her get herself safe.

Gloriia · 13/07/2026 09:03

Inmyuggs · 13/07/2026 08:26

Why is a man isn not allowed to talk, message, habe female friends from a childhood is beyond jelous.
Wow. So sad.
Voice messages...easy convienent and my child sends them to me in a rush or to save spelling it out.
My theory is if he wants to leave he will.
I wold love to hear a therapists on such thouhhts of anti women friendships.

As everyone else has said his reaction is the problem. Stop minimising this kind of crap.

A reminder for you 'He threw his phones at the wall, grabbed my wrist to get his phone, broke the fan and threw it at the wall leaving a dint'

He doth protest too much springs to mind.

SweepSqueaks · 13/07/2026 09:04

Would you also like to hear a therapists thoughts on a man who doesn’t mention he’s engaged when texting his friend and on a man who lies to the person he’s engaged to about how he met this friend?

Hellohelga · 13/07/2026 09:10

I’d leave. She’s welcome to the step kids, problematic ex, lying, violence and temper tantrums.

Maia77 · 13/07/2026 09:11

You do sound insecure but he doesn't sound like a mature person who can repair ruptures in a relationship.

hypnovic · 13/07/2026 09:13

He is untrustworthy and violent
Get rid

TheSlantedOwl · 13/07/2026 09:13

@alwaysleftoutt He physically hurt you. That alone is reason to end it NOW.

And yes he was being flirty and dishonest about that other woman.

GoodyGoodyMumTum · 13/07/2026 09:19

@alwaysleftoutt Is it your insecurity? No, I'm 90% sure that when a man lies about a female friend to you, and chooses not to mention to her that he's engaged, he's being dodgy and at the least he's enjoying a bit of flirting and ego boost, and that's not OK. I think your instincts are correct here.

But you know what I'm 100% sure about? Throwing things in anger, damaging things in anger, and grabbing your wrist in anger are abusive behaviour and count as domestic violence. You are never going to feel safe and free to speak your mind with a grown man who can't control his temper.

Bristolandlazy · 13/07/2026 09:24

It won't get better, he'll push your boundaries, he'll get more physical, you'll be more unhappy. He's got no respect for you, leave. You aren't happy, leave. He's losing his temper, leave. He's violent, leave. He's messaging other women, leave. What the fuck are you doing staying with this man, leave.

Stationbike · 13/07/2026 09:24

He's violent scum who is also looking at other women.

Are you his skivvy aupair looking after his children?

It sounds like you might be.

Find some self respect and pack a bag.

KnitFastDieWarm · 13/07/2026 09:33

He’s a violent liar. Get rid of him.