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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

My DP is in love with someone else (long)

202 replies

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 18:54

Yesterday I discovered that my partner is in love with someone else.
We have been together just over a year.

Lately I have noticed he has changed a bit, there were fewer meets and we practically stopped having sex. He is still physical with me, we cuddle, kiss and share the bed but I felt something was off.
Last night I wanted to have sex and he just fobbed me off and fell asleep.
I was a bit drunk and stupidly checked his phone and there it was. Hundreds of messages between him and a girl, starting just the beginning of this year. Lots of general chit chat but also love confessions.
He tells her she is beautiful and amazing.
She knows about me, I figured out she found out his not single by accident. There relation seems more emotional than physical. It's clear from the messages they kissed but haven't had sex yet.
I think she is an old friend.
He told her that he loves her wants to be with her but cannot break up with me now because of my mum's health and mine. He says he cares about me and just cannot 'do this' to me now when I am so vulnerable.
He told her he loved her and asked her to wait for him. She refused, blocked him for a couple of weeks but came back, said she loved him too and will wait.

I am in a limbo. Don't know what to think and don't know what to feel. I am stupidly hoping that we still have a chance since he hasn't left! If he really loved this girl, he would have broken up with me by now. I am hoping that she is just some distraction or maybe an old flame. I checked her on social media and she is nothing special. But the messages between them even tho not sexual are just so intimate in a way. They don't share pictures or sext but the way they communicate is even worse.
I can't even get angry as he hasn't technically cheated on me. I was angry at first but reading all this messages I see they both feel shitty about the whole situation too. I listened to some voice notes he sent her where he says he is a cu** and hates himself for doing this all, that we are both too good for him and he doesn't deserve any of us. It broke my heart.
What to do? Is there any way out of this?
I wanted to confront him straight away but I am scared now that once I do it then he is gone. I cannot picture him gone, I love him and have no idea how I will cope without him and his help. He helped me so much in hard times. But I can't picture him skipping off to be happy with this girl. I utterly hate her even though I know I should maybe hate him more.

(Using friends account as cba to namechange)

OP posts:
Lunettesloupes · 08/05/2021 19:01

Yes, there is a way out of this. You know what to do. Sorry you’re going through this but you’ll get through it. Get your proper friends and support around you and prepare to put yourself first.

Hotcuppatea · 08/05/2021 19:02

He has technically cheated on you.

Are you going to talk to him about what you found?

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 19:03

And a bit of bacground info. due to lockdown and distance initially we haven't spent that much time together.
When it was allowed to bubble up it improved a lot, would drive to each other houses for the weekend and midweek too, and we often text, call or videocall. We live 1.5hr drive apart.
We are both 40, divorced, I met his kids, my kids are adults and like him a lot. Our families get on. We are a bit different in terms of lifestyle and certain values but nothing major and we mostly get on. He is my first relationship after 15 years of mostly bad marriage, which left me with severe mental health problems. He has had mental health issues, too, we actually met through a support group.
To make it all even more complicated, mum is very ill, too. I had to give up full time work to care for her in the last 6 months. DP has been nothing but supportive, always being there for me, being this one patient person to off load to, helping logistically and financially a lot. He cooks, cleans, does a lot around the house when I sometimes barely have energy to get up. To be honest I could not do it without his help. I was a moaning unhappy mess lots of time and it kills me to think I made him go off me because of being this needy person with issues.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 08/05/2021 19:03

If you have any self respect at all you will send him on his way

The instant I discovered someone was sticking around out of pity, he would be gone

And he has cheated on you

CovidCorvid · 08/05/2021 19:05

He has cheated on you.

He’s kissed her. He’s emotionally intimate with her. He’s told her he loves her. He says he’s planning on leaving you.

This is after a year together! You should be in your “honeymoon “ stage! He should be besotted with you.

Even if he didn’t leave for some reason he would repeat this behaviour over and over again. He’s possibly stringing her along hoping to have his cake and eat it. Do you want to be with someone who does this?

Dump him!

girlmama32 · 08/05/2021 19:10

He has cheated on you, he's having an emotional affair and while physically he might still be with you it sounds very much like his mind is with her.
Realistically if you did stay then would you ever be able to fully trust she was out of the picture or would there always be that constant niggle in the back of your mind?
I know I probably wouldn't ever be able to move on from that, in a was an emotional connection is worse than if it's just for sex.
Honestly if you have any self respect you will put yourself first and leave him.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/05/2021 19:10

He has cheated on you with someone else and therefore this relationship is over.

Love your own self for a change and rebuild your life without him in it.
You do not owe him anything now let alone a relationship.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 08/05/2021 19:14

The relationship is over. You cannot stay with him knowing that he wants to leave and knowing that he's in love with someone else.

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 19:14

You can flame for this but the truth is I had cheated on ex husband while still married and in love with him. I was unhappy and wanted to feel desired and important but didn't love that guy, it was a casual couple of weeks thing with a work mate. But deep down I still loved the husband then.
How can I judge anyone if I did the same.

OP posts:
Mermaidwaves · 08/05/2021 19:16

He is cheating on you and when he gets the chance he WILL have sex with her. You need to finish with him as it's just a waiting game, take control. Do you want to wake up every day knowing hes texting her, meeting her and planning a future with her? He may have supported you through health issues but clearly he won't stick around long term. Please think about your mental wellbeing because this will destroy it and your future happiness.

DIshedUp · 08/05/2021 19:16

You've only been together a year and he's been cheating on you for 4 months of that. He's in love with someone else

I'm really sorry OP, you need to leave him.

DIshedUp · 08/05/2021 19:17

Its not above judging him OP, its about whats right for your future. You cannot stay with someone who's been telling another woman they love them.

Clymene · 08/05/2021 19:19

You don't have many options. You can pretend you haven't seen the messages and just carry on, waiting for him to dump you. Or you can tell him and finish it yourself.

I honestly don't think the help around the house is worth how much pretending you don't know will do to your self esteem.

Clymene · 08/05/2021 19:19

The damage pretending you do know will do to your self esteem.

You must be feeling pretty rotten as it is.

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 19:21

It's not just about judging but also maybe he is confused too?
I did tell my lover I loved him and probably wanted to believe it. But I didn't. It has been such a hard year for everyone.
Why he still stays with me if he doesn't want me? Like you say 4 months, a bit long for just pity.

OP posts:
Aprilwasverywet · 08/05/2021 19:21

He's just not that into you is he?
Retreat with your self respect..
Tell him things aren't working for you anymore and Ltb.

Skyla2005 · 08/05/2021 19:27

There really is no point In wasting your time anymore you have been together a year and he has already done this. You must ditch him and keep your self respect. Sorry it's happened

Eddmr · 08/05/2021 19:31

Don't be someone's second best. Don't let someone be with you out of pity. Let him be happy with someone else.

Skyla2005 · 08/05/2021 19:31

@whoknew1

You can flame for this but the truth is I had cheated on ex husband while still married and in love with him. I was unhappy and wanted to feel desired and important but didn't love that guy, it was a casual couple of weeks thing with a work mate. But deep down I still loved the husband then. How can I judge anyone if I did the same.
Hang on that is not the same. You have to accept what is happening here and stop pretending it's not. You haven't been in a marriage with him tho have you ? You have been dating for a year and already he has been unfaithful for 4 months ! There is no hope. Dump him before he dumps you
GettingItOutThere · 08/05/2021 19:34

you need self respect,

dump him. he is not that into you, hes cheated

end it and move on

MiaRoma · 08/05/2021 19:35

He doesn't want you. He wants her. He is with you out of pity. Let him go.

lifeissweet · 08/05/2021 19:36

This is over.
He is with you because he doesn't want to be the bad guy. That is literally all it is. He doesn't love you. He loves her. Sorry to be blunt.

Dump.

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 19:38

I think I will need to talk to him yes.
Just need to gather courage.
Also I am tempted to contact this girl. She talks to him knowing about me. I am tempted to message her and all her family even tho it's probably stupid. How dare they.

OP posts:
SomewhereInAnotherLife · 08/05/2021 19:38

You’ve only been together just over a year. That’s really not long and he’s already been cheating on you for 4 months! You deserve better than this. Pick your self respect up off the floor and end it.

whoknew1 · 08/05/2021 19:40

Fuck I can't believe this is happening. Literally everyone loves his guy. My dad my brothers. He is so likeable so popular yet his full of shit isn't he. Can't believe this is happening. Sorry I am drunk at friend's house. Fuck covid rules.

OP posts:
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