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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Innocent messaging or not? Am I being an unreasonable insecure person???

18 replies

ohhelen · 17/07/2026 20:32

I’m engaged to my fiance and there’s been a rough few months recently with arguments about various things, but mostly the toxic influence of his brother who just moved back to town. This brother does Andrew Tate courses, sells drugs and is generally a terrible person. I’d go as far to say that I hate him.

My fiance has always been very open and honest with me about everything. Shared passcodes for various reasons, eg can you just message back my friend and tell them I’m on my way?

I got a gut feeling a few weeks ago that something was going on but couldn’t place it. I actually restarted antidepressants because I thought I was getting anxiety again.

I saw my partner had followed a woman I didn’t know on social media, as she came up on suggested friends. Asked who she was - very non-committal with the answer “someone who used to live by us in college”, she was a lot younger than me”. Thought no more of it.

Message flashed up on his phone from her. I said I needed to see them, which he showed me. she’d messsged him a picture of them two around the age of 15ish. Clearly the same age. Replies back and forth over a few weeks with days in between. No flirting or anything that was awful, but felt too close for me. “Catching up” about life, her talking about her relationship breakdown and him talking about work… but no mention of me. None. She was angling for a reunion with the whole group, but mentioned being close to our city in a few months.

She lives abroad.

His argument is that I’m all over his social media and it’s clear he’s engaged, why mention it?

I feel deeply hurt. On the days when we weren’t messaging, was he messaging her? Why the lie about how he knew her? If they were such good friends why not say that?

I would never expect him to have an affair or be inappropriate with others. He says himself his culture doesn’t allow women and men to be friends… aibu to feel betrayed or am I being insecure and jealous?

OP posts:
ohhelen · 17/07/2026 20:49

Shameless bump

OP posts:
LibertyLucy1975 · 17/07/2026 20:49

I think the only thing that sounds slightly off is the fact that he didn’t mention you.

But, as he says, if it's ‘all over’ his social media he probably assumed she already knew.

Something to keep an eye on I suppose but I don’t think it sounds nefarious from what you’ve said.

Could it be your anxiety looking for problems?

LuckyHazelFox · 17/07/2026 20:50

I'm sure I've seen this before?

ColdAsAWitches · 17/07/2026 20:52

Message flashed up on his phone from her. I said I needed to see them, which he showed me.

He should run, now. It's clear you don't trust him. He's not hiding anything, he's not lying. If you're going to be this controlling before even getting married, it's very much the better option to split now.

Darragon · 17/07/2026 20:54

You bumped after under 20 minutes. YABU and have no chill.

Wingwalk · 17/07/2026 20:58

What does he think about his brother's views?

rhodrhi · 17/07/2026 20:58

I've caught up with countless male friends in the past. You asked to see the messages. He showed them to you. Surely this is proof enough that he isn't up to anything?

Tillow4ever · 17/07/2026 20:58

What does his brother have to do with this? Is there something you’ve missed telling us?

on the face of it, I can’t see the issue. It may be she was the school year below him, and at the time it felt like “loads younger” - and he probably just hadn’t got out of that mindset! Or he might have thought you’d give him the Spanish inquisition.

He has been completely open with you - he’s shared his phone immediately when you asked, he told you who she is, etc. she also lives in a different country and is talking about a group reunion.

Unless there’s more to this, I can’t see that he’s done anything wrong. Without knowing you, it’s hard to say though as it could be you are the sort of person who is extremely jealous and controlling over your partners friends, and so you’re like this about any woman, or you could be the most chilled out partner on the planet who’s spider sense is tingling and it’s spot on.

rhodrhi · 17/07/2026 21:00

Also based on your reaction it sounds as though you have form for being jealous? You must do. He probably just couldn't be arsed to get into it because he knew what would follow.

Loulou4022 · 17/07/2026 21:10

Doesn’t bode well if you’re already having a rough few months and arguing before you’re even married! This is the honeymoon period when everything should be great!!

notatinydancer · 17/07/2026 21:21

You said you ‘needed to see ‘ his messages ? Controlling , insecure and unreasonable. He needs to leave.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 17/07/2026 21:24

What’s his brother got to do with this then? What’s an Andrew Tate course? Insisting on checking his messages is unreasonable yes. All things considered you sound well suited

SpottyPyjama · 17/07/2026 21:37

Honestly, yes. You do sound insecure and jealous. He is doing nothing wrong by responding to an old friend and if his relationship with you hasn’t naturally come up then it would be weird for him to point out that you exist, especially as you are on his social media.

You need to learn to control your emotions without controlling your partner. All you will do otherwise is push him into hiding things from you so that he doesn’t have to deal with your unreasonable reactions.

YourAquaLion · 17/07/2026 22:08

I wudnt like this either OP, he shud have said im engaged to so and so and sent her a pic of the two of you. So there would be no grey area. Thats my view. You’re not wrong to be upset.

NotAnotherScarf · 17/07/2026 22:51

Darragon · 17/07/2026 20:54

You bumped after under 20 minutes. YABU and have no chill.

No that says he should run. Thats she insecure and doesn't trust him. He needs to get out of dodge right now

PollyBell · 17/07/2026 22:55

Yes you sound paranoid and no checking up on him is not healthy

JLou08 · 17/07/2026 23:03

Nothing in your post suggests he has done anything wrong.
I'd go mad if my DH said he had to see my messages. That's controlling.

wrinkleyrita · 17/07/2026 23:08

The friend from college who happens to be female wouldn’t bother me.
The influence of the Andrew Tate fan brother absolutely would!

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