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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

He’s messaging other women again

61 replies

OfCourseHesDoneItAgain · 11/09/2023 20:17

I’ll try and keep it short (tend to waffle). About 18 months ago, not long after moving in together, I found that DP was messaging other women. This was completely by accident and by chance, he had left his Facebook messages open on the iPad, I’d never used the iPad before and asked for the passcode while he was out one day. Messages weren’t massively inappropriate, but he was telling various women he was single and lonely etc. And exchanging photos (face, nothing dodgy). He had clearly never had the chance to meet any of these women (they were all abroad, quite obviously fake profiles mostly, so just “troll” type accounts and messages). I confronted him, very upset. He knows I was repeatedly cheated on, lied to and gaslit by my ex and how much this affected me and my mental health. At first he maintained he had done nothing wrong, I was overreacting etc. Eventually he was able to see my point of view, said he understood, apologised and said it would never happen again. He was, at the time, also using another chat app (as well as the ones I saw on Facebook), which I never saw the messages on but most of these FB messages asked the girls to move to this other app. He agreed to delete it and it wouldn’t happen again. He had an explanation for it all and it sort of made sense. We got over it, I’ve weirdly not found I’ve had any trust issues since and we’ve been okay.

Well, I don’t use the iPad often but did notice afterwards he had logged out of all Facebook, messages type apps at the time. Today, I get a message request from a female name I don’t know, saying “ask your bf who he is chatting to”. I wasn’t sure what to think, opened the iPad and they are all back, and logged in. I know I shouldn’t have looked but suddenly all these apps were back (presumably after an update or something, or he grew comfortable again as I haven’t used the iPad much in months). This chat app he was using previously was there too (I had no idea he used this app, until I saw him inviting those girls to chat there), but was the only one not logged in. Well, I snooped (I know, I feel awful and I know it’s terrible of me), and it’s happening again. Same stuff, loads of girls, all young and pretty, messaging them asking to move to this other app or WhatsApp to chat. Saying he’s single and lonely, etc.

Do I tell him I’ve snooped? Ask to look at this app? If he says no- well then I know. What if he lets me and it’s innocent? We are over then anyway. He’s not meeting women, it’s probably not even classed as an emotional affair as it’s dozens of chats with women (if the same as last time). I don’t know what it is. I know the excuses he’ll make, but he promised me never again.

I’m struggling at the moment anyway after a family bereavement, and the funeral is this week. What do I do?

OP posts:
topshotta · 11/09/2023 20:19

He's a slag ltb

Wendysfriend · 11/09/2023 20:23

Yes you tell him you have seen them. Don't beat around the bush playing the long game. He has absolutely no respect for you, what he's doing is cheating and he's just a scum bag.

Honeyroar · 11/09/2023 20:24

Just leave. There has got to be better out there. He’s no prize. You could do better. You gave him a chance, nothing has changed…

MK19590 · 11/09/2023 20:25

Don't put up with this

OzDownUnder · 11/09/2023 20:26

Not sure why you didn't get rid after finding out the first time he was telling people he was single! Don't be a mug

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 11/09/2023 20:26

He won’t change, OP and you deserve better.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/09/2023 20:28

Yuck he's not normal ltb

PosterBoy · 11/09/2023 20:28

Why didn't you have any trust issues since the last time?

Maybe you are actually okay with this and your boundaries are elsewhere eg physical meet ups?

I would just leave, personally, as he sounds a right saddo. Imagine needing imaginary girlfriends to liven up life. Sad!

Nap1983 · 11/09/2023 20:28

Leave him. If he was in The least bit bothered about you he would have stopped after the first time being caught!

ConnieTucker · 11/09/2023 20:29

We are over then anyway.
you are over anyway. He is a wanker. You dont need to explain yourself at all.

momtoboys · 11/09/2023 20:29

Leave. I am sorry about your bereavement.

beenwhereyouare · 11/09/2023 20:30

I'm so sorry for your loss, and the timing of finding out what he's doing again is terrible.

Please don't let him convince you that he's doing nothing wrong. If nothing else, he's lying to all of them about being single. He's sneaking around behind your back, and has massively violated your agreed-upon boundaries. He has been so disrespectful to you, especially as he now knows WITHOUT a doubt that you find this inappropriate.

No one deserves to be treated so poorly. I hope you know that.

There is NO good or innocent reason for chatting to other women like this. None.

Borgonzola · 11/09/2023 20:31

In the bin. He's a liar and a cheat and he's happy to have his head turned by what sound like bots. Life is too short

OfCourseHesDoneItAgain · 11/09/2023 21:49

PosterBoy · 11/09/2023 20:28

Why didn't you have any trust issues since the last time?

Maybe you are actually okay with this and your boundaries are elsewhere eg physical meet ups?

I would just leave, personally, as he sounds a right saddo. Imagine needing imaginary girlfriends to liven up life. Sad!

I’m not sure, I thought I’d always struggle to trust him again. Especially with what my ex put me through. But I believed him!

it’s definitely not something I see as okay, I was devastated, crying. Felt awful for a while after. Then I just… forgave him? I’m not sure.

OP posts:
OfCourseHesDoneItAgain · 11/09/2023 21:50

Borgonzola · 11/09/2023 20:31

In the bin. He's a liar and a cheat and he's happy to have his head turned by what sound like bots. Life is too short

The worst part is he himself said they are probably just bots or scammers the first time. So he’s willing to lose his real life girlfriend for imaginary ones…

OP posts:
Farmageddon · 11/09/2023 22:06

OfCourseHesDoneItAgain · 11/09/2023 21:50

The worst part is he himself said they are probably just bots or scammers the first time. So he’s willing to lose his real life girlfriend for imaginary ones…

OP please don't tear yourself apart trying to figure out why he does this. It's really nothing to do with you - he does it because he can, because he likes the attention and doesn't care that it hurts you.

He saw how much it caused you pain last time and still did it again, and will probably continue to do it.

How much more precious time are you going to waste on this guy? He doesn't deserve you.

Buildingthefuture · 12/09/2023 06:35

In to the bin he goes. You made your boundaries very clear and very graciously gave him a second chance, which he has squandered. He doesn't get a third chance, no discussion, no begging, nothing. He does this shit because he wants to, end of, do not waste your time trying to understand why because you never will. Get rid.

GreyCarpet · 12/09/2023 06:44

Farmageddon · 11/09/2023 22:06

OP please don't tear yourself apart trying to figure out why he does this. It's really nothing to do with you - he does it because he can, because he likes the attention and doesn't care that it hurts you.

He saw how much it caused you pain last time and still did it again, and will probably continue to do it.

How much more precious time are you going to waste on this guy? He doesn't deserve you.

I agree with this.

Do you really think he'd be wasting his time if he believed that they were bots? I'm trying to imagine what he would get from that. I don't know.if scammers and bots would move.over to talking on WhatsApp.

Some people prefer to talk on WA over fb messenger because of the encryption - they can be freer with want they say and they feel safer doing so.

If he is telling these women, real or not, that he is single and moving onto a 'safer' platform, you can bet the chat becomes sexual.

The bottom line is, he isn't going to stop. Do you really want this to be your life? I wouldn't.

Player001 · 12/09/2023 06:52

"So he’s willing to lose his real life girlfriend for imaginary ones…"

Keep repeating this to yourself. Over and over again.

This is how much he respects you. He already thinks he can get away with it. If you forgive him and carry on again he will KNOW he can get away with it and more.

You are worth so much more than this.

Fairymcclary · 12/09/2023 06:54

He’s a man with a hole inside of him that needs filling with other peoples validation.He isn’t a safe partner and won’t be until he fixes his ability to self validate and have some self worth and integrity.

He needs smoke blowing up his arse by strangers and he creeps and sneaks around to fulfil that needs. Not a good look. His need for this nonsense is a priority to him. Plus he is a liar . Don’t feel bad for looking, you were checking your reality.

No mortgage, No marriage , No kids. Pack your bag and leave. You don’t need to tell him why if you think he will continue his lies to get you to stay(remember he is a proven liar). Just leave when he is out if you can’t be bothered to take part in the charade that is his excuse as to why he needs external validation from the ladies. It’s not worth a conversation. He’s a common garden loser who isn’t worth your time or effort.

AuntieEsther · 12/09/2023 06:56

OfCourseHesDoneItAgain · 11/09/2023 21:49

I’m not sure, I thought I’d always struggle to trust him again. Especially with what my ex put me through. But I believed him!

it’s definitely not something I see as okay, I was devastated, crying. Felt awful for a while after. Then I just… forgave him? I’m not sure.

What did you believe? What possible explanation did he give you that made this ok?

Janieforever · 12/09/2023 07:01

I’m struggling to understand your position. Your partner is a lying cheat. What he’s doing is horrible to both uou and the other women, but your position seems to be how can I deal with this so he doesn’t know I snooped, like you want to pretend again.

do you have self esteem issues? I can’t comprehend why you aren’t just ending this?

Janieforever · 12/09/2023 07:02

Player001 · 12/09/2023 06:52

"So he’s willing to lose his real life girlfriend for imaginary ones…"

Keep repeating this to yourself. Over and over again.

This is how much he respects you. He already thinks he can get away with it. If you forgive him and carry on again he will KNOW he can get away with it and more.

You are worth so much more than this.

They clearly aren’t bots amd if he thought that he’d not be doing it. One even messaged the op.

BMrs · 12/09/2023 07:06

Wow! Why would you consider staying with him? How could you trust him after this? Blatant disrespect and disregard for your feelings OP

savethatkitty · 12/09/2023 07:07

The worst part is he is a lying, cheating scum bag. Pack your bags & leave. He will never change

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