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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

Think it’s over. Messages , escorts, open condom. Please help

424 replies

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:14

Will try and be brief. Been with OH 18 months. We met through mutual friends. I have children with my ex husband . Kids were introduced slowly they all get on great. Kids like having him around asked when he would move in and I discussed how they would feel about it should that happen and they were all happy and excited and wanted it . I am mid 30s OH early 30s and he has no kids. I can’t have anymore children and although he said he couldn’t garantee one day he might not feel he wants a family of his own he doesn’t have an overwhelming feeling to have his own kids that he was happy with us he loved his time with us etc .

Recently a friend of his had a baby I mentioned I am sure one day he would love his own and he said I am happy with how things are. He did always say he would feel disappointed in life if he never married though. I have no aversion to remarrying (the marriage wasn’t the issue last time it was the person ) then recently another friend is expecting a baby in August and someone else we know in November. Again no desire expressed by him that he feels he’s missing out or broody .

I found out a while back that on nights outs with his mates (approx once a month) some of them do a few lines of coke . My ex used to do it and it caused a lot of issues. However he was also violent and abusive when drinking and doing drugs. My OH and I talked and I said as long as he never brought it into my house and never did it around me or my children or when I was with him then out with his mates while I don’t approve is his business and doesn’t effect me. I later found out after looking at his phone one of his friends deals it and that’s where they get it from and he has friends who ring him and he passes this guys number on as a favour. I gave him lots of opportunities to come clean and tell me and he didn’t. Until eventually I overheard a call and confronted him. We nearly broke up over it but he said he would stop being involved and he wanted a future with me and was sorry.

At the same time I saw on a holiday with some of his friends and family last year (booked before we were together) he messaged a girl on a dating app asking if she fancied meeting for a drink. Again I kept quiet and didn’t let on that I knew. I buried it and carried on.

I love and care for this man deeply. He lost him mum a couple of years ago and said I made him feel happy again and came into his life when everything was dark etc. We had both of us talked about buying somewhere together and one day marrying. He mentioned in the beginning of the year when we had been together a year the idea of us living together (he works , owns his own house but there’s now a tenant in and would have been with me so my children don’t have to move house and Schools etc ) I said sounds great let’s see in the summer about it but he started staying here a few times a week instead of just one to see how it felt being together that bit more.

In February we were going to meet two of his friends for lunch and a message came up on his in car system which he asked me to read to him. Under that was another message from an unsaved number sent at 5am that morning when he was staying at his dads house saying they only offer outcalls and not incalls. I know it was a massage parlour / escort agency from that and I confronted him. He said firsT of all a friend had done it and used his phone and I told him to have respect for me and admit it. He admitted he was drunk and doing drugs and he called the number but they were closed and could only come out and he didn’t have anyone go there as his dad brother and friends were there. He pleaded cried begged but did say maybe we would be better off ending it as I wouldn’t be able to trust him. I said maybe he should try counselling
He said he felt he was t good enough for me. That he’s always been hurt in relationships so throught that’s he’s bound to get screwed over again so what does it matter. He was so very upset and sorry for hurting me said I didn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve me and doesn’t deserve another chance. I wanted to make it work so let it go as a blip and a stupid drunken mistake although I was very hurt and felt inferior and not good enough. In March he did the same thing again. I found out as I hold my hands up and went through his phone. It was all there. Searches to brothels and massage parlours. He also gave his phone number to a random girl on the street and was emailing / messaging her for a bit the same night and he stayed up all night on a huge coke binge at the same time. (This was in a flat his family own in another town where he went on a weekend away with friends. But he went one night before everyone else on his own and did all this ) when j saw him online late he said he was up late as he didn’t feel well. I was worried about him being ill and there on his own as he’d been unwell at mine a couple of days before. He told his friend in a message it was a lie to shut me up and he was in the flat and paranoid from the amount of coke that he locked himself in one of the room as he thought there was a person next door )

Again i confronted him as it was the disrespect to me in these messages which I couldn’t believe. Laughing with friends bout messaging other girls and that I fell for his story of being ill. He then started counselling and has so far had 7 sessions. I even offered to do couples counselling alongside so that we could get back to how we were and work on things and have the life together we talked about.

Yesterday I was at his house and when I stood up to leave I looked down and in a drawer next to his bed (which was open) there was a worn condom laying there. I picked it up and said Why is this in your room. We don’t use them and haven’t had sex in that room anyway. He said he never uses the drawer someone else must have left it there from what could be months or years ago and it’s nothing to do with him . I didn’t argue I didn’t shout or scream I just felt very tired and said this is your bedroom how could you not know it was there. He said I don’t use that drawer and other people have stayed over in this room when I haven’t been here and it could be one of them. His cousin and girlfriend. Friends and girlfriends etc. His head dropped and he said I am telling the truth but I know you don’t believe me . I said I don’t know what to think and if you found it at my house you would find it hard to believe that it was as years old and I didn’t know how it got there
I have never found any actual evidence he’s cheated. Just times he’s come close. He said he doesn’t know why he’s done it. Etc

Anyway today he’s ended it with me. Says he needs to be on his own
He can’t stand keep making me unhappy and he can’t leave his phone unattended near me anymore and I won’t ever trust him
All suggestions of counselling together he’s saying no to. Says I will see it’s for the best and he wants to stay friends and still be able to meet up and have a kick about with the kids or take them out sometimes but he’s got too many issues to work on and he needs to put himself first and deal with them. He’s also said one day he might want kids and that option is off limits and it’s been bothering him for a while now. That maybe his best friend having a kid has made him think and he can’t guarantee he won’t one day want one and it’s something I can’t do with him. The idea of a surrogate if needs be was dismissed. Says he feels he’s no control over his life and it’s moving at 100mph ! No idea how I haven’t pushed him to move in. Marriage was briefly discussed a few times and by him as it happens as there’s a certain church he would like the ceremony in if possible but I could chose the reception if I was happy with that. Talked about areas we would consider buying in one day and when would be tha best time to move and both agreed 2 years time due to my children’s schooling. So none of this is about to happen tomorrow or next week.

I am hurting so much. I feel sick. I can’t stop crying. I feel ill. The future we talked about the plans we discussed. And then he’s going to meet someone else and do it all with them instead. Yesterday everything was fine. He cuddled me said he missed me loved me. I saw that condom and came home and now we are over

I feel broken. So broken and have no one I can talk to. I work long hours in a stressful job with people at times I am unhappy around. I feel so sad and lost

OP posts:
Menora · 03/05/2020 17:24

From your post this man is doing you a favour
He cannot give you all the things you want from him
Stop stop STOP trying to find ways around all of what is broken. You must stop. Stop trying to make him change his mind. You are hurting yourself over and over. Don’t you think you deserve a lot better?
You cannot ever trust him and what you had is gone, I know it really hurts. It will hurt for some time but you need to not be friends with him. He is a drug user who has sex with sex workers behind your back. He’s not going to marry you he’s not going to move in with you - and why would you ever want him to?

Talk on here, if you have no one else to talk to

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:27

Thanks that’s why I posted here. He says nothing ever happened with anyone else that he’s never cheated but admits he’s coming close to crossing that line. I can’t find any evidence he has actually been unfaithful with anyone.

He wanted marriage and living together and the family unit. It wasn’t ever me pushing it on him ever

OP posts:
lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:28

I am prepared to try couples counselling and us still talk on the phone but not stay overnight or have sex etc so we have space while we work on the issues. I love him very much feel lost right now and thought my future had him in it as did his

OP posts:
Menora · 03/05/2020 17:30

You are pushing him now though. Trying to get him to counselling. Let him go ok?

It doesn’t matter that you never found evidence, you don’t trust him and he doesn’t deserve trust. He’s done plenty of awful things even if he never actually had sex with any of them (sorry but this is unlikely he obviously did). He’s also done a good job of putting the blame back on you for going through his phone and pressuring him for a future. He’s immature and you are a mother and you do not want another drug taking, lying chest around your kids do you?

AntiHop · 03/05/2020 17:31

Why are you bothering with this man? He's obviously a lying arsehole. Ltb without a doubt.

JKScot4 · 03/05/2020 17:31

You’re broken?
You had a lucky escape from this arsehole!
You clearly don’t trust him with all your checking up which has highlighted he’s a waste of space.
Block and delete.

Menora · 03/05/2020 17:32

Cheat not chest

This is an awful role model for your kids
You really need to look at why you are so so desperate to hang onto this bloke. All he has done is lie to you, cheat on you, go behind your back with sex workers, take drugs, not even clear up the evidence behind himself!

He
Is
Not
Going
To
Change

BackseatCookers · 03/05/2020 17:32

I can’t find any evidence he has actually been unfaithful with anyone.

Cheating isn't the only thing that means you're "allowed" to break up with someone, you know that right?

You can break up with someone for any reason at any time.

This man has treated you with utter disrespect time and time again.

He has now told you it's over.

It's the kindest thing he's ever done for you.

Do you really want your kids to have a mum who is treated so shittily?

Do you really want to spend the rest of your life having to have couples counselling for your partner to not be a total cunt to you?

Do you really want to spend this much time and energy on someone who has attempted to go for drinks with someone else, got numbers of girls in the street, arranged drug deals, laughed about lying to you, repeatedly requested paid for sexual services at massage parlours and very clearly shagged someone else and not bothered to get rid of the fucking condom?!

ONE of those things could be enough for you to end it!

I'm saying this with love and solidarity as someone who has been in abusive relationships - what the fuck are you thinking?

Stop. Breathe. No contact. Grieve for what you thought you had. It wasn't real. It's over. Start the rest of your life and thank your lucky stars you're rid of this utter wanker.

HappyHedgehog247 · 03/05/2020 17:32

You can’t find any evidence??!!! Used condom, brothel messages? Repeated contact with massage parlours. You’re worth so much more than this. You don’t need relationship counselling. You need a relationship with a different kind of person if you are looking for commitment and monogamy.

Menora · 03/05/2020 17:33

Also from what he has said, he doesn’t want to try anymore. He has made that really clear

OhLook · 03/05/2020 17:34

I know this hurts at the moment, but one day you'll realise what a favour he's done you. He's really not worth any of this, especially not counselling. He's not going to change. He's in his 30s living like a teenager. This isn't someone you need around your kids.

OhLook · 03/05/2020 17:36

The sex worker stuff is fucking vile. Why would you want your kids around someone who thinks women are objects?

LiteraryType · 03/05/2020 17:36

You have had a lucky escape op. Re-read your post - it is obvious he has been unfaithful to you. Count your lucky stars he has done the decent thing. You deserve better than that. X

yesterdaystotalsteps123 · 03/05/2020 17:37

You're in shock. You have found plenty of evidence he has cheated. A used condom in his bedroom along with all the messages on his phone. Focus on you and your kids and work on yourself. This man is a sleazy drug using cheat. He pretended to be interested in being a family man because admitting what he really is would make any woman run a mile. Take care

Hadjab · 03/05/2020 17:38

I am prepared to try couples counselling and us still talk on the phone but not stay overnight or have sex etc so we have space while we work on the issues. I love him very much feel lost right now and thought my future had him in it as did his

You’re setting yourself up for even more hurt and disappointment. He’s done you a favour, walk away.

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:38

I said that he doesn’t want to try anymore. He said he has too many issues . But has talked hugely about the fact that his future is mapped out not to include kids and it’s starting to bother him and he can’t help how he feels. Yesterday morning / afternoon he was absolutely fine. I see that condom and now it’s over he needs to be by himself and thinks he does actually want a future with kids. All in the space of a few hours.

The couples counselling I mentioned once 7 weeks ago. I simply said do you think it’s something which could work and help us and he said yes there’s nothing to lose. We haven’t started it yet as his counsellor wanted him to have a certain number of sessions just himself beforehand and she also said she would want to have individual sessions with me first before meeting us together

OP posts:
Dieu · 03/05/2020 17:38

I gave up reading about a quarter of the way through.
Walk away, is what I'd already decided.
Without trust, there is no relationship.

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:39

His cousin and grid friend and several of his brothers friends have stayed in that room with girls so he said it could be from anyone of those people and could have been there months as he doesn’t use that bedside table (he sleeps on the other side of the bed )

OP posts:
flipflopdreams · 03/05/2020 17:39

So sorry OP Flowers

He’s been honest with you here even though you didn’t want to be honest with yourself. Contacting escort agencies is cheating even if you never caught him actually doing anything he was still trying to have sex with someone else. He has a drug problem, can’t stay faithful and sounds like he has lots of issues that you have just brushed under the carpet. Why would you want to settle down with a man like this? And bring these behaviours around your children?

It’s not your job to save him. He knows he can’t commit so he’s done the right thing and as much as that might hurt you if he didn’t end it you would just continue to excuse his behaviour so you can stay in a relationship. I think you need to look into why you think a man like this would make a suitable partner, husband and role model for your children.

Dieu · 03/05/2020 17:40

Oh, I see it is over. So why the dilemma? You've had a lucky escape. I cannot for one minute imagine having someone like that in my kids' lives.

JKScot4 · 03/05/2020 17:40

18 mths and you want counselling?
Stop trying to convince yourself you can change him.
You can do better than a lying, cheater druggie ffs

Menora · 03/05/2020 17:41

I know it is disappointing to lose what you thought was a future but those are just words

He hasn’t proposed he hasn’t bought a house with you. He’s just said things. He lies to you, you know he does. He lied he was ill he lies about escorts. He might have meant some of it sometimes, but his actions tell you he doesn’t want to settle down. You know this deep down

He sounds too troubled to be a decent husband or step dad. You and the kids deserve someone who is strong and mature.

Dieu · 03/05/2020 17:42

FFS, wake up and stop making excuses for him.
Sorry OP, but still ... Thanks

FlowerArranger · 03/05/2020 17:42

I love and care for this man deeply. He lost him mum a couple of years ago and said I made him feel happy again and came into his life when everything was dark etc

Et cetera. et cetera, and some more et cetera.

FFS, @lookingatthepast........... stop looking at the past and focus on the future - YOUR future.

Which clearly wont be with this man, at least not if you have any sense.

Read this: Women Who Love Too Much, by Robin Norwood. Please do. It will open your eyes.

Wanderlust21 · 03/05/2020 17:43

Ge's a scumball op.
Lying, cheating, gaslighting, emotional manipulation.

The kids thing isnt relevant, it's just some other bullshit he is trying to blind sight you with to excuse his behaviour.

Counciling cannot teach someone respect for others. If a person cant even respect the person he is supposed to love, he is dysfunctional. Likely some sort of cluster b personality disorder.

Cut all contact. He is a wrongun. No more excuses now. You deserve to be happy and you never will be with that creep.

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