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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

Is my partner cheating?

18 replies

Sam966 · 17/01/2021 21:32

I've been with the same man for nearly 13 years, have two kids. He always struck me as quite quiet and loyal although could be moody and distant but I really, really never thought he'd cheat as he was quite judgmental about people who cheat. Plus he said to me that if I ever cheated, he'd dump me without questions.
Two years ago, I was blown away after taking kids to park to come home to borrow his computer and it popped up on a dating website. He'd tried to clear the history but had somehow messed up on it. I then tested him. I went out again and came home, checked his computer to find he'd been on it again. He had deleted history but it came up when you opened Last Page Visited or something like that. Devastated I confronted him. He said that he'd only gone on it because he'd seen a documentary about married dating website and he had one quick look. I said but you went on it twice. He then said well I thought you were on it so I went on to see if I could find you. He really, really locked down and wouldn't give any more info away so eventually I left it. About six months later, I had to borrow his spare phone as mine was broken. A message came through from a woman. She wanted to go for a drink, said the drink had to be that week as soon she'd "be gone." I didn't say anything about the message. Watched his panicked face after I handed the phone back and he saw it. He disappeared into the loo, with the phone. When he came out, I said oh actually can i just borrow your phone again. He gave it to me and I checked it and he'd deleted the messages. Eventually, i told him i'd found the messages. He denied it, said she was a colleague, it was nothing. I said ok, if she's a colleague prove it: ring her and lets all go out, I love going out with your colleagues. He looked very nervous and finally admitted that actually it wasn't a colleague. She was a trader, in her sixties, and a friend who'd been very supportive to him at the start of our relationship when I was being "very difficult" with him. But he said it was a friendship and not sexual. She just wanted to go out for a drink as she was moving abroad. Then, nothing for a year but a few months ago he went out and came home almost at dawn. Next morning, when I said gosh you were late, thinking nothing of it, (am I stupid?) his face made me believe he was lying and made me realise he thought he hadn't woken me up. He gave me a whole story about couldn't find his car, his keys, his coat etc etc. Then started buying me gifts and I thought ok, that nails it, he shagged someone. Finally I confronted him and again he just denied it, he stuck to his story, over and over and over. When I talked to older female friends, they told me to ignore it and play the long game.
Today, I was out and I could see through the window as I came home he was on his computer. When I opened it to check what he was up to, he had the kids homeschooling page open. Really? On a Sunday? Just getting a head start on the week? I said to him: 'what have you been up to?' He said, oh i was in bed asleep all afternoon.
Of course, I'm massively suspicious now. When I check on his computer all his passwords are saved - I can even access his pensions account - but his facebook page password is not saved. Also, usually he uses the same old passwords, birth dates, addresses etc but for his facebook account he has a unique password that isn't any of the usuals. Suspicious right? Especially as, when we first met, he contacted me through facebook having come across me professionally and fancied me. So facebook is obviously his modus operandi.
All in all, I guess its just that I don't know what to do. There's a lot he doesn't tell me. In his internet history there was a search for "anxiety specialist" but he's never talked to me about feeling anxious.
If he is cheating, do you leave someone? I have no proof. He's so clever at hiding stuff. I'm scared of leaving him, but also scared of spending my life in a half-relationship with someone who is basically treating me with contempt. If he would just talk about it, we could find some kind of real connection. But without real proof, what do I do? If I ask him, he lies.

OP posts:
Unicornamy · 17/01/2021 21:41

He. Is. Cheating. End of story. What does your gut tell you OP? I didn’t need to finish your post before I knew the answer. He’s cheating, I’m sorry, but he is. Either that or he’s having some sort of inappropriate convo with a woman.

seensome · 17/01/2021 21:44

You have proof, the dating websites, messages from another woman, him lying about who the woman was, him going out until dawn, guilt gifts. you'll rarely catch them in action but all the signs are there, you were choosing to ignore

category12 · 17/01/2021 21:45

You've been "playing the long game" for two years already Hmm.

You know he lies, you know he is sneaking around, and you know he's after other women. You have no trust. You know he'll lie and gaslight you if you challenge him about his behaviour. Your relationship is already fucked.

I'd recommend ending it. It's so bad for your mental health to be policing him, chasing your tail checking up on him and constantly on edge and upset. You'd be better off ending this farce.

DBML · 17/01/2021 21:46

You already have all the evidence you need. You are not happy and you do not trust your partner.
You know he’s lied to you in the past.

All you need to do is decide whether you can tolerate this? You have no control over anything other than your own decision and that can be based on how you feel right now.

Devilment · 17/01/2021 21:54

Sounds like it my sweet.
He has, is or looking to, cheat. I would even say he has already emotionally in some form.

Regularsizedrudy · 17/01/2021 22:18

Why the hell are you putting yourself through this?? You sound very detached from it all.. do you actually like him? You can leave him even if he isn’t cheating (he is) you know.

MrsBobDylan · 17/01/2021 23:25

I knew where your post was going after you said he was very judgemental about cheating. I have honestly rarely read an account on her from a woman who's partner is cheating without the 'he hates infidelity' line being mentioned.

It's a smoke bomb to disguise the truth and very effective (until they get caught).

You've played the long game, he's been caught, up to you what you do next but I think you should bin him off.

MsDogLady · 18/01/2021 02:52

Yes, he is cheating. And lying and manipulating.

What are your dealbreakers, Sam? Why have you been tolerating his blatant disrespect?

*He was on a dating site. He told two lies about it and then stonewalled you.
*A woman sent him a message to arrange a drinks date. He lied about her identity and immediately deleted the messages.
*He stayed out all night and told ridiculous lies about losing his car, coat and keys. Then the gifts started coming to keep you sweet.
*You saw him on the computer on a Sunday and he left the homeschool page open as cover. He lied that he’d been asleep.
*He has locked his FB, which is his traditional platform for approaching women.

He has been making a mockery of you for years while he pursues women and manipulates you to make you back off. He is not going to admit anything. You have agency in your life, Sam. Take control and walk away from this faithless man. This is a terrible relationship model to show your children.

Sam966 · 18/01/2021 11:37

Thank you for all your responses. I guess I know he’s cheating. I think I’m just really afraid of what the future holds if we separate - it seems such an enormous undertaking - and feeling a little under confident about myself.

OP posts:
category12 · 18/01/2021 11:48

No wonder your confidence is low when you're living with someone who lies and gaslights you, tho.

You might well find your self-worth rockets if you leave him. Mine did. I discovered I'm a capable, competent person who actually does better for herself and her dc than I did when I was with my ex.

It's scary, but entirely doable. Start looking at your options and how a split would look. Even if you decide to stay in the end, knowing you could do it helps enormously. It puts you in a stronger position psychologically.

Sam966 · 18/01/2021 13:15

So category 12, your guy was cheating? Did he ever admit it? Or you just kicked him out anyway?

OP posts:
MrsVogon · 18/01/2021 13:27

@category12

No wonder your confidence is low when you're living with someone who lies and gaslights you, tho.

You might well find your self-worth rockets if you leave him. Mine did. I discovered I'm a capable, competent person who actually does better for herself and her dc than I did when I was with my ex.

It's scary, but entirely doable. Start looking at your options and how a split would look. Even if you decide to stay in the end, knowing you could do it helps enormously. It puts you in a stronger position psychologically.

Totally agree with all of this as I was also in the same situation. Partner was someone nobody would have suspected could lie and cheat, his parents were shocked when the whole thing was blown and I outed him for what he was.

I left him and 4 years on, my life is going very well! It made me realise that I should have actually finished with him well before he cheated. I'm in another relationship now, but not making plans to move in etc for another few years. I'm very much enjoying having a house to myself with my DC. Life is 100% better! My confidence and self-esteem returned and I have very stringent boundaries with regards to what is and isn't acceptable with my DP. He knows damn well that I would drop him like a hot brick if I had a smidgen of doubt, because I am very happy with myself and do not need a relationship to validate my existence.

Do you want to carry on living with the anxiety and stress of wondering what he is up to? Honestly, the anxiety and stress of having move out and set up on my own again actually paled in comparison to what he put me through with his gaslighting and emotional abuse.

I would highly recommend getting some counselling and putting an exit plan in place. He has decimated your self confidence, believe me, you can rebuild your life without him.

harknesswitch · 18/01/2021 13:52

So he's cheated 3 times that you're aware of, just because you haven't actually caught him with a dick in someone doesn't mean it's ok.

He's had his chance, he's been caught out lying several times, once I could maybe forgive if I got complete transparency, three times? Nope I'd be outta there

Whoateallthestuffingballs · 18/01/2021 13:58

You know he's cheating. You do not need either proof or permission to end this relationship. Start making plans on how to separate. Good luck.

tellthem · 18/01/2021 14:01

of course he is, what are you doing ?? just leave for goodness sake.

category12 · 18/01/2021 14:12

@Sam966

So category 12, your guy was cheating? Did he ever admit it? Or you just kicked him out anyway?
My ex was a serial cheat (and other things besides). The first time I found a letter from the ow. He denied even tho it was there in black and white, (and he had been heavily gaslighting me for months beforehand). He eventually copped to it. At the time I had a newborn and he begged and cried, so I stayed. Tried to rebuild trust etc.

After that, tho, there were always things like finding him on dating sites, flirting with co-workers, all sorts of things that didn't really seem "big" enough to leave over somehow, and he was always sorry and making promises.

A few years later, again I was sure he was cheating with a co-worker (different one!). Begged and cried again, and again I stayed (crazy as it seems). He threatened suicide and all sorts, so I stayed more out of fear of that, than fear of leaving the relationship.

But this time something had changed for me, and I started really changing the basis of our relationship. I made sure I could be independent, work, friends, etc - and really it was as if I was waiting for the next excuse to finally end it, in retrospect. Which came not long after, as he was a self-sabotaging dickhead.

If I could have a do-over, I would have left far earlier and not put myself through so much utter crap. Which is why I advise you to accept what you already know as a good enough reason to split. You don't need to see that he's fucking around on you, you already know it. It's just cruel hope.

Wanderlusto · 18/01/2021 14:13

Even if he wasnt cheating, he is treating you with contempt. Thats not something people who love or respect you do. It's something people who hate you do.

Dont just get out, get put fast and get out far and never look back.

Wanderlusto · 18/01/2021 14:19

...plus he's a wanker.

Life is too short!

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