Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Found out I'm the OW. So unhappy.

50 replies

Dtnlyst · 19/11/2018 21:50

I reconnected with an acquaintance from university. This was in April. We're 45, both divorced with 2 teenage DC each. We barely knew each other at university but had a good friend in common. He added me on FB in February and 8 weeks later we started chatting via messenger about a shared interest (I'd put up a status about it). It was innocent and friendly at first but then we realised we had loads in common and also became emotionally close, discussing our divorces, problems, feelings. Chats became more and more regular and turned sexual in September, with him saying I'm his fantasy and he thinks of me constantly. The messages have been both loving and sexual, with him commenting on my intellect and humour as well as my looks.

He lives 30 minutes away. He never suggested meeting and I was nervous about meeting (low body confidence, find intimacy hard) so I didn't suggest it either. I enjoyed the online thing, the buzz. My marriage had been dismal and joyless and I really liked fancying someone and being adored, and feeling like a heady teen falling in love.

Recently I've been debating suggesting a pre-Christmas drink. I feel sort of ready. Today, I saw a close friend and told her. She was excited and keen to see what he was like so she looked him up on Facebook on her phone and on his profile it said "in a relationship with Jane Smith".

Shocked..we were both stunned.

This status is not visible to me. It's obviously been hidden from me. I logged in just now using my elderly dad's account and can see "in a relationship with Jane Smith" via dad's account too.

I've been duped. More digging (her profile isn't private) shows they've been together 16 months but don't live together, she has 2 teen daughters. Jane's most recent status refers to booking a holiday with him for Easter with all the kids. She's posted lots of stuff about him but since talking to me, he never referred to her on FB or tagged her - he's airbrushed her for my benefit it seems - the last time he liaised with her in any way publicly on FB was April. We've exchanged hundreds of private messages and he's mentioned loads of relatives and mates but never her.

Should I challenge him about this emotional affair or ghost him? I'm tempted to ask him out just to see what he says. No idea what to do. Was with my ex husband from 1996-2017 so am so inexperienced and out of the loop. I want nothing more to do with him but it's playing on my mind and I'm so disappointed, I was psyched up to meet and maybe start dating. I really thought he liked me very much.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 19/11/2018 21:54

Well at least you've found out now before anything physical happened. He probably had no intention of meeting you.

I'm sorry man. I can't tell you what you should do but maybe block him for now whole you process it?

RyderWhiteSwan · 19/11/2018 21:54

Message "give my regards to Jane" - then block him everywhere!

Weezol · 19/11/2018 22:00

Ask him - be prepared for him to lie. You know he's lied and he needs to know you know.

You could just cut him out, but then you run the risk of him trying to wheedle his way back in. Let him know he's been caught then NC.

LivininaBox · 19/11/2018 22:07

Why not send Jane Smith a friend request? That'll get him worried.

Greensleeves · 19/11/2018 22:09

Tell him you've decided your name is a bit too exotic/recognisable, so you're changing it by deed poll to Jane Smith.

chocorabbit · 19/11/2018 22:13

If he has lied he is so not worth it and why would you need validation? Just ingore him or block him if you find it impossible to resist. I know you want answers but he will lie and present something plausible to keep you and your imagination going. Not worth it. He is in a mid-life crisis and needs validation that women want him so keeps them interested. Read the limerence thread. There are so many cases like this unfortunately.

SandyY2K · 19/11/2018 22:21

Awful behaviour of him

Options...

• Ghost him
• End it ..saying it's not working for you
• Say regards to Jane Smith, don't ever contact me again and block him

mcmooberry · 19/11/2018 22:22

How disappointing for you and what a shock! Jane Smith hasn't got things so good either being in a relationship with him if this is how he behaves. Would block him at this point, he doesn't deserve an explanation.

N0b0dysMot · 19/11/2018 22:23

Wow. How duplicitous. I agree with suggestion to send jane a request. Make him sweat.

Kennycalmit · 19/11/2018 22:28

I would 100% send a friend request to Jane

If not, at least mention her in a message.

He’s an arsehole.

Pinkyyy · 19/11/2018 22:37

I imagine you'll get a very wide variety of different opinions on what action to take because I'm sure everyone would want to react in a different way. With that being said, I would not make any arrangements to meet him (even if you plan not to turn up) because this needs to end now. It's up to you whether you think he's not even worth another word and you just block him, or whether you want to confront him about it. Either way, he's good for nothing

Justaboy · 19/11/2018 22:43

Barstard!, really is poor you still at least you dodged a grade A ++ wanker there!

There are good men around but decent ones are sometimes hard to find.

Petalflowers · 19/11/2018 22:45

At least you have found out now, and i’m Sorry you have been hurt and duped. Jane has also been duped in thinking he is more serious with her then he lets on.

TSSDNCOP · 19/11/2018 22:48

Is it technically possible to hide things from a single friend?

rosablue · 19/11/2018 22:49

I would change your status to show that you're in a relationship with him, send a friend request to Jane Smith and make sure you have ,ade screenshots of all the messages to show her (or at least a good selection of them, particularly where he lets you think he is single etc).

Or have some fun and suggest that you become a couple so that you can then immediately change your status...

And then later change your status to something along the lines of 'dodged a bullet so not in a relationship with two timing wanker, thank god'...

Cattus · 19/11/2018 22:51

He sounds like a twat.

YoniHuman · 19/11/2018 22:51

I would send message Jane a copy of some of the explicit messages so she can see for herself what he's playing at and block him with no comment.

joinedjustfordw · 19/11/2018 22:52

Not very experience in this field of advice d, but I would love to vicariously witness the panic on his face when good ol' Jane gets a request from you knowin g it's actually happened and all.

SassitudeandSparkle · 19/11/2018 22:54

You can customise the setting on your relationship status, I've just checked.

OP, don't play games - just tell him you know he is in a relationship and you won't be contacting him online anymore.

Myheartbelongsto · 19/11/2018 22:54

Tell him you have a job interview coming up with a Jane Smith.

I'd make him sweat but then after a while I'd wish I'd said nothing and just dropped off the earth.

ILoveAutum · 19/11/2018 22:58

I’d send Jane some screenshots & let her know you’ve only just accidentally found out about her existence. Then I’d tell him I’m disappointed that he’s not what he seemed. Then ignore him.

Wank badger

riceuten · 19/11/2018 23:15

Is it technically possible to hide things from a single friend?

Yes, I (innocently) did this when planning a surprise party for someone

LittleLifeRaft · 19/11/2018 23:19

Oh god, don't send Jane a friend request! You don't know her, do you? She'd probably reject it anyway. Hold your head up high, ghost and block. He's been in it for the ego trip and don't validate him anymore by showing him you are bothered. If he was really that into you he would have instigated meeting up. Sorry OP, but he's just a fantasy figure and not worthy of your emotions.

Myforgiven · 19/11/2018 23:20

Ok, so his FB status says he's in a relationship, but he hasn't actually updated FB as long as you've known him? It's possible he just doesn't go on FB and hasn't updated his status?

Lalliella · 19/11/2018 23:28

If you’re feeling really bold (and evil) you could post a screenshot of his sauciest message to his timeline and tag Jane Smith. Sorry, that’s not very dignified. But I’d really want revenge if that was me. The bastard. Sorry this has happened to you OP Flowers