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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

My life is in ruins - Affair with married man

318 replies

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 14:14

Hi

Two years ago my husband had an affair which resulted in the end of our marriage.

Fast forward 3 months and I became involved in a sexting relationship with a former colleague over Facebook.

This continued daily for for many months and I became emotionally attached to this man despite knowing he had a history of cheating on his wife several times over the years. He openly told me about his conquests. For whatever reason that wasn’t enough to put me off.

We met up and started seeing each other in person and I ended up pregnant with twins.

I told him about it and he said we couldn’t continue to be involved if I went ahead with the pregnancy. For weeks I went back and forth and kept changing my mind about what to do. My biggest fear was that he was lying to me and was involved with someone other than me and his wife as he had previously mentioned he had an affair that went on for years and years and said that woman had been in touch to meet up again but he declined. He came to my house, held my hand and looked into my eyes and promised me it was only me he wanted and there wasn’t anyone else and hadnt been the entire time we were I involved. He swore on the lives of his adult kids and grandson and in the end I had a termination but by this time I was 14 weeks gone.

On the day of the abortion he was at a family wedding and he did check on me that before morning but I was angry with him so he didn’t contact me again the rest of the day.

He said he hadn’t been on his phone the whole day.

Things got difficult for me after that, I was filled with regret and terrible guilt. I was open with him about my feelings. He seemed fairly supportive at that time.

I felt we had gotten closer due to it all and became more attached to him and felt like I loved him.

Something felt off, I can’t explain why but I asked him who the woman was that he had the affair with for years and he refused to tell me. That made alarm bells ring because I thought maybe he’s worried I find out something he doesn’t want me to know. After I pushed him he told me who she was and I knew of her but didn’t know her personally. I messaged her on Facebook and asked her if she was still in contact with him and stupidly I told him I was doing this.

She said she wasn’t but asked me a lot of questions which made me suspicious.

2 weeks went by and she messaged me and showed me pictures he has sent her on the day I had the abortion, so he had been on his phone and was busy sending her messages as I was bleeding out his twins. She also told me dates they had been together and send me copies of messages.

He came to my house and I said I can’t believe you lied to me and I believed you. Why that wasn’t hard for me to believe I’m not sure as he had been lying to his wife for 30 years so why would I be an exception to the rule?

He begged for forgiveness and apologised said he ended it after the abortion. For a few days I went along with it but I became ill with anxiety. I didn’t sleep for 4 days and couldn’t think straight.

In mid August he had just left my house after we spent a lovely evening together. The other woman messaged again and showed me new information where he instructed her to lie to me and told her I was nobody and he didn’t love me he loved her.

I snapped and got ready and walked round to his house, knocked his door and he answered. I said I couldn’t listen to his lies any longer it was too painful and I had to tell his wife because if I didn’t he would somehow manage to talk me round into forgiving him again and that would only led to more pain. He then got in his car and drove away and his wife came to the door and I told her the truth. That he’s lied to her for 30 years.

I haven’t heard from him since. I deleted my social media.

I’m absolutely distraught over it all, I feel like such a fool and the guilt is killing me. I have terrible nightmares and my anxiety is crippling. I can’t go on like this. I’m in therapy but it’s going to take time.

I feel ashamed that given I was cheated on I entered a relationship with a married man and even more ashamed I aborted two innocent babies to continue to see him and now it’s all been for nothing.

I think every word he ever said was a lie. It’s all so confusing. I just cry all day. Don’t go out and go over the messages time and time again trying to make peace with it all or find answers.

I would love to sit down with him and get some closure but I know that won’t happen.

He’s totally broken me and I have no idea where I go from here.

OP posts:
windandme · 02/10/2019 16:20

You you you. Maybe start to think about others and how your actions could affect their lives more than yourself and your life wouldn't have taken such a shit path. This thread has been very kind to you. You made this bed and now you're having to lie in it I'm afraid.

InsertFunnyUsername · 02/10/2019 16:20

I wouldn't tell a man to beat himself up for the rest of his life either. It would be better if no one ever cheated and hurt anyone, but humans suck soooo 🤷‍♀️

DBML · 02/10/2019 16:22

Hi op

I don’t agree with people saying that you were duped by a nasty man. You made your decisions and they had consequences, awful consequences and now you have to live with them. You won’t be over this quickly because it’s all very traumatic and you do need counselling.

But you do need to own your mistakes to move on. Be honest with yourself and say you behaved crappy. Don’t blame him (though he’s a dick)...accept full responsibility for your actions. And then forgive yourself, because you are only human.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:23

Windandme

He cheated for 30 years I didn’t make him cheat. He was doing that when I was still in nappies.

OP posts:
RamIt · 02/10/2019 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Treesthemovie · 02/10/2019 16:24

You talk about not having too much sympathy for his wife because you are just one in a long line of affairs, well yes exactly you were just one of many. Why did you think you were so special to him?

Clearly you told his wife in a rage because it became obvious he didn't care about you. Next time don't get involved with a man who lies and brags about cheating on his wife to you.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:24

DBML

Yes I made bad decisions but I genuinely believed he was being honest with me.

He is an excellent and skilled liar. I based my decisions on what he said to me at the time.

OP posts:
DuMondeB · 02/10/2019 16:25

Sometimes nice people behave in shitty ways (and some shitty people do nice things from time to time).

You’ve done the right thing by breaking contact. Keep it that way.

Keep going to counselling and work on yourself so you don’t end up repeating the same bad behaviours. Get some exercise, maybe start a DIY project or learn an instrument or take up sewing.

When your mind is healthy again, you will be strong enough to know you are worth more than a bit of sexting and some part-time attention from an attached man.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:26

Ramit

From your words I can tell you are a bitter twisted person.

Your words don’t hurt me but thanks for trying.

OP posts:
Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:28

Trees the movie

Nowhere have I said I don’t have sympathy for his wife.

OP posts:
Alexkate2468 · 02/10/2019 16:29

I wonder how much therapy his wife needs...
I wonder how devastated she is...
I wonder how much crippling anxiety and how many nightmares she’s having...

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:29

And that’s for her to talk about herself.

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 02/10/2019 16:29

I don't understand this 'I didn't break vows' attitude.

Yes you were single, but that doesn't give you permission to have an affair with someone who is married.

You were both complicit in the affair. To try to avoid your part of it by saying you were single, is laughable.
It suggests you have no moral code and as long as you weren't tied to a man legally as his wife, you are free to have an affair. Other women will not go near a married man regardless of their single status.

I am really sorry you are in a mess.
He was a bastard.
You will get over it in time.

You are angry because you were taken for a fool.
The first step to recovery is to accept you were a willing partner in all of this. Do not put 100% blame on him.

Forgive yourself and try to learn from this experience.

FavouriteSong · 02/10/2019 16:30

I second the idea of keeping a journal. Write down all your feelings, all your fears, all your anxieties, getting it out onto paper can help clear your mind.

The man you had an affair with is a liar and a cheat, and probably always has been. You are just another woman in a long line of women he has slept with. His wife is probably aware of his true nature, after 30 years.

The termination, although a hard decision, was the right one. Would you really want to be bringing up twins on your own, forever linked to a man like him?

Never get involved with a married man again. Respect yourself more.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:31

JHB

I’m not, I was honest with him and he lied to me.

I blame him for that. Not for me getting involved in the first place.

OP posts:
RamIt · 02/10/2019 16:32

I prefer dark and twisty sweetheart!!

Although I shouldn't have wasted my energy, twins.... I should have clocked the twins.

JinglingHellsBells · 02/10/2019 16:33

He cheated for 30 years I didn’t make him cheat.

Correct.

You didn't make him cheat but you presented yourself as a willing accomplice rather than walking away. Without you, he would have found some other vulnerable woman, but that doesn't mean your behaviour was right.

SunshineCake · 02/10/2019 16:34

What is it you want ? Hmm

Not saying sorry for incorrectly saying he had dumped you as that's totally not the issue here Hmm. And since you had to hurt his wife to make you stay away it doesn't sound like you meant the dumping.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:34

Ramit

No Meredith and Cristina from Grey’s Anatomy are dark and twisty. You are not.

And can you explain further what you mean by should have clocked the twins?

OP posts:
lottelupin · 02/10/2019 16:34

Dear stormthprincess, I read your devastating story and have a lot I think to say that might help you, but haven't got time right now. Will write later. Please just grab this thought: you have been a victim, and there is no defence against straight abuse. It's happened to you twice. But you know now, can stop it and will get better. When you hear how common this behaviour is, both theirs and yours, you'll start to be able to put it in perspective and deal with it and go forwards. But you've had a heck of a lot to deal with. I'll be in touch.

ChaosisntapitChaosisaladder19 · 02/10/2019 16:34

Tbh the only poor sod I feel so sorry in the whole saga is his wife who has been unaware that her scum of a husband has been impregnated women and had multiple affairs. You're not an innocent party in this you were aware of his history and his record yet you proceeded yet the why you write you come across like the injury party in regards to the ow ow when you were still the ow yourself the only poor woman here is his wife who is the victim. Surely having experienced this with you're own husband you should know what this feels like. Sorry to be blatant and harsh but I hope this gives you some perspective because this poor woman has literally had her whole life explode before her very eyes. Please get some counselling for you're own experiences to avoid making the same mistakes again.

SherbetSaucer · 02/10/2019 16:34

@RamIt To be perfectly honest, you deserve everything you got

Agreed!

JinglingHellsBells · 02/10/2019 16:34

Not for me getting involved in the first place.

If you are in denial about your part of this, then you will never recover.

The first step is to acknowledge you did wrong too. Surely you are not some silly airhead who is trying to say you were 'seduced' by a charmer and you didn't even think that an affair was wrong?

Alexkate2468 · 02/10/2019 16:35

Do you not care that you were part of destroying her life?
You seem to be trying to play the innocent, ‘I was tricked by a very clever, very bad man’.
I would have more sympathy for you if you weren’t trying to pass off responsibility and showed more regret about the impact your decisions had on the lives of others.
I hope therapy helps you to look outwards and become a better person.

Stormtheprincess · 02/10/2019 16:35

JHB

No of course it doesn’t and I’ve paid a heavy price

OP posts:
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