Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Betrayed and in pain

11 replies

LostLea · 29/05/2023 00:56

My husband and I have been married for 13 years, we have 3 daughters together. The last few years were quite rocky with arguments etc. last year was a strange one as we seemed to get closer than ever with lots of deep talks but contrary to that often some big blow ups. In November he said he wanted to separate and he left. He said we need time apart and maybe we will come back together eventually.

In February this year he came back home, I then found out he had been seeing this girl that worked in our office...since November! There was a big bust up obviously and he left. After a while he was coming to me saying he made a huge mistake, he regrets it, he's sorry etc. I wasn't sure how I felt but at least we were being civil and seeing how things were. I then found out he had still carried on seeing this girl.

He had initially told me she was just a "fuck buddy"
(even though that was a slap in the face since I never refused him sex) but the more I have learned it seems like so much more and that they had something between them, I don't know if love but something like that. He says not love at all but either in denial or he doesn't realise.

Anyway he's away now and although I'm so angry and hurt and hate him for what he's done. I'm just sat here alone drinking while the kids are asleep and feeling worse and worse, wondering if he's with her.

How could someone I trusted so much do this to me and keep doing it? At the same time saying he loves me and wants to be with me? It's been over 3 months since I found out and I don't feel any better, if anything I feel worse the more it's been sinking in.

I don't know how long I can keep feeling this low and horrible about myself. She's just everything I'm not, young, pretty, smart, and not naggy like I have been. But of course she's only had the best of him and not his bad parts so why would she have anything to nag about, not to mention no kids, stress etc.

Im just so lost and angry and hurt. I don't know how to handle these feelings

OP posts:
MintJulia · 29/05/2023 01:09

It's a horrible feeling, knowing your so-called life partner could do that.

But it sounds as though he wants the young good-times girlfriend while still having the reliable wife and kids at home. The fact that he would call her a 'fuck-buddy' shows his lack of respect for her, and for you by even using such a vile phrase as justification. He really is an unpleasant individual isn't he.

She probably won't stay with him. If she's young and pretty and going places, why would she lumber herself with an old man with a divorce settlement and three lots of child maintenance to pay.

If he lied to you while 'coming clean', he has no regrets and he'll do it again. I'm sorry but I think it's 'ducks in a row' time.

But in your time and to suit you. One day at a time. Eventually that hurt will turn to anger and be the driver to get you through.

DustyLee123 · 29/05/2023 07:46

You need to file for divorce, you take control.

Theypickedhim · 29/05/2023 07:49

Surviving infidelity is a very supportive website

Itsanotherhreatday · 29/05/2023 07:49

Yep take control - you aren’t a passenger in this life -

Stop taking him back, use this time to dump his crap, bag or all up and take it to a relative for him to collect - apply for benefits and stop drinking (that isn’t helping)

It doesn’t matter who he’s with, he isn’t with you.

TheoTheopolis23 · 29/05/2023 08:50

She's just everything I'm not, young, pretty, smart, and not naggy like I have been

She's shagging an attached, cheating man who describes her as a fuck buddy.
And who already has, and has to pay for, kids.

What's to envy about that exactly?

She could be shagging and in a relationship with a single, young man, with good prospects, who hasn't got kids already and with whom she could have kids and have their joint resources for her kids. If he were ever to leave and stay in a relationship with her, she's then got to deal with "step" kids who are likely to resent her. She's got a shit deal & is selling herself short for her age, looks and supposed smarts.

But it doesn't sound like yes even prepared to leave and start a relationship with her anyway... Hence he's denigrating her to you as a "fuck buddy".

If he had the slightest respect or care for her he'd have ended his relationship and started a proper one with her.

If he had any respect for you, your partnership and family he'd have done likewise, or not started cheating in the first place.

What a prize he is.

TheoTheopolis23 · 29/05/2023 08:55

not naggy

Kinda easy not to be naggy when you're a side chick with no responsibilities and no shared kids.

If he ever left and set up a home euf her, and especially if they had kids, she'd doin be "naggy" too.

She'd obviously be insane to do that though, of course, with a washed up man with financial and time responsibility for kids, 50% of his joint assets lost in divorce, a known cheater with no respect for either his wife or her. As I said, what a prize. If she's "smart" she's not showing it.

TheoTheopolis23 · 29/05/2023 08:58

He sounds like a real piece of shit, to be honest.

You'd probably be better focusing on how to best extract yourself from the farce he's made of your marriage - through a solicitor and citizens advice etc. (don't let him know a thing), rather than focusing on how ABC the very silly young woman he's been fucking is and comparing yourself to her.

TheoTheopolis23 · 29/05/2023 09:03

At the same time saying he loves me and wants to be with me?

Some people's "love" is not worth having.

Actions speak louder than words.

People like him really only love themselves.

ExtraOnions · 29/05/2023 09:10

If I’m reading this right … You split in November with no plans to get back together, but you got back together in Feb. In the time you were separated he had a fling / relationship / FWB with someone from his office.

What were the Ground Rules when you separated ? He did move on quickly, but was the permanence (or not) of the arrangement discussed ? In his head he was a single man, and could do what he wanted.

That said, you can either live with what has happened, or not. If you do you can’t keep brining it up… if you can’t you need to permanently split.

Also - you can leave a relationship for any reason

TheoTheopolis23 · 29/05/2023 09:28

In the time you were separated he had a fling / relationship / FWB with someone from his office.

I didn't catch that ..... But ow that you've said it I'm wondering if the split was because he was already involved with the woman from the office.

Shivvy120 · 29/05/2023 17:20

first of all you are unique! Maybe she’s younger but you are you and there is only one you; never forget that!
He seems like a nasty piece of work doing that to you. Did he want to keep his options open I wonder; if it didn’t work out with her? Maybe their relationship isn’t as good as it seems and they’re arguing etc so he keeps you on the side as well as her? Did he split with you because of this woman? That’s sort of what it looks like. I wonder does she know what he says to you.it sounds as tho he doesn’t have much respect for either of you. You shouldn’t have to deal with this. I would be looking into getting out of this marriage totally and completely leaving no way back for him.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page