me earning more than he does (tiny bit), me having and making friends easily (his network is either family or business contacts), me having a higher level of education and general knowledge than him. And that ‘perhaps subconsciously’ he was looking for a way to push me away before I dropped him
Here's a thought. He knew all this when he started dating you and getting to know you. He certainly knew it when you got into a steady, serious relationship, he certainly knew it when he married you, when he co bought with you etc etc etc.
So - why proceed? He didn't have to.
If he wanted a woman who earned less than him, there are a million women out there on crappy incomes, it's more common than for men to be.
(Wouldn't have been as equal for co-buying property with, or splitting bills with though would she?).
If he wanted a shy, unsociable, lacking in confidence woman without a wide social circle, for example, there are plenty of those too.
If he wanted a woman with a lower level of education than him, there are millions of women who are not educated past school etc.
That often goes hand in hand with struggling to be on a good income.
If he wants a woman whose general knowledge is not great, and inferior to his ...again there are a million women out there whose strong point is not general knowledge.
He could have gotten another woman who met all these criteria ....so why didn't he?
Why get involved with you, stay involved, get married, by a house, get involved in your son's life ... And then blame his insecurity re. your positive traits for cheating on you??
It's nonsensical, twisted and pathetic.
It reminds me of men who go after attractive, sociable, bright women and then whittle them down until they are a shadow of their former selves, til they've pretty much destroyed them .. so they (the men).feel secure and dominant.
Nigella Lawson springs to mind, and Whitney Houston (the latter being a tragic case).
Fwiw I still don't think that's why he fucked the prostitutes, I think that's his MO/hobby. It's what he wanted to do, end of.
But what he's said, what he's aware of .. shows he's one of those little men who go for women who are "strong" in some ways or accomplished efc. and then resent them and undermine them, mistreat them etc.
It's kind of sick.
He's too pathetic a specimen for you.
Hrs correct about being beneath you. But he's beneath you due to his character; not anything tondo with salary, education or social skills.