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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:
Landedonfeet · 07/03/2022 07:03

What is your life like beyond this OP?

Friends? Hobbies? Work?

StopStartStop · 07/03/2022 07:03

OP, you are over-invested. Just keep him blocked, ignore his attempts to make contact (he's looking for a shag) and mind your business.

His little old lady is getting the benefit of his 41-year-old charms. You don't want him back. So, turn your attention elsewhere and be happy.

Imperfectp3rf3ction · 07/03/2022 07:07

You're allowed to be curious you're allowed to think wtf ? It's a bit of a drama isn't it :L. But there is nothing much you can do except know he's a snake. Probably much more manipulative and calculating then yiu give him credit for

Mummytobe93 · 07/03/2022 07:17

To answer your “What Is He Up To?” question @CognitiveDissolver - he’s possibly up to no good with someone else. But it’s non of your business.

For some reason that woman agreed to marry him, if she’s been in the UK for 40 years I’m sure she knows how to take care of herself. (Btw how do you know so much about her again?)

What’s exactly bugging you - the fact that she’s a “little old lady” and too good looking for her? Or that he’s got married? Or that he’s an arsehole and he’s going to hurt her?

I’m afraid the best you can do is stop any contact with him and live your life.

GreyCarpet · 07/03/2022 07:25

What do you want to do/think you should do?

Messaging exes and trying together up/hook up is what loads of men do.

There is literally nothing to do other than ignore it. He's nothing to you. The woman harried made her choice. It might have been a poor one but leave it.

It does sound like you're overly.focused on him and giving him head space where others would just think, "What a twat," and ignore.

Just sounds like you and your friend enjoy the drama of discussing him and now feel that this is a 'real thing'. Find something else to talk about and you'll find you're far less interested in him and what he's doing and why.

BitOutOfPractice · 07/03/2022 07:39

Why do you care what he’s “up to”? That’s the question you need to ask yourself. Judging by how you’re talking about his wife it’s not sisterly concern for her.

Clearly you’ve got unresolved feelings and you were not-so-secretly pleased he’d contacted you and would’ve met him, presumably behind your new man’s back.

As for looking up the wedding registry, even if it does take 10 seconds (does it?) it’s quite an unusual thing to even think to do.

You need to move on properly.

peachy3 · 07/03/2022 07:39

I honestly think it’s a bit strange of you and your friend to be digging into this so much. Like you said in your OP there’s nothing you can do about it. If you contact the woman you’re both going to look like stalkers, which you both kind of are at this point looking up their marriage license. Just get on with your lives Confused

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 07/03/2022 07:46

IMO some posters are being very unfair, OP.

I don’t blame you at all for wondering what he’s up to, and I don’t think you sound jealous at all - just very interested/concerned, and I dare say I’d be the same.
The wife presumably has something he’s married her for - house, money, or maybe just willingness to be his domestic slave, though I doubt it can be just that. It can’t be a surprise to anybody that some older women can be very gullible and easily fooled by a younger, good-looking man pretending to be in love with them.

He is evidently extremely plausible as well as dodgy - you had a lucky escape!

ApathyMartha · 07/03/2022 07:50

I think humans strive to understand and for many (including me) we need to understand before we can move on and ‘close that book’ or end that thought process. Talking or writing about it is part of that process. You’ll get to a point when you ‘understand’ why he is like that. Sometimes it is just confusing as to why people are like that.

Wonnle · 07/03/2022 07:54

Basically none of this is any of your business , unless your business is being a private investigator .

SouperNoodle · 07/03/2022 07:58

@Sunseasun

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.

I was wondering this. The way the wife is described is horrible.

OP stop digging for information on him and his wife and move on with your life.

Riseholme · 07/03/2022 07:59

I’d be like you OP.
I have a curiosity that means if there’s a hint of mystery or intrigue I like to delve.
It’s nothing to do with still being attached to someone, I’m just interested it what makes people tick. Especially when , as in this case, he’s obviously living a lie.

coldfeetmama · 07/03/2022 08:05

@Justleaveitblankthen

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

Pure nasty

Lurking9to5 · 07/03/2022 08:05

Your x sounds like an absolute dickhead. You shagged a loser but it's over now. Join the club!

I'm not going to say don't give it any more headspace, but I'm going to ask why you care about this 59 year old so much? She must be aware she's not an attractive 59 year old and that he's 18 younger and good looking. She knows that and she chose to marry him anyway. Let them crack on with it.

But do yourself a favour and don't start texting him and sleeping with him. He'll tell you he doesn't sleep with her because she's so old Confused well genius, that's what you chose.

Lurking9to5 · 07/03/2022 08:07

@Riseholme

I’d be like you OP. I have a curiosity that means if there’s a hint of mystery or intrigue I like to delve. It’s nothing to do with still being attached to someone, I’m just interested it what makes people tick. Especially when , as in this case, he’s obviously living a lie.
I get this! But there's no mystery here. It's all on public record and nobody forces you to get married. He chose to have two women on the go and then he dumped one and married the other.

I think I've got to the bottom of what went on here.

Journeynotdestination · 07/03/2022 08:08

You are trying to be beer stand his psyche. I get it. My ex was very similar and is now shacked up with a wealthy widow. He was a liar & cheat and presents a very differ persona to the real him. In the end I just accepted that he was a total wrong un, a narcissist, sociopath and sex addict. There is nothing more you need to know. Just block him and shut the book.

Unfortunately your post has attracted the herd of Mumsnet sheep who are all bleating the same thing. Some posts do that, some don’t do don’t take it personally! I get why you want to understand because you have been duped by a really horrible person.

Journeynotdestination · 07/03/2022 08:09

*understand

Lurking9to5 · 07/03/2022 08:16

I do not mean this in a snippy condescending way as it's sometimes inferred on mn, but would you consider discussing this with a therapist? you obviously got a big shock and you're struggling to make sense of it. Not everything makes sense though. I spent 4k on therapy in the last 2 years so I'm not telling you in a ''get a grip'' way. It just helps a lot. Not a magic want, but it helped me. I recommend it. FEW people wouldn't benefit from discussing the things that they can't make sense of with a therapist.

beastlyslumber · 07/03/2022 08:19

He sounds like an absolute dick.

But it's nothing to do with you, OP. You have to let it go.

Check out Dr Ramani on youtube - she talks about people like this, how they operate and how to deal with them.

loislovesstewie · 07/03/2022 08:25

I hope no-one describes me as a 'little old lady'!!
Please just leave it.

PrinzessinCressida · 07/03/2022 08:30

OP, I can understand your curiosity and concern. The way you describe the wife doesn't sound nasty and spiteful to me, but aiming to show her vulnerability. And if you've fallen for someone who has turned to be very different from the way they presented themselves, it is normal to want to find out the extent of their duplicitousness by searching online, etc.

I also agree that men like that thrive on others looking the other way, and on not being called on their behaviour - wanting to direct attention to it is not a bad thing.

Having said all that, I don't know how you could establish with any certainty what this guy's intentions are, or stop him if he does need stopping. He could want an easy ride with a clueless, grateful older wife who's culturally predisposed to look after him without asking too many questions and won't give him hassle, or it could be more sinister than that.

slashlover · 07/03/2022 08:30

and she isn't in the best physical condition. She's a little old lady.

they looked more like grandmother and grandson. She isn't a young looking 59.

his wife is from a third world country where women don't have many prospects other than marrying rich western men

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.

You are a bad person.

lotusbell · 07/03/2022 08:32

I have nothing to add to your situation, OP, but thank you for alerting me to the Bluetones story, was a huge fan in the 90s and completely unaware of this revelation.

wingscrow · 07/03/2022 08:37

What do you want exactly? because it isn't clear from what you have written...

Do you want to warn his wife about him? I would say unless she is very silly she must realise that it is very possible that the man has married her for her money/convenience.

Beyond that there is no reason for you to continue to be in touch with this man or to spend so much time focusing on what he is or is not doing...

He sounds like a complete liar and manipulator, so why on earth would you want to have anything to do with him?

He is probably bored in his marriage already and looking to manipulate someone else that he can eventually cheat with.

Have some respect for yourself, raise your standard and block him. Move on with your life.

People on this thread are given honest and sensible opinions. You are just choosing not to want to hear them.

Squidinkk · 07/03/2022 08:42

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

Watch out your ageism is showing. He liked her well enough to dump you and marry her.