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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

What Is He Up To?

238 replies

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 00:21

Now please don't tell me or my friend we should just ignore this. I think thats something that suits the patriarchy very well but we are both a bit concerned about this although obviously theres nothing we can do. The guy is up to something.

I was dumped by my boyfriend of 2 years a while back very abruptly. I literally saw him at the weekend, everything was great, we parted on great terms a few days later he phoned me to say it was over because he had someone new. He refused to talk about it or meet up, and I have never seen him since.

He has continued to send me the odd text message though, despite his vows that we are to have no contact. Most recently on Friday he sent me one saying he "felt bad" about the way it had ended and suggesting meeting up.

Now, I'd turned into a bit of a private detective after him ending it and had discovered that he got married in September. I found this out because I got in touch with a friend who I'd lost contact with, and it turned out that he had slept with her too, when we were previously together for a few months and he had dumped me before (confusing, I know). She had felt guilty so had stopped being in contact with me.

She suspected from something on FB that he had got married and found out the name of his wife, which was a very unusual one. I checked the public register of marriages, and discovered that he had got married last September, 9 months after dumping me! Basically, my ex had told me such a convoluted set of lies that he pretended to be an entirely different person from who he actually was. I thought he was shy and liked to spend a lot of time on his own and valued his independence. Turns out not.

We also found out some details about his new wife. She is 18 years older than him - he is 41 and she is 59, and she isn't in the best physical condition. She's a little old lady. He is a particularly good looking, young looking 41 too, and my friend showed me some photos from Facebook and it was pretty shocking to see them together as they looked more like grandmother and grandson. She isn't a young looking 59. She's divorced and has been for about the last 20 years and we don't know if she has children, but if she does, since we are in Scotland, if she dies, most of any property she owns would go to him despite what any will said as a wife has legal rights.

So back to the text message. I let him dig his own grave by sending a reply saying yes, it was a shame how it ended, and he then suggested coming round to mine. At which point I told him I knew he had got married in September and to get lost, and blocked him. Looking back, he had also sent me a text just a month or so before he must have got married, and I also told him to get lost then too as by that point I had finally woken up to the fact that although I didn't fully understand what had happened, he was trouble.

He told me so many lies and was completely convincing, from saying we were exclusive and he wouldn't dream of cheating or even looking at another woman, how he preferred me being a bit younger than him and having similar backgrounds and interests in sport (thats how we met) (his wife is from a third world country where women don't have many prospects other than marrying rich western men, and doesn't seem to work or have any social media presence), how he liked how independent I was and how I worked hard and had my own place, and even how in his business he would never meet anyone else as they were "all old ladies" (at this point he made a face of disgust).

The guy is up to something. He is a manipulative liar and very, vey convincing, and if it weren't for my friend telling me, I would have assumed he was single and maybe let him come round to clear the air. He was obviously even trying to cheat on her at the time the marriage license was applied for. I wouldn't even have got together with him again if I'd known he had slept with her when we were together. Worse still, I thought he enjoyed dumping me and my upset at it being so abrupt, and my friend said she had exactly the same feeling.

I know it all sounds really odd, but its really a strange thing to have happen to you. I'm concerned that this 59 year old woman, who while she might be a lovely person, wouldn't have that many romantic options in life and certainly not with a handsome 41 year old. My friend thinks she has met her and says she doesn't speak that great English. At best, he wants her to cook and look after him but I just can't get my head around it. I have no intention of getting in touch with her or anything as I know I wouldn't be believed and would be shot as the messenger but he's likely messaging other women too. I'm worried it might be whats called a predatory marriage.

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 07/03/2022 02:38

A "little old lady" at 59! Hmm

Honestly, read back over your entire OP. You're just a jealous ex that can't get over a dickhead.

Now please don't tell me or my friend we should just ignore this. I think thats something that suits the patriarchy very well

It's got fuck all to do with "suiting the patriarchy" and everything to do with having some dignity and minding your own business.

Sunseasun · 07/03/2022 02:40

What had the woman done to deserve such a cruel description.

You don’t don’t sound very nice.

Live your life. Put your finger on that.

movingsoon13 · 07/03/2022 02:54

As correct as you might be, he should already be blocked and gone and you shouldn't have had the opportunity to stalk him to a level where you found all of this out or that he was able to message you. When I split with my ex of over 5 years after dangerous behaviours were shown on his part, after a couple of months stressing and thinking what if, he was completely blocked from my life and doesn't exist to me. I don't care what he is up to, who is with, where he lives etc. I always maintain the only healthy way for exes to break up is to minimise contact where physically possible, i.e. if you are childless not married etc. then block them and close friends and family, if you have a child then keep conversations to a minimum and don't have them on any socials for the first few years at least.

Pyewhacket · 07/03/2022 03:04

@Tlollj

Just keep out of it. Why are you still banging on about it? I really don’t know what you want any one to say.
This, totally.
1forAll74 · 07/03/2022 03:22

I can't believe you have done so much snooping around to get information about this man, and his life now,. I thought you had moved on, an that you and this man were not right together when it all ended, so now, end of story..

You don't know all the true detail about his older wife.or how they conduct their marriage at all. If you think your ex is up to something, whatever that means, it is not any of your business at all.

Wiredforsound · 07/03/2022 03:37

You sound obsessed. You claim to be over it but that’s clearly not true, because if it was you would care about all this stuff. He’s married, it’s over, it’s none of your business anymore.

Momijin · 07/03/2022 05:07

Seems a bit far fetched for a man to marry a 59 year old because she has a house. She is hardly a heiress and at 59 she still has maybe another 20 years. Seems weird that he's going to waste all those years on someone who may leave him a semi detached house or something.

OP, I would block and ignore.

Whatdramain2022 · 07/03/2022 05:29

I'm with you OP. I find it fascinating that men can lead such strange and double lives. The whole thing sounds really peculiar. Some women at 59 are frumpy and some super youthful and glamorous.

RantyAunty · 07/03/2022 06:10

You have too much time on your hands.

Delete, block, ignore and otherwise put this knob your were once with out of your head.

UniversalAunt · 07/03/2022 06:14

How can you know this from an online register?

‘ She came over here when she was 19, according to the marriage register.’

Justleaveitblankthen · 07/03/2022 06:20

You lost me at the cruel way you continually referred to his wife.
Says much more about you sorry to say Angry

Hulmeert · 07/03/2022 06:23

Get a new hobby this is obsessive and weird

Sofacouchboredom · 07/03/2022 06:26

What a horrible way to describe his wife.

I don’t think you’re wondering whether he’s a risk to her, I think you’re wondering why he CHOSE this ‘lesser woman’ over you. And concocting some elaborate story to make yourself feel better.

If your concern was for her you’d be asking us if you should find some way of warming her which you made it quite clear that you’re not considering.

Move on.

livyaz · 07/03/2022 06:29

The only strange behaviour here is yours.
I think you've been watching too much Netflix 😂

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 06:30

Nobody here is going to give you sympathy because you're jealous that your ex dumped you for someone older and, in your opinion, less attractive than you.

He may well have cheated. He might not have. That doesn't mean you get to be nasty about her. You sound really bitter.

thnkingaboutoptions · 07/03/2022 06:34

OP, I totally understand why you'd like to talk about this.

Shame the MN sheep are out in force, bleating all over this thread, a chorus of naysayers, determined to find fault. It's very boring.

Seriously, people, if you think this shouldn't be discussed, don't discuss it.

Leave it to the OP and others who would like to discuss it. I think the OP has got the message by now, you think she's obsessed, she says she isn't. She's received that message loud and clear now, no need to keep repeating it, is there? Or are all you obsessed with her?

livyaz · 07/03/2022 06:37

@thnkingaboutoptions

OP, I totally understand why you'd like to talk about this.

Shame the MN sheep are out in force, bleating all over this thread, a chorus of naysayers, determined to find fault. It's very boring.

Seriously, people, if you think this shouldn't be discussed, don't discuss it.

Leave it to the OP and others who would like to discuss it. I think the OP has got the message by now, you think she's obsessed, she says she isn't. She's received that message loud and clear now, no need to keep repeating it, is there? Or are all you obsessed with her?

I think that will be just you and her in this discussion. I have no issue going against the grain, but if agreeing that a person sounds obsessed and borderline batshit crazy makes me a sheep, then that's fine by me Good luck Cagney and Lacey
Flipflopfoodle · 07/03/2022 06:38

So because in your eyes she's not as good as you he can't possibly love her? You sound petulant, I'm sorry he was a shit to you, but you know nothing about their relationship. She might be aware, and ok with his cheating, they may be able to completely be themselves together, share huge belly laughs, be deeply in love. You don't know, you sound shallow to assume so much on someone's age and looks.
All you know is he dumped you in an mean way and he continues to sniff around other women. That's it, everything else is in your and your friend's head.
Stuff saying it's the patriarchy when you are judging a fellow woman solely on age and looks!

thnkingaboutoptions · 07/03/2022 06:39

OP I'm sorry you were lied to by this duplicitous bastard.

I think you may be right, the marriage probably is exploitative. It could be as simple as he's a cocklodger, using her for the house and home comforts.

From the person you describe him to be, I would assume any relationship he's in to be fucked up.as he doesn't sound capable of the honesty needed for a healthy relationship.

DoItAfraid · 07/03/2022 06:45

The Cagney and Lacey comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

collieresponder88 · 07/03/2022 06:47

Just move on and let it go. It's nothing to do with you now. Let her friends and family worry about her she is a stranger to you ! Fact you have written a massive long essay on it and gone to great lengths to find out info is a bit disturbing. Just leave it alone and get on with your life like you say you have but clearly havnt

CousinKrispy · 07/03/2022 06:48

Ugh he sounds like such a dick.

That said, I don't know if it would really help the wife to contact her now (if that's what you're considering). He dumped you abruptly, he got married 9 months after, and he's texted you while married....but I think he could pretend the text was innocent as he hadn't (yet) got around to suggesting you shag. That's not at the level of "he abused me" or "he stole money from me" or something.

Information is power, but in this case I don't think your information is necessarily big or concrete enough to cause upset in someone's marriage with.

Sorry you dated such a dickhead, it's an unpleasant experience.

lemongreentea · 07/03/2022 06:59

he sounds vile.
you sound jealous and bitter he dumped you and went on to marry an older, less attractive woman than yourself.

try not to let the experience of being with him ruin the rest of your life, stalking them to the point of finding a mariage certficate is not healthy for you.

when you are ready get some therapy to unpick why you have low self esteem and obbessive traits. you can get better if you acknowledge your own shortcomings. good luck.

2DogsOnMySofa · 07/03/2022 07:02

It doesn't sound like you have got over him

TottersBlankly · 07/03/2022 07:02

(his wife is from a third world country where women don't have many prospects other than marrying rich western men, and doesn't seem to work or have any social media presence)

She came over here when she was 19, according to the marriage register.

My friend thinks she has met her and says she doesn't speak that great English.

After 40 years in the UK?

Hmm