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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:
sofato5miles · 16/12/2020 13:51

My friend in one country logged into his wife's whatsapp while she was away and watched her messages for two weeks until he had the evidence he needed. So it happens

PheasantPlucker1 · 16/12/2020 13:57

Sammy she has made plans to move back to the UK, and remove the children from the situation so children have been made the priority.

When someone posts in a really bad situation askinh for help, unhelpful insults are really not useful.

MrsVogon · 16/12/2020 14:16

@sofato5miles

My friend in one country logged into his wife's whatsapp while she was away and watched her messages for two weeks until he had the evidence he needed. So it happens
I'd call bollocks on that. To log into Whatsapp web, you need to scan the QR code from the phone the app is on. It then displays a small PC icon in front screen of the phone, at the top along the icons for battery and Wi-Fi etc. It will detail Whatsapp Web is logged onto a PC. Only a complete and utter technophobe wouldn't question that....unless the wife in this scenario was one..
Closetbeanmuncher · 16/12/2020 14:44

Imagine if he accepts that we are over and I won't come back with him, but just asks to stay with us in the UK until baby is born, or at least come back and forth, should I let him?

The fact that you even have to ask this shows the lesson still hasn't been learned.

Do you think you're functioning at normal capacity as a human being or a mother whilst involved with this car crash of a human?

Please OP for your children's sake, sort your shit out.

Thehouseofmarvels · 16/12/2020 15:08

I can understand why people are thinking that this is a plot for a piece of creative writing. However I posted about my fiancees family, and I was accused of also making up a plot for a novel. The ironic thing about this is I am actually a published writer of fiction and the thread actually did give me the idea for a short story which confused the posters. However I was telling the truth. Its frustrating trying to explain a situation so complicated that people think you are making it up. I believe you. Also my fiancee mother sounds how your partner sounds. I can't even begin to tell you the amount of manipulation. I'm encouraging him to fade out of contact. She will literally tell him the biggest lies you can possibly imagine. I have never met his mother expect accidentally in the street. Therefore I can see things from an 'outside perspective'. His mother will lie about things like whether or not his siblings ( who he doesn't speak to) are married and has also lied about the contents of a will. Convinced him he was not a beneficiary. Despite him finding his Grandmother's will on the government website probate register and being a beneficiary. She convinced my partner that the will online was older and probated by accident when his Gran died nearly a decade ago. that there was a 'newer' one that she couldn't show him that left her everything. He believed her. I have tried to convince him that's not how wills work but he does not want believe be she would tell a lie that massive to cheat him out of an inheritance. I'm giving an example to show you the levels some highly manipulative people will stop too. You need to run. Run and never look back. Do not let him near you. Communicate through a neutral person and make sure there is no way he can try to remove the children from the UK. People like this are very dangerous. They are predatory and will do anything they can to get their needs met.

Perfect28 · 16/12/2020 15:16

Wow. Just leave. Is it really that hard to put your children first? Speaking from someone who's mother never did, you will ruin your relationship with your children forever.

Whatabambam · 16/12/2020 16:08

Just leave him, without the need for revenge. The only way to heal is to forgive yourself for your own mistakes but you can do this when you are settled in the UK away from him. He has manipulated you and you have only just accepted this. Now it's time to move on and work on yourself and try to understand what made you so open to his treatment. But you don't need revenge or a grand finale. If you want to regain some power, control and dignity, then leave.

CUniverse · 16/12/2020 16:35

@sammylady37 you’re just on another page. I will ignore your comments going forward.

Again, another know it all @MrsVogon I used the QR code to set it up on WhatsApp desktop.
Unless you go into your settings and check, you won’t know someone is logged in. There was no notification at the time I synced the account. And know he has no reason to check because I have never let on to then things I know. I have never checked if someone is logged on through WhatsApp web, why would I? He has no reason to think I’m spying on him.

When I go onto his settings it shows the last time I connected. And location.

Even if he were to realise it now, all it would say was that someone was connected today from safari. I have been connected for 3 months, here and in London. Why can’t you just

OP posts:
CUniverse · 16/12/2020 16:43

Thanks @Thehouseofmarvels you really do get it.

UPDATE, for anyone who cares... my daughter and I are in the Eurostar, before I left he was being very distant and quite cold, so I used the opportunity to tell him that I would rather he didn’t come for Christmas and that going forward I would like to end things as his recent coldness has made me realise we don’t have a future together.

He broke down crying saying he had been gambling again and was flirting with women on a dating app.
I didn’t even have to force it out of him.
He just came clean in a bumbling mess.
So now I’m on the train, he has just texted saying he understands that I don’t want him around at Christmas but he promises he will return back to Amsterdam on NYE. He said he will give me a few days to think it over. But he accepts that he isn’t treating me well and is battling his demons still so he will let me go without fighting me on it.

I’m in shock because I didn’t expect this to happen today. But, I’m glad he brown down. At least now maybe he realises that he is best off in his own misery and no longer is forcing me and my daughter to be a part of it. I told him not to contact me until Monday, as he is due to travel here on Tuesday.

When he calls I will reiterate that I’m not coming back and leave the door open for him to come to England to visit his children if he wants. I will also tell him I’m seeking child maintenance unless he wants to settle with me on a sum outside of using the authorities.

OP posts:
youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/12/2020 16:43

Unless you go into your settings and check, you won’t know someone is logged in.

Yes. But settings is one click away from messages. I click it sometimes by accident. It's not like you have to dig around for it.

You're being really snarky to people and focusing on stuff like proving them wrong (most arent) about WhatsApp instead of the good advice about legal implications and the fact you need to get yourself to a solicitor and the police instead of coming up with fantasy revenge schemes.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/12/2020 16:45

@CUniverse

Thanks *@Thehouseofmarvels* you really do get it.

UPDATE, for anyone who cares... my daughter and I are in the Eurostar, before I left he was being very distant and quite cold, so I used the opportunity to tell him that I would rather he didn’t come for Christmas and that going forward I would like to end things as his recent coldness has made me realise we don’t have a future together.

He broke down crying saying he had been gambling again and was flirting with women on a dating app.
I didn’t even have to force it out of him.
He just came clean in a bumbling mess.
So now I’m on the train, he has just texted saying he understands that I don’t want him around at Christmas but he promises he will return back to Amsterdam on NYE. He said he will give me a few days to think it over. But he accepts that he isn’t treating me well and is battling his demons still so he will let me go without fighting me on it.

I’m in shock because I didn’t expect this to happen today. But, I’m glad he brown down. At least now maybe he realises that he is best off in his own misery and no longer is forcing me and my daughter to be a part of it. I told him not to contact me until Monday, as he is due to travel here on Tuesday.

When he calls I will reiterate that I’m not coming back and leave the door open for him to come to England to visit his children if he wants. I will also tell him I’m seeking child maintenance unless he wants to settle with me on a sum outside of using the authorities.

Cross posted. Glad you're away, you still need to speak to solicitor to put things in place to protect you and your children emotionally physically and financially. Sounds too good to be true that a violent, drug using, gambling, cheat would be so reasonable so please don't let down your defences or stop the momentum of leaving him properly.
HeyDW96 · 16/12/2020 16:57

The most toxic thing I have ever read, if you aren't exhausted yet by it all, you may never be but you should really leave so as those children don't grow up seeing this played out infront of them.

CUniverse · 16/12/2020 17:03

@youvegottenminuteslynn well this is his pattern, when his back is against the wall, he tries to act like he is understanding. He had the check to say that he is sad because he feels he is never good enough in my eyes and I set my standards too high expecting him to just be a perfect man. I have bent over backwards to accept is short comings, and have taken more than the average woman would, but somehow it translate to him feeling as though my standards are too high! WTF
Side note: the whole point of me mentioning the WhatsApp thing again is that it annoys me that people think this story is made up. It is bad enough living through it without ppl questioning whether or not it is real due to details surrounding me having access to his messages.

I am taking all the good advice in, hence why I have dropped the plan to get revenge and me telling him literals 90 mins ago that I am not coming back. Had I not posted this, I would not have been spurred on to do so, so I thank those who gave constructive comments. As far as legal stuff goes, I will have to look into it. I have solicitor friends who can advise me, but I do not know what he can do seeing as we are not married. For everything else, I will be seeking some kind of help for my mental health, because it has taken a battering and perhaps open up a bit to my parents to get their support too.

OP posts:
youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/12/2020 17:09

As far as legal stuff goes, I will have to look into it. I have solicitor friends who can advise me, but I do not know what he can do seeing as we are not married.

You being married doesn't matter very much at all when it comes to custody and child related issues. You need to do that as a priority. It doesn't sound like you get how important it is to do that ASAP, as in tomorrow. You need to know what you're dealing with especially if his family are already looking into legal stuff from their side.

I got one mentioned the whatsapp thing as it's likely he will see at some point you've been logged in remotely and it didn't seem a good idea to continue doing something that could further antagonise someone violent.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/12/2020 17:09

Typo - 'I for one' not 'I got one'.

ToujoursABjetaime · 16/12/2020 17:15

You must be exhausted OP.

Good move dropping the jdea if revenge..that never ends well.

All I can advise is to focus on facts. Don't analyse it anymore, that way he'll worm his way back in.

It sounds like you are a rescuer, therapy will help with that. But first, rest.

Good luck.

Closetbeanmuncher · 16/12/2020 17:26

At least now maybe he realises that he is best off in his own misery and no longer is forcing me and my daughter to be a part of it

He doesn't realise anything OP this is just another round of lip service, played out for the umpteenth time.

You could spend the rest of your life playing this batshit international cat and mouse game, or just tell him to stay there until you've sorted financial and contact arrangements through a neutral third party.

Again, do you think you're functioning at normal capacity as a human being or a mother whilst involved with this car crash of a human??

Start being honest with yourself at least.

Closetbeanmuncher · 16/12/2020 17:32

I really do hope you manage to follow through this time for everyone's sake (bar the revolting skip rat).

TheRealHousewife · 16/12/2020 17:37

@CUniverse I broke up with my ex, for this guy. We were friends for a while before starting a relationship as I was helping him through his childhood issues. < This is one of the most disturbing aspects of the whole sorry saga. Clearly you were unofficially ‘counselling’ him. Then you proceeded to breach the very firm boundaries that should be in place to not only have a sexual relationship with your ‘patient’ at his most vulnerable, you went on to have 2 children. Children in which you are so wrapped up in the saga of your life it must be impossible to be putting their needs first.

I truly hope you don’t take your counselling to a professional status!

MzHz · 16/12/2020 17:40

Just ditch the old number and vanish from this pig of a man.

Your daughter will be damaged by contact with him

CUniverse · 16/12/2020 17:46

@TheRealHousewife oh god you have just reached so far, be careful not to put your back out with over stretching.

I was helping him with his childhood issues AS A FRIEND.. just being someone he confided in, we were actually colleagues and he finally found someone who would listen to him. Just like any friend talks to a friend. We were very much in love for the 1st two years. How can you liken him to being a patient? Where the hell does that come from? I wasn't even a student then.

When I broke up with the ex, I didn't start a romantic relationship with my friend for a while. But I knew I had feelings for him before, hence why I ended my other relationship. Which is what you're supposed to do, INSTEAD of cheating. Ffs

OP posts:
Thehouseofmarvels · 16/12/2020 17:51

Yes I get it. I get it perfectly because I have seen it. Future mother in law was also after money to pay off a 40k debt. My partner has a sister who was (soon to be divorced) married to a literal multi millionaire celebrity. He said 'go ask my sister to ask her husband, where do you think I'd get that sort of money from. She tried to convince my partner that his sister was not legally married. He had not been to the wedding but had heard what it consisted of. Now she told him that his sister had had a ' non legally binding pagan ceremony that had to be renewed every year'. So sister could not possibly pay off my debt because her partners money was not legally hers. Now she tells him his sister is getting a divorce and that her marriage has broken up.. the one that did not exist? I am trying to give you these examples because of how this might sound to you , ie crazy is how things with this bloke look like to us as outsiders. You must not underestimate how much people like this will lie and cheat and say whatever suits them at the time. Luckily the fact that his mother lied about marriage meant that I told my partner that if he did not believe me I'd order his sisters marriage certificate and wave it in his face until he did. My partner desperately wants to believe that his mother loves him and would not lie to him. You have been desperately wanting to believe that this person loved you. Desperately wanting to believe things does not make them true. Please do everything you can to avoid being in the same room as him again. Tell the police he was hitting you. My partner was upset that I told me parents that his mother abused him severely as a child and an adult. He also said something that made his mother realise he had said something negative about her to me and she was furious with him for being disloyal. I'm going to train as a teacher and as part of safeguarding we will learn that you should not keep abuse secret. It gives the abuser more power. Tell everyone. Tell your parents. Tell the police. Tell your friends. Ask people who love you if it is ok for you to be treated like this. My partner also had an utterly horrific childhood as did his mother. His mother chose to be as abusive as her mother but my partner is an angel. He chose to be different. This man had a choice too but made a different one to my partner.

Thehouseofmarvels · 16/12/2020 17:58

You need to watch videos by a psychologist on you tube, his name his Sam Vaknin. I have never even met fiancees mother but I know enough about her to arm myself psychologically. This guy is a world leader in studying people with these types of personalities.

NeonSparkle · 16/12/2020 18:08

Why are you playing games with a violent man op! Please just move back to the UK with your kids, block him on everything and move on with your lives!

Notcoolmum · 16/12/2020 18:36

Grow up and put your children first.