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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

Husband Keeping Secrets

37 replies

merrymeredith27 · 31/08/2018 17:12

Just to give some background. I don’t trust my husband at all after his behaviour in the past. He has been on AdultWork (escort site). When I discovered this and spoke to him he said he had looked at a few photos. Another time a video. I don’t believe that as he kept spending money to buy credits. He doesn’t go on it now but has never apologized and then when I pointed out to him recently that I had read in the local paper that the police had been monitoring this site for a year because of trafficking. He didn’t care and said every man does it and I should just accept it.
We have been married five years, I found out after we were married that he had been dating another woman the same time as me for a while. He even sent us the same Valentine card! No imagination. Also he had been writing to so called ‘Russian women’ while we were dating, saying the same things to them as he said to me.
I am fretting over his recent behaviour now, but don’t know if I am over re-acting. A few months ago he received a message from a female ex work colleague. He is retired and hasn’t worked with her for 12 years. He seemed very pleased to hear from her and they chatted for a while. Mostly about their time at work together. I knew she was his friend on Facebook before all this, he told me she was just someone he had worked with and that was it. Anyway he suggested they meet up for coffee and a chat as he put it. She liked that idea. Before they had chance to arrange it he had to change his email provider and lost all is Facebook friends. They are now back in touch on Messenger again. In the meantime he has been diagnosed with cancer and has had an operation not long ago. He can’t drive at the moment but told her when he was mobile again he hoped they would be able to meet. He hasn’t mentioned any of this to me and I doubt he will. She seemed delighted he has asked her and said she would love that and thanked him for asking her. Her husband works abroad. He has her on his special birthday list which is mostly family and very close friends. What is really bothering me is in his latest message he said whatever happened she would always have his love. Is this appropriate, would people normally say this to an ex colleague?
This week there has been more to worry me. A few months ago he contacted a firm that searches for long lost relatives and friends. I never knew who he was looking for until a few days ago. He didn’t go through with it because it was too expensive. Now he has joined a group on Facebook friends past and present from the area where he grew up. He asked if anyone knew his old sweetheart from his teens and said he had been searching for her. So that was it, and why he didn’t tell me. One lady was in her class at school and he asked her if she had any photos with her on. She put an old school photo on and he was thrilled. She said she would send him a hard copy if he wished, he jumped at the chance. He said he often thought about this girl and when he saw the photo he said he couldn’t tell her how wonderful it was to see it. Although it is many years he has never forgotten her. In the latest message he told the lady it would mean a lot to him to have the photo and he is going to persevere with trying to find her. He has told me none of this, everything is behind my back. I know these things because he left his Facebook page open but hadn’t realized and I’ve not told him I’ve seen it all. I don’t feel I can discuss it while he is ill, but I am upset about it all, and him keeping it a secret. Why is he searching for an old sweetheart? Our marriage has been in trouble for quite a time and there has been no sex for 18 months and infrequent before that, down to him. He is ill now but wasn’t then, just not interested. Sorry this is long. What I want to know is am I over reacting to it all.

OP posts:
NapQueen · 31/08/2018 17:14

Anything short of divorce would be underreacting.

SleepWarrior · 31/08/2018 17:15

I think you've been under-reacting to all of it, right from the start. Do you have kids? I'm hoping not. Then you can just run and not look back. This man does not give a toss about you. Sorry Flowers

Promiseme · 31/08/2018 17:16

Of course you can confront him. Just because he is ill doesn’t mean he can do what he likes if that means contacting other women.

Jsku · 31/08/2018 17:24

Overreacting?
If you read your post and imagine that a friend was describing this life to you - what would you say?

So - your H has been dating multiple people, married you and continued looking around - both at prostitutes, and ex-colleagues, and now old flames.... Even cancer operation didn’t stop him.

Am I describing the situation correctly?

Binner · 31/08/2018 17:26

How serious is the cancer? Do you think he is having a bit of a crisis as he realises his own mortality?

overnightangel · 31/08/2018 17:28

LTB x1000

Joysmum · 31/08/2018 17:34

He’s proven himself untrustworthy time and time again, this is just yet another example.

He couldn’t give a damn about your boundaries or feelings so you’re a fool for staying thinking he’ll change.

Saggital · 31/08/2018 17:54

I think this whole story is one of sadness. For OP and her DH.

LatteLover12 · 31/08/2018 17:59

Agree with @overnightangel

Leave. You’ll be a million times happier.

AnyFucker · 31/08/2018 18:00

What the hell are doing still there ? Confused

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 31/08/2018 18:07

Sorry OP - don't mean to be mean - ' but this is one of those FFS threads for me. Seriously. Get the fuck out - now.

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 31/08/2018 18:14

Why are you wasting time with this sleazy man? He will only ever make you feel insecure, sad and suspicious. There is nothing more lonely than being stuck in a bad relationship. I'd ditch him

adayatthebeach · 31/08/2018 18:17

Are you the main bread winner? Seems he married you for all the wrong reasons. Sorry OP you deserve better.

Freshstart19 · 31/08/2018 18:23

What everyone else said!

timeisnotaline · 31/08/2018 18:27

You absolutely can divorce people with cancer. You should not sacrifice further years of your life nursing this man who has not even apologised for hurting you. Tell him if you’d cared for me and kept your marriage vows I’d care for you now, but as it is ... the papers will be served as soon as they can draw them up.

SandyY2K · 31/08/2018 18:36

He wants to catch up with his true love before he dies. I'd be gone and leave him to it. Or just ignore him and get on with your life. It doesnt sound like he's been interested in you in a romantic sense for a while now.

benjaminbuttonschild · 31/08/2018 19:34

Just to give some background. I don’t trust my husband at all after his behaviour in the past. He has been on AdultWork (escort site). When I discovered this and spoke to him he said he had looked at a few photos. Another time a video. I don’t believe that as he kept spending money to buy credits. He doesn’t go on it now but has never apologized and then when I pointed out to him recently that I had read in the local paper that the police had been monitoring this site for a year because of trafficking. He didn’t care and said every man does it and I should just accept it.

Even before reading the rest of your post, my brain was screaming you should consider divorce. I'm sorry he is ill, but ill or not he is taking you for a mug. I would have it out with him, he likely won't deny it since 'every man does it' then I'd divorce him.

In sickness and in health means nothing as he hasn't stuck to his vows. He doesn't respect you at all OP. You are very positively under-reacting. You have a right to be angry.

merrymeredith27 · 31/08/2018 20:33

So far everyone agrees I should leave. We married late in life and both have grown up children. My son and daughter have said all along I should leave. I enquired about divorce about a year ago and then someone said he had to agree, and I know he wouldn’t, not that he cares about me but I am a convenience. I actually left for about 3 weeks just after the big row about the website. He said all the men in my family would have done this. I had no contact with him, then he rang me to tell me how his operation had gone. I am daft I felt sorry for him because he was ill, and came back but I only intended it to be for a short while till we knew the whole story about his illness. He is still having treatment but the doc said he could live another 10 years. However he is having another scan and operation soon. When I came back he said he had missed me and that I was the only woman for him! Lol!!! I didn’t believe him then and even less now.
I have been married 3 times before. My first marriage ended in divorce many years ago . I’ve been married twice since then and they were both very happy marriages but both died. I know what a marriage should be like, and this one is nothing like one. I spoke to his eldest son some months ago about him and he said he was ashamed to have him as a father and if he heard I had left he wouldn’t be surprised.
I would have wondered if it was because of the cancer that he seemed to want these women back but the dates with the ex colleague were being arranged quite a while ago, before he was ill, and he was searching for the old flame well before too. So it is just his usual behaviour. I thought it might be callous to leave a man with cancer but I know he will never change.

OP posts:
ladamanera · 31/08/2018 20:35

I can see why it is difficult. Leaving someone with cancer isn't just about your rights (and you have those) but also how others will judge and treat you and the unfairness of trying to explain or not being able to, to friends and family and his friends and family how you made what looks like a terriblky timed decision- especially on internet based evidence. So what about keeping it private between you? Go to him alone- say you know what hes been doing, you also have sympathy for his illness- and while you will continue to care for him you want an open marriage. He may well be looking up all sorts of people- i cant imagine who my mind would drift to if I thought I was going to die- so i understand him but at the same time, you cant sit there and watch that and have it upset you. Its not fair.
However you could if you wanted, start to date again while keeping your life entangled and accepting that the romantic exclusivity part os over and hopefully get a step ahead in the healing from how he has hurt you, by dipping your own toe in the world- while practical and logistical requirements stay the same? But one thing is clear form all previous posters- do not put your emptional eggs in this basket any longer. He may be a cheat, or just a mess of mortality realisations, but either way, his focus in this terrible time is not on you and that tells you something about how the future, should there be one, might go,

ladamanera · 31/08/2018 20:37

Just read your last post and it definitely changes the tone. Now it sounds like you just need some courage- like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, you already have it. Go.

lunatunes · 31/08/2018 21:51

Could you imagine putting up with this for another 10 years?

timeisnotaline · 31/08/2018 22:22

ladamanera why in god’s name would the op want to continue to care for him? What a terrible idea.

fiercelikefrida · 31/08/2018 22:33

You should leave him, you deserve so much better.

Domino20 · 31/08/2018 22:38

Cancer doesn't just happen to nice people, shit bags can get it too. Please don't stay with him because of his illness.

youaremyrain · 31/08/2018 22:58

He may be your husband legally but he's not acting like a husband at all. He sounds nasty. Leave him and don't look back