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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Cheating wife or perhaps not?

33 replies

Keepitmoving · 13/02/2018 00:17

So, I’m posting here in the hope that someone may be able to shed some light on the behaviours of my wife and let me know if I’m just crazy or not.

The first weekend of the new year, my wife of 15 months (together for close to 6 years) out of the blue went out one Saturday night, completely lost contact with me and didn’t return home. I was worried sick, called her parents, her sister, no response. She texted me a one liner at about 10pm saying I’m fine, I’m out with work. I returned home and went to sleep, I woke up at around 8am and tried calling/texting her again. She replied saying she had stayed at a male work colleagues house. She returned home later that day and although she apologised for her behaviour, she didn’t seem remotely remorseful. I asked her if anything had happened with male coworker and she said no. I asked if she had feelings for this person, again she said no. We talked about how her behaviour was unacceptable and we agreed to work together to try and push the relationship forward. I must stress that our relationship had shown no signs of distress before this. We had a wonderful Xmas and new year! We slept with each other on the Sunday after she stayed out.

The next week though was absolute hell, she was snappy and short with me, miserable and not affectionate in the slightest. I felt like I was walking on egg shells all week. The friday came and she was again in a miserable mood. I sat down with her, said I couldn’t do another weekend like the week we just had and said I would move in with my parents for the weekend to give her some space. We met back up on the Sunday and talked and she said she felt like we were more like friends now and it didn’t feel like a passionate relationship anymore. She said she wanted to separate and divorce. Obviously I was heartbroken and shocked, she said she felt like she needed to be single again (we’re both 27 years old). I asked her again about the Saturday night and if she had feelings for this work colleague and again she denied it. I asked about the possibility of an emotional affair and again she denied it.

I then moved out and in with my parents but remained in touch with my wife who didn’t seem to be willing to absolutely call it quits. The texts we shared that week suggested she would consider a reconciliation. I tried so hard to explain how much I loved her and how much I wanted to fight for this. The weekend came around and met again to talk. However, this time she admitted that she had probably had an emotional affair with her work colleague and that she had feelings for him. This was like a knife to the heart and I was/still am absolutely broken by it. I asked why she hadn’t told me the truth and she said she wanted to protect me. She said things never got physical which means that she’s done nothing wrong. I’d obviously disagree with that view on it. I tried again to convince her that she was making a snap judgement and she’d only known this guy for 6 months. She was adamant it wasn’t worth fighting for and told me I should file for divorce against her.

The following week I popped back to the house to collect my belongings bit by bit as I didn’t want to live in the marital home. Too many memories. On the Friday night when I returned she wasn’t in, her work handbag was on the stairs and sitting pretty on top was an open and half used box of condoms. Obviously I was horrified by this and texted her immediately saying that I’d found them and I wanted her out of the house immediately and I would move back in. The thought of her sleeping with another man in our bed when we hadn’t even filed for divorce was just sickening. She claimed the condoms weren’t hers and I was overreacting but outright refused to explain how they get there. She has never carried condoms in the 6 years we’ve been together.

The following weekend, as in the weekend just gone she returned to collect some stuff from the house and we got talking. I asked if she was sleeping with this guy now and she basically admitted it without actually saying the words. she was very smug about the whole situation and was giggling when she was telling me. Needless to say I was horrified and disgusted by this!

Now I’m doing my best to handle this with as much dignity as possible, even though i Just want to scream and breakdown every day.

She refuses to outright say she cheated on me and refuses to outright say she is/has been sleeping with him. I’ve filed the divorce papers now on th grounds of adultery and cited a couple of occasions where I suspect she may have slept with him which she hasn’t contested which I’m taking as an admission.

However, what I want to know is. Is it normal for someone to just outright deny wrongdoing even with fairly strong evidence against them? Is it normal for the person mainly contributing to the breakdown of th marriage to show no remorse whatsoever? She won’t talk to me about it all. Says it’s none of my business and she doesn’t owe me an explanation.

With every passing minute i feel more like I’ve had a lucky escape here. However, it’s hard knowing I’ll never know the truth to aid with my closure. Just wanted to know if this type of behaviour is ‘normal’ or if I’ve just been married to a crazy person all along without knowing it!

OP posts:
BackInTheRoom · 13/02/2018 00:28

This is my situation OP. I'm 18 months on and STBXH has denied the affair. He dumped me one afternoon after 20 years together, kids found sex messages, he denied an affair, moved in with her, denied an affair, and still will not admit the affair and shows absolutely NO REMORSE. I'm broken.

GeriT · 13/02/2018 01:12

Would an apology even be sincere? I would love an apology, it would be wonderful.
I am resigned to the fact it is just a pipe dream.

G120810 · 13/02/2018 01:25

You did the right thing no way did she stay with this guy and do nothing she will end up splitting up with him and try run back to u don't let her u seem like a nice genuine guy put her behind u follow through with divorce and move on I'll meet someone who is worthy of ure love it's horrible when u love someone and they act like that I hope someone does to her like she's done to you

springydaff · 13/02/2018 01:29

Wow. She's being unbelievably cruel op Flowers

Graphista · 13/02/2018 01:42

Yes it's normal for cheats to deny despite clear evidence.

Google cheaters script - deny, minimise, shift the blame onto spouse...

My ex - despite clear evidence inc texts and emails - took over 8 years (and their baby showing up just a few months after our split) until he drunkenly admitted and I finally got the whole sordid story

Plenty others on mn had similar experiences.

Lack of remorse, blaming you - again yes, my ex tried very hard to convince people I'd had a complete character change in just a few weeks.

And yes be prepared for her trying to get back with you when they're going through a Rocky patch or big change. I had ex trying to get in my knickers day before THEIR wedding.

Sorry you're going through this - it does get easier.

RestingButchFace · 13/02/2018 01:50

Sadly it is normal. Your stbxw isn't alone in her denial of her infidelity. It is quite normal, I think it is their way of dealing with any guilt they feel. Keep strong and no matter what she throws at you in terms of trying to blame you for the affair (and she will) just know it is all down to her and him. I hope you move on and find someone worry of you.

SandyY2K · 13/02/2018 07:45

Of course she cheated on you. She became snappy because she'd enjoyed a night of passion with the OM and you were the obstacle between them.

Typical cheating behaviour and as she first wanted the divorce why isn't she the one filing?

Karigan1 · 13/02/2018 07:52

she’s cheating. Just divorce her.

My ex husband to this day denies he cheated on me even though my motion detector camera actually caught video of it lol and he left his phone behind with tons of messages on. I personally just think cheaters are natural born liars too and we’re better off away from them

Armygirl · 13/02/2018 08:05

I’m sorry but she sounds like a horrible person and has no regard for your feelings at all. She doesn’t even have the decency to appear ashamed or remorseful. I’m glad you made her leave after you found the condoms rather than you staying at your parents house. She also seems quite immature and cold to be giggling at you.
All the best op

ShatnersWig · 13/02/2018 08:05

She's a grade A bitch. Be grateful this has come to light now. Absolutely divorce her and consider this a very lucky escape. You're only 27 and have got many many years ahead of you, no kids together so much less messy or having to keep in any sort of contact with her. Make sure you go no contact and let the solicitors deal with it.

You're worth a million of her.

Lunettesloupes · 13/02/2018 08:13

People usually lie when they are caught cheating or misbehaving - it’s completely normal. She will say nothing happened, the relationship was over already etc.

hellsbellsmelons · 13/02/2018 08:54

As everyone says, be prepared for her to come grovelling back at some point when she realises the grass is NOT greener.
She will also re-write history and lay a lot of the blame on you.
Don't listen.
It's all lies to make her feel better for her appalling behaviour.
It's tough.
I'm not gonna sugar coat it.
You will go through months of pure hell.
Tears, anger, and the real real pain of your heart breaking.
But... you will get through it.
With help and support from loved ones.
Please try to keep busy.
Get out with friends, visit family, gym, anything to keep your mind occupied.
Sorry you are going through this.
It's truly horrendous but it does get better.

Cricrichan · 13/02/2018 09:29

Yes she cheated. Probably trying to justify it to herself and you. It sounds like your relationship was great but you both got together young and perhaps she sees her being attracted to someone else (and the momentary excitement of something new) as the death knell of your relationship. With experience, you realise that relationships are steady and up and down and of course someone who you don't have to do the day to day living with can seem more exciting.

But yes, I'm sorry but she cheated and will probably regret it.

Offred · 13/02/2018 09:31

Yes, it is very common.

I second searching for the cheater’s script.

If it helps, IMO it is as simple as ‘why would you expect someone who is willing to repeatedly betray you will be concerned about your emotional wellbeing?’

Also this happened to my bro last year. His wife started an affair with a co-worker, spent months gaslighting him about how horrible he was and disappearing for overnight stays claiming she was with friends then said she wanted a divorce but he had to file then still maintained she wasn’t seeing OM even though there are pictures of them kissing and going on holiday together on Facebook....

He now has the most amazing girlfriend and is very happy.

My eldest two’s dad also did the same to me, it wasn’t until a good 5 years later when we were in mediation that he finally admitted the cheating because I’d brought up the lies about it (And other things) as reasons why I didn’t trust him. He tried to keep denying but the mediator did the Hmm face at him and he finally admitted it.

Most people never get honesty IMO. Cheaters will keep denying forever if they can.

Graphista · 13/02/2018 09:34

Interesting what leads to the confessions.

My ex was drunkenly trying to win me back so I played along - right up until I got the info I needed - then told him I would NEVER want him back and don't know what I ever saw in him in the first place.

Babyblues052 · 13/02/2018 09:38

She's fucking heartless. What a disgrace of a woman, laughing in the face of a man who you've broken his heart. You've definitely had a lucky escape!. Don't be surprised if she comes crawling back when she realises the grass isn't greener, if I were you I'd tell her to gtf.

letsdolunch321 · 13/02/2018 09:40

Sorry to read this, She thinks the grass is greener with someone else. Trust me it isn’t.

You are doing the right thing, stay strong & don’t give into her when this affair goes tits up for her.

kittymamma · 13/02/2018 09:45

What a bitch. You dodged a bullet finding out now at 27. 6 years wasted is better than 20 years... You are better off without her.

MarthaArthur · 13/02/2018 09:47

I'm sorry but i dont think your relationship sounded right before her cheating. She went out on a saterday night and "lost all contact" with you so you called and saw her family when she then text you at 10pm? She was on a night out why would she need to contact you? And she stayed at a collegues house why did you quiz her repeatedly in the days after?
Your relationship was always doomed. But if she did cheat which it sounds like you need to make the decision to leave her or stay. Staying sounds like the terrible option. She will do it again.

Bonez · 13/02/2018 10:23

MarthaArthur if your husband/wife didn't come home after work, wasn't answering calls or texts, would you not be at leats a little worried by 10pm having heard nothing and known nothing of the night out?

Keepitmoving · 13/02/2018 10:31

Just to give some context Martha. She had been at work on the Saturday and we had arranged to go to her cousins house for dinner that evening. We agreed to meet at her cousins at 6.30 because she finished work at 4 and said she would go for a couple of drinks with her workmates after work. I agreed and went to her cousins house. She didn’t arrive at 6.30, 7.30, 8.30 and wouldn’t respond to any of my messages. It was at that point I contacted her sister and mother because I was genuinely worried. It was only when her sister tracked her phone to a bar in the centre of the city using an app and sent her a screenshot did she text me saying ‘I’m fine, just out with work’. I had to sit like an idiot with her cousin and her husband for 4 or 5 hours while we tried to track her down. That is the only reason I was trying to locate her, I thought she might be lying in a ditch somewhere. To say our relationship didn’t sound right is a bit presumptuous but I appreciate you didn’t have all of the info.
The day before this happened we were shopping for wallpaper and paint to decorate our home and I can honestly say, there was nothing to suggest behaviour like this was on the horizon.

In terms of quizzing her in the weeks to follow, I was just looking for the truth. Every time we spoke she revealed a Little bit more information that she had hidden or lied about the last time we spoke and I just had a feeling in my gut that she was hiding something and I wanted to know all of the information.

I appreciate everyone’s advice and well wishes though. Obviously I’m horrendously hurt by all of this and her behaviour since this happened has only made it worse. I am under no illusions that I will divorce this woman and rid her from my life. I just didn’t know if I was holding onto false hope that I may get a confession at some point. It sounds like I am.

In terms of exposing this, do you think I should to her friends and family? Her work? Or because I’m resigned to this being the end do I just leave it and work on myself?

OP posts:
Offred · 13/02/2018 10:35

Just leave and work on yourself, don’t make an effort to ‘expose’ her but don’t keep her secrets either. If people ask, tell them your version of what happened.

MarthaArthur · 13/02/2018 10:43

I sincerly apologise op i thought she had already said she was going out. Her behaviour is not acceptable at all. Sorry she has done this to you.

Graphista · 13/02/2018 11:47

Don't go out of your way to tell people but don't lie for her either.

I was pleasantly surprised by some people who were ex's friends before we met who went out of their way to call and say that despite his protestations they believed he's cheated too (and this was before ow pregnancy revealed). They'd picked up something "off" in the way he told them about the split and why it was happening.

Ex was delightful and accused me of turning them against him when they dropped him. I hadn't said a thing by the point at which they decided to drop them hadn't even spoken to them (and this was pre sm days too).

Cricrichan · 13/02/2018 11:58

Don't expose but obviously tell your friends and family what happened if they ask.