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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Friendship with S-i-L?

11 replies

PasturesN3w · 12/06/2020 10:00

My STBX, hasn’t told his family what actually happened. They think we split up fairly amicably, they don’t know that he is gay; they don’t know that he hid money for years in preparation for leaving. He did wait until the kids were almost 18, but when I found out the extent of the money he had hidden, it represented a huge betrayal. He had been smiling in my face was peeing in my pocket for many years. This money has been impossible to prove went missing as part of the divorce, as it has literally disappeared now. My solicitor has also said I would need huge assets in order to find and trace this money, beyond the value of even the monies they could realistically clawback.

His family have no idea. I know that they would be horrified. I don’t even know that he is gay, but I don’t feel able to tell them. My sister-in-law has contacted me a few times since we split / moved out of the family home six months ago. I’m pretty sure she won’t want to hear the real events, itd be too painful/inconceivable/unbelievable! and I don’t feel I can have a friendship with someone who doesn’t know the real situation.

We could try to skirt around the issue of my ex/her brother, and be friends outside of this. But I know If she mentions something about our “mutual separation “ I would find it very difficult to not to say something. And if I stay friends with her then presumably I’ll be in touch with his other siblings, one of whom is really loud and opinionated and would definitely go on about how ‘brilliantly’ I did in the divorce (we went 50-50) etc without realising that he had well over £100,000 And his slush fund. His family all think he is the shining paragon of virtue and honesty.

I actually don’t know what to do. I know for me honesty in friendship is vital, but just cutting these people out of my life forever feels very severe as I don’t have don’t have family of my own. Sensible, helpful advice gratefully received, thanks in advance.

OP posts:
cravingthelook · 12/06/2020 10:09

I'd have a coffee and say something along the lines of... I'd like to keep your friendship but I'm struggling. As with all these type of things you don't know the full information of the split. I do not want to impact your relationship with your brother but I cannot be in friendship without honesty.

But then I'm not sure why you'd protect him whilst he lied to you for years

OhioOhioOhio · 12/06/2020 10:11

Meet them and if you say something wrong and upset them then tough shit on them.

PasturesN3w · 12/06/2020 12:02

Thanks. I hear you saying ‘why would you want to be friends’ and I know what you mean. I think I’ve lost my ‘Spidey Sense’: what’s what’s, right what’s wrong, what’s in my best interest etc

OP posts:
bubbleup · 12/06/2020 12:32

Why are you still covering for him? He shit all over you. I'd tell them personally and then if the fall out is that you lose their friendship it is what it is

Hanab · 12/06/2020 12:36

Always tell the truth 🤷🏻‍♀️ He used and abused you .. why cover for him? He prepped for the split .. you owe him NOTHING!

FelicityPike · 12/06/2020 12:40

I wouldn’t tell them he’s gay, that’s not your news to tell, but the hidden money....oh hell yes!

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 12/06/2020 12:42

This is difficult, because you absolutely cannot out him to his family, that would be abhorrent.

However, you don't need to pretend it was mutual or that he hasn't fucked you over. I'd tell her about the money and the prep, but not about his sexuality.

Windyatthebeach · 12/06/2020 12:45

Call me a bitch but I would be searching every local gay site looking for his profile and send it to every member of his family...
He is a grade A twat op.

tarheelbaby · 12/06/2020 13:34

I see in your OP that you have children so I can understand why you are not eager to reveal your experiences to you XDH's family.

When I was 10 and my sister was 7, mother left my father b/c he was violent to her. She didn't tell us until we were much, much older. I don't know if she ever told his family. But she did keep up contact with our grandparents, etc. for us.

Since your children are older, maybe you could facilitate them going to family events (drop off/pick up; or help arrange with other family to do this) but say, quite reasonably, that you don't feel comfortable joining in anymore.

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 12/06/2020 13:50

@Windyatthebeach that would absolutely make you a bitch, I'm sorry. Doing something like that could potentially put the Ex in a lot of danger. Him being gay has nothing to do with the reasons that he's a twat and at fault, it's the theft and deliberate concealment that makes him a bastard, not the fact that he's gay. It's never acceptable to out someone, and doing so for revenge would mean OP loses all moral highground.

PasturesN3w · 13/06/2020 10:03

Thanks for your support and ideas. I guess I need to keep quiet about the gay issue. If my S-I-L gets in touch again, I might do you a coffee and tell her a little bit about what went on. I’ll definitely make sure it’s after the divorce though as I don’t want to poke the bear with stick and make him angry. They all live over an hours drive away anyway, I’m going to bump into them.

I think the real issue is that she won’t want to hear the bad stuff anyway, Im fast realising that the situation is going to be too awkward and impossible, and I don’t think I can square this circle.

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