Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

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:
TheHatTrick · 13/07/2026 16:27

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 16:20

I did it. I left. I’m in a hotel.

Feel like the lack of sleep made me focus on the wrong things. I am full of bruises today. Went to work on no sleep and got sent home. Told my colleague. It’s real now isn’t it. I’ve been denying it for months.

Amazing! Go you!! You deserve so much more. Please take good care of yourself now.

FrustratedApples · 13/07/2026 16:27

Well done, OP - that's fantastic that you've got out and that you told your colleague Make sure you don't go back, and tell family / friends.

I would report the incident to the police and get help from Women's Aid or a domestic abuse charity. They'll be able to help you work out what to do next.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 13/07/2026 16:31

Hello
I'm a detective and I work in DA.
Well done for leaving, that is very tricky and brave.
Would you be willing to report this to police?

There are several things you could do, if not.
Speak to Women's Aid and request that they don't pass it on to police, they should still store injury photos and if you decide later to make a complaint, it will a) still be stored in their systems and b) stand you in good stead for investigative purposes (not a time for discussion on whether it should...)

If you report to the police please bear in mind they can arrest him whether you want him arrested or not - not said to scare you but so you fully understand the situation.

You could also request a 'Right to Know' Claire's Law disclosure which is about finding out previous abuse in any other relationship.

This can be useful for you to see whether he had other abusive relationships and hopefully this will really cement why you did the right thing to leave.

Well done 💐

lifeisgoodrightnow · 13/07/2026 16:31

He probably enjoyed the attention then panicked when he realised she was taking it too seriously. That I’d understand and forgive - probably. But the escalation with throwing the phone and breaking stuff not so much. That needs a serious chat once heads are cleared and tempers settled.

lifeisgoodrightnow · 13/07/2026 16:32

I just saw your update x well done x you know your own instincts and always should trust them

Stationbike · 13/07/2026 16:34

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 16:20

I did it. I left. I’m in a hotel.

Feel like the lack of sleep made me focus on the wrong things. I am full of bruises today. Went to work on no sleep and got sent home. Told my colleague. It’s real now isn’t it. I’ve been denying it for months.

Please photograph those bruises.
Ask your colleague to help.
Consider going to the police and reporting him.
He is a violent thug.
His children need protecting.
Well done for leaving.

CarbootJunction · 13/07/2026 16:37

OP, you know what you have to do. There is some excellent advice on this thread.

TheWonderhorse · 13/07/2026 16:50

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 16:20

I did it. I left. I’m in a hotel.

Feel like the lack of sleep made me focus on the wrong things. I am full of bruises today. Went to work on no sleep and got sent home. Told my colleague. It’s real now isn’t it. I’ve been denying it for months.

You are brilliant! It's going to be okay. Get advice, and figure out what you want to do next.

Also, take stock. You say you are insecure and your posts read full of doubt, but my god did you back yourself and commit today! Your future self will look back on this with a little more clarity, and know exactly how strong and courageous you are. We're still here if you need us.

Enrichetta · 13/07/2026 16:53

I concur with PPs that you should photograph your bruises and file a Claire’s Law request, and consider reporting him to the police - after speaking to Women’s Aid.

I would also suggest that you write a full account of what happened, including any prior abuse, while it is still fresh in your mind.

And find a counsellor to help you process what has happened to you.

laurini · 13/07/2026 16:54

Please leave on the basis of the violence. Forget the rest.

laurini · 13/07/2026 16:55

Sorry, i just saw you left. Well done. You are brave and you may have just saved your own life.

Pickledonions12 · 13/07/2026 17:00

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 16:20

I did it. I left. I’m in a hotel.

Feel like the lack of sleep made me focus on the wrong things. I am full of bruises today. Went to work on no sleep and got sent home. Told my colleague. It’s real now isn’t it. I’ve been denying it for months.

Omg. You are amazing. You've saved yourself years of stress and worry. What can we do to help, now? What advice do you need? ❤️

Horses7 · 13/07/2026 17:02

Well done - you’ve done the right thing.

NChangeorama · 13/07/2026 17:48

Well done. Keep writing here if it helps. A massive step, and so brave. Good advice upthread. Sending strength. Tell people in real life, and get the support you need.

NChangeorama · 13/07/2026 17:48

Double post

GoodbyeZebedee · 13/07/2026 22:17

Well done @alwaysleftoutt

So pleased you have done this for yourself. Sending a hug.

EvieBB · 13/07/2026 22:17

alwaysleftoutt · 13/07/2026 05:05

I can’t excuse the violence. He’s thrown stuff before, he’s never grabbed my wrist or touched me at all in anger before tonight (well last night)

He's bad news op. Please get out now. It will only get worse
🚩🚩🚩

Pickledonions12 · 14/07/2026 06:55

How are you doing @alwaysleftoutt

New posts on this thread. Refresh page