Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Wife still in touch with affair partner even though we're still together. What do I do?

53 replies

BristolRichard · 24/11/2019 15:51

My wife of 14 years - with who I have three children, including one with serious behavioral and learning issues - earlier this year began an affair with a man she met on a work trip abroad. It has been a difficult time for lots of reasons. Unknown to me at the time they spent the night together (although she insists nothing much happened at this point) and were then intensively in touch via messenger and whatsapp over many weeks. They subsequently had another weekend together where they had unprotected sex multiple times. After all this came out we were in turmoil but agreed to give things another go, on the basis she would cut all ties with the other man and focus on us. Anyway, despite starting off well I I recently found out they were still in touch with each other sending messages and pictures and although we're still officially giving things a go for a few months, I know they are still talking to each other most days. (This is very hard as things are actually good between us most of the time, we laugh together and have become quite close again, we're sleeping in the same bed, having sex regularly etc) So I have a horrible dilemma - do I ignore their liaisons and hope that it fizzles out, or give her an ultimatum and say all contact between them needs to cease or we split? The problem then becomes who moves out - do I ask her to leave as she's having the affair or do I leave? She's got little income so I will have to keep paying for the mortgage and everything else even if I leave, but it seems unfair I should go and lose my house and everything else. Any thoughts welcome...

OP posts:
Hopoindown31 · 24/11/2019 15:54

Ultimatum, after you have plans in place to get her out of the house if she refuses or at least move into a spare bedroom.

Remember she is showing you who she is.

AnotherEmma · 24/11/2019 15:57

LTB
You gave her a second chance and she is not exactly jumping at the chance to put the affair behind her and heal the marriage.
She is taking the piss and has no respect for you.
Find your self respect, consult a solicitor, and take steps to divorce.

heneverkeepshisword · 24/11/2019 15:58

You already gave her a chance....she's blown it! This happened to me....If I could go back I wouldn't give my ex the 3rd 4th etc chances....

Minionmomma · 24/11/2019 16:24

She has no respect for you or your marriage. She’s still in touch with the other guy because she wants to be. And because she’s not thinking about the impact on you or your family. Ball’s in your court. You want spend your life with a selfish cheat, constantly checking and worrying...?

Cosyjimjamsforautumn · 24/11/2019 16:37

The affair is continuing and so she needs to move into the spare room at the very least as all trust is broken.
See a solicitor and get an STI check

Clearnightsky · 24/11/2019 16:42

No you need to leave. Or give her an ultimatum and try counseling but this is not on at all.

However don’t just stay because you don’t want to lose the house. That’s a rubbish reason. Any separation you can go to solicitors and do it properly and fairly keeping your kids interests at the centre.

SpicyRibs · 24/11/2019 16:49

Anyway, despite starting off well I I recently found out they were still in touch with each other sending messages and pictures and although we're still officially giving things a go for a few months

I wouldn't tolerate that. She's not invested in your relationship.

Does she know you are aware of them messaging each other?

misspiggy19 · 24/11/2019 16:50

She’s the one having the affair, kick her out! Ask her to leave the house. In no circumstances should you leave.

Then get an excellent solicitor and get custody of your kids and take her for all she’s got.

TheJHD · 24/11/2019 16:56

Kick her out, keep the kids. She can go move in with her new man

BristolRichard · 24/11/2019 16:56

She knows that I know - she says they are just chatting about day to day stuff and says whether we stay together isn’t affected by her continuing to chat with him

OP posts:
GiveHerHellFromUs · 24/11/2019 17:06

You need to tell her that your relationship 100% depends on whether she's still chatting to him.

If she continues to talk to him, end it.

Whoever leaves should depend on what's best for the children.

AnotherEmma · 24/11/2019 17:12

"She’s the one having the affair, kick her out! Ask her to leave the house. In no circumstances should you leave."

This is irresponsible advice.
Whoever is the main carer of the children should be the person to stay with them in the family home.
If that's OP, he should ask her to leave, but if that's his wife, he should leave himself.
She is in the wrong but the most important thing to consider here is the children and their needs.

Tara214 · 24/11/2019 17:17

You need to divorce now. Consult a solicitor on how best to proceed with the house/living situation.

Tara214 · 24/11/2019 17:20

I don’t understand why she is treating you like a doormat? Why does she think you will be there no matter how she behaves? You need to familiarise yourself with www.chumplady.com

Given her total lack of respect for you in that she could do this, and sees no problem with it, you have nothing to work with. The only option is the end of the road.

Powerplant · 24/11/2019 17:29

If she was serious about salvaging your relationship she should have enough respect for you to cut ties with the other man. You need to insist and see what her reactions is.

SandyY2K · 24/11/2019 17:54

Remaining in contact with an affair partner, us continuing the affair.

Stop having sex with her. You don't know what disease she'll give you.

ChristmasFluff · 24/11/2019 18:41

She has no respect for you and she knows she has you where she wants you - providing her with the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed.

If she had any care for your feelings, she would have cut contact when she said she would. If she wasn't a liar she would have cut contact when she said she would. If she was serious about your marriage, she would have cut contact when she said she would.

If you have any respect for yourself, divorce her. No ultimatum - she won't care. Sell the house and each do your own thing.

Clearnightsky · 24/11/2019 18:44

She knows that I know - she says they are just chatting about day to day stuff and says whether we stay together isn’t affected by her continuing to chat with him

I’d be furious. It’s not up to her to make that call. Who cares if they are not sleeping together it’s massively hurtful and upsetting.YOU get to say whether that is a deal breaker. And I’d certainly say it was a deal breaker. She’s behaving very badly towards you.

MsDogLady · 24/11/2019 19:03

We.. agreed to give things another go, on the basis she would cut all ties with the other man and focus on us.

Your wife is stomping all over the boundary you set up for the rebuilding of your trust. She is continuing the affair. All of their interaction further develops their emotional intimacy, and they also may still be having sex.

She has treated you with contempt and feels confident that you will tolerate her infidelity. You need to follow through and file for divorce.

Notallitseemstobe · 24/11/2019 19:10

I'm a wife and having an affair, although not one that has been discovered.

From my experience she's getting something from him she's not getting from you and working out if she can imagine to balance and kept you both. She gets him, and the life she is used to having, and a stable feeling family for the kids.

She is hoping you tolerate this, and by saying nothing you are. The ball is in your court.

wherearemymarbles · 24/11/2019 19:17

......’- she says they are just chatting about day to day stuff and says whether we stay together isn’t affected by her continuing to chat with him....’

This sentence alone show’s how much contempt for you she has. She couldn’t give a fuck. And given half a chance she’d still be shagging him.

Send her to the spare room then start divorce proceedings

Trustyourinnersatnav · 24/11/2019 19:26

This is appalling behavior towards you. She is overstepping your boundaries, at an especially tender time. There needs to be no contact. I'm not sure how you can build trust with her again after this. She has put your world into complete chaos and is unable to take responsibility for it.

monkeymonkey2010 · 24/11/2019 19:43

it seems unfair I should go and lose my house and everything else
It IS unfair - which is why you should legal advice asap to protect yourself.

SHE needs to either sleep in a different room or leave....and get a better paying job/more hours if her income is so 'little'.

She's using you because she knows exactly how to play you and make you compliant.
She's probably planning on her future without you - but choosing to lie and deceive you so she can 'buy time' until she wants to leave.
She's probably trying to convince her shag-buddy to move her in - along with your kids.

She WILL try to get main residency for the kids (and the house) and allocate you EOW access only, whilst still expecting you to pay the mortgage and bills and maintenance......on top of the money you would have to shell out for a new place for yourself that is suitable to have the dc stay over.

Go see a solicitor and get yourself legally savvy......you can legally and financially separate and still live under the same roof whilst the divorce is finalised.
I'd also get my request for a residence order for the kids in asap, along with a Prohibited Steps Order just in case she tries to move them far away from you.

I'd also insist on 50/50 split if you can't get main residency for the DC, they don't deserve to lose out on contact with their father just because their mother wants to swap sex partners.

Personally, i'd be getting legal advice asap TOMORROW cos i wouldn't trust a lying, cheating, disrespectful and callous 'partner'.

Chloemol · 24/11/2019 19:46

She needs to leave. you need to see a solicitor and get custody of the kids, now

AnotherEmma · 24/11/2019 19:50

"you need to see a solicitor and get custody of the kids, now"

Again, WTF?!
Children are not fucking pawns to be used in an affair revenge battle