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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

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:
gord2018 · 10/05/2021 05:33

I'm sorry op I have been through this and he will always love her even if he ends it with her for you . Leave him . You have too . Garantee you they will not last it's just all the attention he's getting off her right now . I know how horrible this is for you . But you will find somone who loves you x

notacooldad · 10/05/2021 06:26

I called her ugly and a bitch and that she has no dignity,
Oh the irony!!!

notacooldad · 10/05/2021 06:33

@maggiesfarm
He just sat there and listened while I cried and threw all my pain out. Called him all the possible names, I slapped him and kicked him

TeddingtonTrashbag · 10/05/2021 06:43

@Badgerlock42
Lots of really good advice.

TeddingtonTrashbag · 10/05/2021 06:43

@Badgerlock42FlowersFlowersFlowers

Redact · 10/05/2021 06:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

justawoman · 10/05/2021 06:50

OP, you sound really unwell. Please do talk to your GP or mental health support, or call Mind or someone who can help you. You’ve had the boot put in here and hopefully you’ve got the message that your behaviour was unacceptable. Please do get some help to get you into a better place.

justanotherneighinparadise · 10/05/2021 06:54

He’s checked out OP. You gave to let him go.

Redact · 10/05/2021 06:56

@RantyAnty

You mentioned having mental health issues.

With kindness, it would be best to get back into therapy, have your medication reevaluated.

There is real help for you from professionals who will help you much more than some guy. I suspect it's pretty miserable to feel this way.

Yes OP please do seek support. Let him go and concentrate on yourself and your DC. I hope everything works out
Branleuse · 10/05/2021 07:07

Ok its done, youre hurt. You lashed out.
Lick your wounds and regroup. You dont need him. You need to cut contact and resist the urge to be psycho and get revenge. Keep control of your emotions as it sounds like youll get yourself into trouble as easy as breathing

LaptopDying · 10/05/2021 07:13

@gord2018

I'm sorry op I have been through this and he will always love her even if he ends it with her for you . Leave him . You have too . Garantee you they will not last it's just all the attention he's getting off her right now . I know how horrible this is for you . But you will find somone who loves you x
Have you actually read the OP's posts?

She leaned heavily on a man in a new relationship, then physically assaulted him and she has plans to make up lies about him now.

No wonder he was too scared to end it properly! I would have been too.

And you can't guarantee his new relationship won't last. It's already lasted almost as long as the relationship he had with the OP and and most likely far healthier and happier for him!

At least the OP will have earned the 'crazy ex' moniker, I suppose... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lampan · 10/05/2021 07:15

@Skyla2005 is right. Your situation of cheating on your husband is completely different. You cheated on someone you loved with someone you didn’t love. Emotions weren’t involved. The situation with your partner is the complete opposite.

It does matter if you think this woman is ‘nothing special’. She’s obviously very special to him.

I don’t think you’ll be able to carry on as if you never saw the messages, knowing he’s going to end it at some point anyway. Don’t do it to yourself.

LunaNorth · 10/05/2021 07:21

Yikes. Poor fella.

HowsYourHeadHun · 10/05/2021 07:37

Blush I feel sorry for him.
Yes you got put in a shitty situation but you hit and kicked him?! Doesn't matter how angry you're you don't use violence.

Now you want to stir rumours to mess things up but claim the other woman doesn't have any dignity?

No wonder he felt stuck if you're abusive. He should of called the police.

Eviethyme · 10/05/2021 07:41

God I can't even with this thread - _-

You have been together a year and he's already cheated. No he isn't into you.

harknesswitch · 10/05/2021 07:46

Oh op I'm sorry, but he's cheated on you for nearly half of your relationship. Why would you want to continue in a relationship with him.

It sounds like you have low self esteem, you need to sort this out, talk to someone and improve this before you have another relationship. But this relationship isn't for you. He migh 'seem' like a nice man to the outside world, but he's really just a cheat

SelkieBe · 10/05/2021 08:03

Don't look at photos of her assessing how good looking she is versus how good looking you are. FGS! You're not in a competition with each other. And do you think it's THAT SIMPLE?!

You didn't enter a ''Who is the best looking competition?'' with this woman and even if you did, what is the prize? Not even necessarily that prince of a man who is acting like Mr sensitive who can hardly force himself to be unfaithful.

Peachee · 10/05/2021 08:08

It sounds like some emotional maturity needs to happen on both sides here..

notacooldad · 10/05/2021 08:11

He migh 'seem' like a nice man to the outside world, but he's really just a cheat
As is the op.
There's not one to mend the other in this relationship.
Both are better without the other it would seem.
I'm sure if genders were reversed and it was the bloke that was kicking and slapping there may be more outrage.
I'm glad some people have spoken up against the assault not matter how the Op tries to justify it

ScottChegg · 10/05/2021 08:43

OP you say you're unhappy, this is only going to make you more unhappy in the long run. You need to rip that plaster off and dump him. And then try to forget about him and whether he's happy or not or whatever, because the only person obsessing about that is going to hurt is you.

I'm sorry you're going through a tough time.

ScottChegg · 10/05/2021 08:46

Uh, I thought I'd read to the end but it looks like I missed some stuff. Confused

Ladydayblues1 · 10/05/2021 10:02

This is a toxic situation without doubt. Its a good thing its ended.

Memoriesbringbackyou · 10/05/2021 11:19

I feel sorry for you. You are hurting like mad.
I was very like how you are being, when certain relationships ended in the past. I would scream, shout, throw things and I hate myself for saying this but I would lash out physically sometimes, with slaps and kicks. I never do anything like this now however.
I wanted revenge so badly. I wanted the other person to feel as much pain as I was feeling. Drinking as usual only made the feelings intensify.
I could not cope with Rejection I realised. I didn't deal with it, like everyone else, I knew did. I had counselling which helped so much.
I very nearly had charges pressed against me but my ex didn't as he knew I had problems, however it woke me up and scared me enough to make me finally realise what I was doing, and how I was behaving was very wrong. I knew it was, but at the time of being hurt, especially when drinking, I lost control.
Of course you are bound to feel as you do, however there is never any excuse for violence.
Imagine if your ex had done the same to you? He could report you to the Police and press charges.
The best revenge is no revenge, to cut the other person off completely, forget and simply move on. Hold your head up high.
It can be so difficult, but it gets easier. One day at a time eventually turns into years, and then you will look back and think why you ever bothered to show such concern.

LaptopDying · 10/05/2021 12:38

@notacooldad

He migh 'seem' like a nice man to the outside world, but he's really just a cheat As is the op. There's not one to mend the other in this relationship. Both are better without the other it would seem. I'm sure if genders were reversed and it was the bloke that was kicking and slapping there may be more outrage. I'm glad some people have spoken up against the assault not matter how the Op tries to justify it
Oh I don't know. There had been plenty of outrage at her actions. It's despicable.
Soapandbubbless · 10/05/2021 13:40

From your partner's prospective. I can tell he cared. But it's not his job to fix you. As someone who has recently seperated from someone sucking away my emotional energy through his problems I can see his side.

I got with a guy who came across as together, solid and happy. But in a few short weeks I realised he was depressed and had carnage behind him. All around him was broken relationships. Money problems. Bad days. Stream women that had hurt him. It was a mess. But because he had tried to kill himself the year before I stayed. I let him talk. I told him how wonderful he was. I complimented him. I forgave him and let many things go, such as shouting. Swearing. Silent treatment. I lent him money when he couldn't get to pay day. Because I knew he barely ate as it was. I hated the thought of him struggling.

Over time I thought every other day I need to go. I need to leave. I need to stop. I need to get out. But I stayed for a few more weeks. Things got worse. He moaned. I listened. He had an off week. I excused it. I sent him gifts to cheer him up. He in return was talking to another woman or two.

I was on egg shells. Forgotten I had needs. Forgot I mattered. I didn't know how to focus on myself anymore. I was lost in him and his bluddy problems. The whole reason I got with him because he seemed funny and kind and happy. It was an act.

When we split he yelled at me. Blamed me for everything. Never thanked me for the stuff I did.

When I got away I was sad. In emotional pain. Lost. Confused. It took me quite a few weeks to get over him and several more to process things. I still loved him and cared. I like your chap had taken his problems on and tried in vain to fix it. Money. Presents. A shoulder to cry on. Ears to listen. I helped him set up a shopping account etc. Helped him order stuff for his house. I rang him at 3am if he was awake and in pain because I cared that much. I really did and i didn't care about sleep if he needed a chat.

Now I'm on the other side. I am relieved. Relieved because he was making me sick. He was making me anxious. He we lying to me. Taking advantage and being selfish. Instead of us enjoying a balanced realtionship. I was caring for him whilst he had allsorts in the background I was not told about including another woman or two.

I'm not horrible. I understand mental health and everyone needs a good person by their side. I would never want anyone to be alone on top of struggling with life. But in my case with him I didn't want it long term and why should I have? He was 15 years older than me. He had made his choices in life. He choose to drink, cheat, lie and leave his young children. He choose to fall out with his parents and siblings. I didn't want those things. I love my family. I like being around people. He had nobody around him anymore because like me he had pushed them all to give up.

What I actually want is someone to take it in turns with. Balance! Someone to invite me to his for dinner one night. Then I return the favour. Someone I can talk to and they know they can talk to me. Someone honest and prepared to put the effort in. Share laughs over a drink and talk.

Your balance was totally off in your relationship. It was not fun. He was looking after you far too soon. Your problems with money and your health meant he was doing what I was doing. Looking after you but who was looking after him?

You didn't deserve to be kept in the dark about the lady friend. I wasn't talking to anyone else so it's different in that respect. But the way you responded with violence and anger. You should have kept yourself together and let him go.

In the future I suggest you find the balance. Simple things. Such as taking it in turns to cook. Enjoying a walk or a drink together in the garden. You should be best mates almost with a partner. If you can't enjoy the company then the sex etc is irrelevant. Regardless. It's give and take. You didn't seem to give very much based on your posts.

I can imagine emotionally he was just exhausted and the other woman is perhaps lighter and more on her own two feet. Doesn't mean they will last. But I can see why he needed someone abit more positive to chat to. Sorry. But that's my pov.

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