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Worst story of cheating - but have I over stepped?

261 replies

CUniverse · 15/12/2020 23:56

This is a very long story, I will start with the back story as condensed as possible.

I became pregnant after 1 year whirlwind relationship with someone I split up my previous relationship for. I was living Amsterdam at the time where he is from, but moved back to the UK 6 months in.
When I found out I was pregnant, I stayed in the UK, and he was saving money to move with me and we were due to live there.
He arrived when I was 6.5 months, everything was great and we were happy. It turned out though that the 3000 euro he had supposed to have saved for us and baby, he gambled away on online poker so he came empty handed. I funded everything.

Slowly, he started to become recluse, and disappeared after work instead of coming home so that he could find places to play poker, in casinos or online.
When I discovered this, I tried to urge him into GA, he went a few times, but eventually he was suicidal and depressed so I recommended he return back to the Netherlands. Our daughter was 1 by this time.

He went back, and after 3 months decided that he wouldn't return back to the UK, he hated it and missed his friends and family. Therefore the plan was to move there with our daughter. We did this, but it took me a year, long story.

He promised he had stopped gambling and was in a good place. Within weeks of arriving he went straight back into gambling, and also speaking to other women. During this time he was emotionally abusive and even struck me 3 times. I had an abortion because of how badly he treated me. The final straw was the fact that he slept with someone one random night, so I broke it off.
I was determined to stay in Amsterdam but eventually would find somewhere else and move out into my own place with my daughter, then suddenly he found a new girl, one week after I broke up with him on tinder. He told me he was in love with her instantly and that he wanted me and our daughter to leave the house for a week, so that she could move in and work from our place for a few days. This was within 3 days of meeting this girl on tinder. I refused to allow this, and he verbally abuse me to the point where I had to flee the country with our child. He knew we were leaving but he didn't care.

Within 6 weeks, he had broken up with the tinder girl and was begging from to come back, saying that he was depressed and didn't know who he was back then and wanted to give us another go. Of course I objected. For a whole year he tried everything, gave up gambling, became selfless instead of selfish and really showed me he was ready. So I told him I would consider returning mostly for our child.

By May 2020 we were locked down together in Amsterdam and I was working from home there and became pregnant. We were happy about it and he thought it was just what we needed to finally cement the return of our relationship.
I was reluctant to put a label on us though and said I needed time, because I was traumatised from what happened between us before. Especially the physical abuse. But he really seemed like a changed man, and in fact, he had a terribly childhood, so we put it down to that, and he said he would get therapy to address his issues.

In August we went on vacation everything was wonderful, and by September, something changed.

I went back to London for a couple weeks and I sensed something was off. I asked him outrightly, if he was seeing someone else while I was in London still.
He told me no.
I arrived in Amsterdam a week later, and checked his phone while he slept. It was almost completely clean, except he left a tiny piece of evidence, along with blonde hair all over the house and I managed to get a confession out of him after pressing him for a few days.
He had met the girl 3 weeks earlier and was sleeping with her. He told me he did it because I wouldn't go publicly official to our friends and family with him. He felt neglected and stressed after a year of trying to get me back.

I made up my mind there and then that I would get my revenge for him doing this too me again. In addition, he slept with her without protection and slept with me too, before the confession thus putting my health at risk which I couldn't forgive.

This is where it gets twisted.

I told him id forgive him and stay, for the sake of our kids and that I loved him. This was a lie, I was just plotting how to get him back.
Things went great the following weeks, I was acting the part of loving and forgiving girlfriend very easily. At some point I caught him on WhatsApp with the girl ( he had told me they had cut contact). She was pursing him, crying etc.. saying she was in love with him and heartbroken that he had too end it with her.
I took a huge step evading his privacy after this and I managed to install his WhatsApp on my laptop, so I was practically spying on every convo he was having. Eventually I told him he should meet up with her one final time and end it because i had to travel back to the Uk and I didn't want him to see her while I was gone.. or more like, I wanted to test if he would, knowing I would be able to see their convos.

When they met up he came back and asked me if I would consider a 3 way relationship with the two of them. Me being the primary. I told him I would consider it when returned from London.
Of course I had no intention to do so, but just wanted to see this girl face to face, (sick I know) so we all met up, discussed things, and well it was painful, but at the end, I told them they were not to see one another while I was away and I would consider the 3way after I had the baby.

While I was there, I was still connected to his WhatsApp as I mentioned and saw they had met 3 times. Which he lied about to my face.

Upon returning though, he ended it with her and said he wanted to focus on his family. Due to the fact that he met up with her while I was away, again displaying how little he respected me, I was driven even further by seeking revenge, so much that I didn't let on that I knew anything. So all these months of knowing what he has been up to, he is none the wiser.

The current situation is that he wants for sure that I move here permanently to Amsterdam once baby is born (in London) with our other child and we buy a new house, and start a fresh... however, of course, there is no way in hell I can do this after all this deceit. I cannot believe how badly I have allowed myself to be treated.

So, because I told him I had forgiven him, I was finding it impossible to go back on my word without admitting that I was spying the whole time. So I have been creatively (insanely) thinking of other ways out... of ways that will allow me to break up with him and him not having any power to force me to stay.

One night, after not checking his actual phone for a long time, I saw he had a dating app installed on his phone, but only once. after 6 consecutive days of checking, I didn't see it anymore. But I initially did check his phone because he was acting weird again all of a sudden.
So, I decided to re install the app I saw while he slept, and then I saw he was speaking to multiple women for 6 months, but had not met any of them. This inspired me to make a fake profile, with photos of a friend of mine he doesn't know.
He matched with my profile and is planning to meet up with this girl on Friday ( I am going back to the UK tomorrow for Christmas)...

Now, if you have gotten this far you may think this is the craziest story ever (and I have missed some crazy bits out)...and may be thinking I am insane for staying and more insane for spying...however, when you're with someone who won't let you go, it is so so so very hard to get out. Especially as his family are all so adamant that I give him chance after chance, and he guilt trips me constantly with his issues and tells me I am the only person who can make him happy. I know I have over stepped by spying on him this intensely, but, I became desperate. It has been a horrible few months being pregnant and dealing with all these revelations that I have made myself privy to by having so much access to his privacy.

I expect to be scolded and told how wrong I am and that I have overstepped, but, for the first time in months I finally feel like I can throw this at him (planning to meet the girl on the app) and he will accept that I can no longer stay with him after this and give in. I don't know how I will expose the fact that I know he has planned to meet a girl, but at this point, I just need to get out.

OP posts:
TripleSeptic · 16/12/2020 21:02

Going forward, think of how you will explain it all to your grown up children, how crazy you felt, and how you resisted revenge and rose above everything with your dignity intact. Let that be your compass. If he's as flakey as you say, you won't have to deal with him for the rest of your life. Don't let him suck you in against for any reason. Good luck ♥️

starskey80 · 16/12/2020 21:36

Jesus, this is all ridiculous.

Just leave him. You don't need is bloody permission. You already know he cheated, he knows you know, you even met the girl ffs, what's with the tinder nonsense!?!

And get some counselling.

RunningFromInsanity · 16/12/2020 21:41

Why does it seem that woman find cheating more hurtful than actual physical violence.

This relationship is going to fuck your children up.

justilou1 · 16/12/2020 22:05

One word of advice would be to hold off telling him that you intend to apply for maintenance until you know he won’t be in your face. Leave it for a bit.

justilou1 · 16/12/2020 22:05

But apply ASAP - just don’t warn him

Chocolate1992 · 16/12/2020 22:19

I’d have been on a plane back to the UK long ago... One way of course

OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 16/12/2020 22:24

I’m so very glad you’ve left OP. Please don’t ever go back, and consider supervised access to DC only. He’s a violent drug user and cannot be trusted.

All the judgeypants might want to rtft... or at least the OPs posts 🤦🏻‍♀️

justilou1 · 17/12/2020 02:50

I’m so pleased you’ve left. Please get some legal advice to protect your kids. (More from grandma than him. I suspect he’ll be balls deep in someone else very shortly and back taking drugs ASAP - if he ever stopped.) Make sure you screenshot any messages as proof so he can’t remove them, etc.

Enko · 17/12/2020 09:36

Op today get legal advice as if his mother is clued up like you said you might end up with some issues here so ensure this is done properly so he can't try to force your daughter back to Amsterdam. Look up Hauge convention as you and your dd have been living in Amsterdam this could get ugly. Get legal advice ASAP

sofato5miles · 17/12/2020 11:29

@mrsvogon ypu can call bollocks if you want to but frankly i do not care. He did in January of this year while he was in the Gulf and she was in France and then divorced her. I know as he was going mental at the time.

CUniverse · 18/12/2020 04:42

@enko so, you were right. Thank you for mentioning it as a few others who did too.

His mother has mentioned this Hague convention to him and spoken to him about his rights and this being possible abduction. Can’t believe she can stoop so low when she had her son taken away from her at 4 years old by his father and their cult.
Anyways, I’ve gotten advice and if they pursue anything, it looks like things will work in my favour because I deregistered us from the city a year ago. And we actually left their almost two years ago now and have been living back in the UK, as in habitually resident here since then.
Hopefully this will be enough to stop him from going against me on this if he decides he wants to take action.
I really don’t think he is even capable of doing so (he knows he’s incapable of looking after our daughter on his own considering the lifestyle he’s addicted to), so it will be down to his mother to do it for him and I’m going to have a civil chat with her to find out where her head is at. From what he said to me, it didn’t sound like a threat, more so than him just trying to show he thinks he has some power over us.

OP posts:
justilou1 · 18/12/2020 09:03

Please DON’T Speak to Dutch MIL . They are incapable of thinking that the sun does not shine out of their son’s arseholes. Just ignore the blustering or SHE will engage lawyers.

YoniAndGuy · 18/12/2020 14:20

I would indeed be getting in touch with Dutch MIL to let her know that if she wants to start talking about lawyers and rights, you'll be duty bound to start letting everyone, including authorities, know about his drug taking and all the rest... as well as his London aunt.

I'd be 100% candid and tell her she knows there's no way he can care for his daughter, if she wants to make it ugly, bring it on - if you showed the authorities everything you have on his drug taking then he will end up with very little access and a fractured relationship and nowhere to stay when he's visiting. Or, she can back the fuck off and let you sort it out, which you will do from the safe, non-drug-exposed, secure HOME you have already long been registered at in London, where you will ensure that he is welcome for regular access with a place to stay.

justilou1 · 18/12/2020 22:42

I wouldn’t. I don’t think you understand the reach of The Hague Convention and the money they’re willing to throw behind bringing kids “home”.

Appleofmyeye05 · 19/12/2020 00:30

Sorry to say but you sound really immature.

Yes he’s a cheat and yes you’re hurt but why waste all this time and energy ‘getting him back’ when you could of used the time to go back home and be a good mum to your kids.

I think you’ll take him back even when you confront him because it’s just a game, isn’t it.

FenellaVelour · 19/12/2020 07:15

You say you’ve been habitually resident in the UK for two years but is that true? You’ve had an address in the UK where you were registered on the electoral roll/paid rent or mortgage/paid council tax?

DumplingsAndStew · 19/12/2020 10:48

@CUniverse

Did you leave yet? Does he know you're not coming back? Are you safe?

PompeyBez · 19/12/2020 10:57

OP you have massively complicated this. He is a violent gambling addict with a coke habit! Why are you wasting your time and energy on revenge?
Go home, tell him to fuck off and block him, and then enjoy your drama free life with your babies!

CUniverse · 19/12/2020 12:26

@FenellaVelour Yes. I live in the UK. Have a house here, a job here, pay taxes here, our daughter is registered in daycare here. The only reason we spent time this year in Amsterdam was because of the virus. Daughter didn’t have nursery and WFH since office has been closed. I was only living in Amsterdam for 6/7 months. And I deregistered 1 year after living there. I would have done it straight away, but the time I left, I fled, and just didn’t get around to deregistering officially with the municipality there. I’ve been living back in the UK since January 2019.

@DumplingsAndStew I did leave yes. He knows I’m not returning and I am safe and sound. Thank you.

@Appleofmyeye05 I’ve explained many times.

I wanted to get him back because he got away Scott free with all the abuse the first time around and ppl think I left town and stopped him from seeing his kids. I was made out to be the bitch, because I didn’t tell anyone the truth of what happened. And in the end he got me back “almost” with him after a year of begging and pleading. Worst case scenario for him, according to him, is that his kids are living in a separate country, and everyone finds out about what he did then and also this time around because he has an image of being a loving father and partner to everyone we know. So, I was planning to expose him to all his friends and family, so they know he’s a cheat, a drug addict, an abuser and a gambling addict, and get out of there.

I’ve since seen that this plot of the last three months was not insane, not healthy and have just cut ties very calmly instead, by leaving the country. It’s by no means over, because I’m sure he will have his demands, but at least I’m no longer staying with him, and any hopes of us living together as a family again are in tatters. Emotionally I have even checked out for a very long time. And now with all he has done the past 3 months, I feel under no obligation to stay for his sake and more importantly, I don’t love him, I’d say it was almost hate, but that’s also a waste of emotions. So now I’m just glad to be out and happy to continue my life and make a stable home for my kids and I, with the loving support of my family.

OP posts:
FenellaVelour · 19/12/2020 12:28

@CUniverse that’s a relief, I’m glad to hear it.

SuePreem · 19/12/2020 12:36

Does he know you've left him OP?

CUniverse · 19/12/2020 13:11

@SuePreem yes he does. We had it out briefly before I jumped on the Eurostar.. I was going to wait until I got here, but I just told him. He still is however coming for Christmas (I guess to see our daughter and try and convince me to change my mind), but now is staying with a friend, and he has a return ticket for December 31st.

I know some may think I may weaken and go back with him, but there is 100% no chance of that. Since I found out about the cheating this time, and his proposal of expecting me to agree to having a 3 way relationship with his mistress (sounds totally insane writing this in a sentence), any small glimmer of hope of reconciliation between us on any level died worse than the first time 2 years ago. As I said, part of me despises the man, but even the feeling of hating him takes an emotional toll on my well being, so I am best just having no feelings good or bad for him at all. Despising him is what led me to all this plotting and games.

The year we had apart, my daughter and I were flourishing and life was good, I get it now that it pained him to watch us do so well without him, (meanwhole he put on weight, lost some of his hair, developed a drug addiction, trashed his home) hence why he came running back, and so, that is actually the best revenge. Living a good life.

OP posts:
CharlotteRose90 · 19/12/2020 13:33

This made my head hurt. Christ how many times are you going to let him walk all over you. A person that loves you will not cheat on you.

You have 2 children with this man meaning whatever happens he will be part of you life. I suggest you decide where you want to live and have some mediation with him as to how often he will see the kids etc and what he will pay.

Also not being rude but I suggest you seek out therapy as allowing a guy to do that to you smells of low self esteem and low confidence . You and the kids deserve so much more then that rat.

Cherrysoup · 19/12/2020 14:22

You don”t need his permission or proof to leave. Just leave and don’t go back. You and your children don”t need this insanity in your lives. You seem to be-dare I say it-enjoying the drama. Aren’t you hugely stressed? Just stay in the U.K. and be with people who actually love and care for you.

Bananahana · 25/12/2020 22:07

You’re all bonkers.

No issues spying if someone is being so deceitful, in my view you are simply looking out for yourself.

You don’t need a reason to leave him, you can just leave him.

You’re all bonkers, again.