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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

Brother took his OW to my house

126 replies

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 12:08

I've never done this before so forgive me if make mistakes. I'm also on my phone so have no idea whether this will work properly. I am desperate to understand if I've done something wrong, even though in my gut I just don't think I have.

This has ended up v long, sorry. The long and short of it is my brother who I thought was having a terrible crisis was staying in my house whilst I was away and brought the woman he was cheating on his long term gf with to stay there too without my knowledge.

My brother is a good guy and I love him dearly, but his behaviour has been erratic recently and his gf of 13 years contacted me over Christmas to flag that she was concerned for him. In January, he leaves their flat saying he is having a crisis and needs space. As a family we rally round to support him but I check in with his gf every now and then to see how she's getting along. After he's left his flat, he spends some time staying with other family and also at my house, both whilst I was there and again whilst we were away over half term. He's since gone back to his city but is in an Airbnb.

On Tuesday I checked in again with his gf and I obviously caught her at a low moment as everything came pouring out - that my brother had been having an affair, the OW had no idea that he was still with his gf. The gf had contacted the OW and told her and the OW immediately ended things with my brother. My brother was totally enraged and said some dreadful things to his gf and this is what I blundered into. Now this is obviously all very bad but what has really upset me is that he brought his OW to my house whilst I was away for half term and she stayed there with him. They were sleeping in my bed. I was completely furious about this - whether he has an affair is his business but having it in my bed - just gross and disrespectful. I thought he was having a breakdown but it was just an affair.

Yesterday evening he contacted me to say he knew that I knew about the affair and we should talk as there was context I should know. I said yes but first I need to make my feelings clear about him bringing her to my house and I sent him a very cross voice note. I told him I loved him and I wouldn't tell our siblings or anything but he had really messed up by bringing her here (and in my bed - ew!)

He went completely off the deep end, he couldn't believe I would get so angry when I didn't know the half of what had happened, he would never think so badly of him, how could I made him feel so dirty etc etc and now he won't speak to me at all.

I feel awful for upsetting him but I feel like he deserved a bollocking! I was also clear that his affair was between him and his conscience but he involved me when he brought her here.

I don't really know what to do. I won't tell anyone but I want him to acknowledge that he was out of line. I also know he is just lashing out because he's been caught but it breaks my heart that he is so upset because I was maybe too harsh and didn't give him the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to explain why he did this (although I can't really think of anything that would wash).

Was I in the wrong? Any thoughts very, very welcome. I feel quite sick about it.

OP posts:
acatcalledjohn · 28/02/2024 13:12

The whole story is irrelevant to why he had sex with another woman in your bed. That's just fucking grim.

The whole story is irrelevant full stop, but especially for the above reason.

Silverbirchtwo · 28/02/2024 13:12

Send him an email or message and say you were really angry, but would like to talk now. Say you are worried about him (which you are) and you love him and ask him to ring you ASAP. It does sound like he's in a bad place even though of his own making mostly and needs someone to be at least a bit on his side.

Geebray · 28/02/2024 13:15

Silverbirchtwo · 28/02/2024 13:12

Send him an email or message and say you were really angry, but would like to talk now. Say you are worried about him (which you are) and you love him and ask him to ring you ASAP. It does sound like he's in a bad place even though of his own making mostly and needs someone to be at least a bit on his side.

If he wants his sister to be on his side then perhaps he shouldn't have fucked a woman in her house, in her bed. And then got angry with her when he got found out. Just a thought...

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 13:18

Silverbirchtwo · 28/02/2024 13:12

Send him an email or message and say you were really angry, but would like to talk now. Say you are worried about him (which you are) and you love him and ask him to ring you ASAP. It does sound like he's in a bad place even though of his own making mostly and needs someone to be at least a bit on his side.

This is the thing and why I can't tell the family, I feel like (rightly or wrongly) he should have someone outside of this to talk to - even if he spins them a yarn, I don't want to isolate him.

I pretty much did all the things you suggested last night, conceded I might not have handled it as well as I could have but I feel what I feel (and am entitled to do so) and we should try again to talk in a day or so when tempers are not so high.

OP posts:
feedbackhq · 28/02/2024 13:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Dweetfidilove · 28/02/2024 13:19

You’ve done nothing wrong.

He is behaving badly all round, and he isn’t taking responsibility for his actions. This is on him - lying to everyone at the moment, then deflecting.

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 28/02/2024 13:20

You've been more than nice about it, he has zero right to be angry with you.

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 13:24

@feedbackhq I don't know how to link back but I responded at 13:03 to your question.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/02/2024 13:25

He got angry because he had planned out how he was going to paint his ex as the reason he was pushed to have an affair, you jumped in with your knowledge of how much of a dick he was and threw him off. He will absolutely be trying to repaint history of what happend to his family and friends. Thankful they don't have kids in this mess.

BoohooWoohoo · 28/02/2024 13:31

You are being way too nice towards your brother. He is using DARVO when he is in the wrong.
He deserves a bollocking for not changing the sheets and having guests without your permission (you know that he didn’t tell you because he knew it’s wrong, right?) He is not the victim here. You have done nothing wrong and don’t deserve him turning his bad behaviour onto you.

I suggest that you tell your siblings because it’s a matter of time before they notice that you and him have fallen out and he tells them lies (he’s clearly a devious shit who is worse than you thought.) You haven’t done anything wrong and could do with support from siblings right now. Don’t keep this secret from them and ending up with your other siblings annoyed at you too.

feedbackhq · 28/02/2024 13:35

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 13:35

@BoohooWoohoo To be fair to him, he did change the sheets! Small comfort.

OP posts:
Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 13:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Yes, he works.

OP posts:
Grendell · 28/02/2024 13:45

It's not a secret worth keeping. You make it sound like you are doing him a favor by not telling the siblings. He doesn't deserve any special treatment.

Pumpkinpie1 · 28/02/2024 13:45

Your Brother is a grown up. He has a flat he jointly owns and responsibilities.
Instead of facing them he has lied to you, his girlfriend and his mistress for months.

When discovered he still puts the blame on everyone else but himself, trying to get you to cover for him.

I really don’t see how you could describe him as a good man OP?

Hes the complete opposite to this impartial observer.

acatcalledjohn · 28/02/2024 13:47

I think I'd put in writing to him that what he does in his private life was his concern until he took advantage of you and your private space to conduct said private business. That your private space has been violated under false pretences. That you expect an apology for having your private space used as a place for him to have sex.

I highly doubt he's having a breakdown.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 28/02/2024 13:47

FictionalCharacter · 28/02/2024 12:11

You weren’t wrong, yes he did deserve a bollocking, and I’m afraid he is not a “good guy”.

1st post nailed it. I would also take back your key/change the locks so he can never do it again.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 28/02/2024 13:54

Geebray · 28/02/2024 13:05

I'd missed that. So, your brother has:

Lied to his GF
Lied to the OW
Lied to you

I'm not sure if his behaviour is "out of character", OP. You've just never seen this side of him before.

I agree. Some people are very good at masking their true selves, even from close family. Now his mask has slipped.

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 14:05

Thanks so much everyone for your input and thoughts here, it is much appreciated and much needed to get me thinking straight. I'm not a giant pushover and don't tend to doubt myself but this has got me in a bit of a spin, so I'm grateful for the responses (especially the robust ones!).

I don't really know the etiquette but I have to get off mumsnet and get back to work, so I'm off but I've heard what I needed to and appreciate it.

OP posts:
Starspangledrodeopony · 28/02/2024 14:06

Of course it was an affair. It’s never a sympathy-inducing ‘breakdown’, it’s always an affair. Fuck sake.

And your brother isn’t a ‘good guy’. He’s a cunt.

TheBayLady · 28/02/2024 14:14

You are not in the wrong, he is and he bloody well knows it. Do not back down and apologise to him, any apologies need to come from him.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/02/2024 14:18

acatcalledjohn · 28/02/2024 13:47

I think I'd put in writing to him that what he does in his private life was his concern until he took advantage of you and your private space to conduct said private business. That your private space has been violated under false pretences. That you expect an apology for having your private space used as a place for him to have sex.

I highly doubt he's having a breakdown.

I think even leaving the sex in your bed aside - did he not think that you might not want someone you didn't know and had never even met wandering around your house? That alone is pretty shonky.

And yes, he's angry at you because he feels guilty. He doesn't like feeling guilty, feeling angry is much better. So he's angry at you instead, because you made him feel all the guilty feels. Bad you.

femfemlicious · 28/02/2024 14:22

What reason could he possibly give that would justify this🤬. He is an asshole!

FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 14:35

An affair causes cognitive dissonance. When you CHOOSE to start flirting, texting, engaging and encouraging a romantic relationship (because these things don’t just happen, you stoke the fire and keep the flame going), you need to justify your poor choices to yourself.
This means you need to blame someone. An affair is thousands of choices.

As you have a women or maybe two women declaring their love for you - then how could you be the bad guy? You are loved and amazing. Your dopamine is sky high. Plus no one wants to be the bad guy in their own story. But deep down you should know you are an arsehole making poor choices.

I think this causes cognitive dissonance and affects your mental health. Hence so many have what appears to be mental health issues.

Cheaters do cheat in happy marriages. Cheating is all on the cheater. His ex girlfriend may have ptsd from this revelation so you may choose to help her.

His reaction is normal. It’s all me me me. Cheaters are all me, me, me. They often have poor characteristics, they lie, are self centred, unable to self soothe, people please, poor integrity, think dishonesty is acceptable, require external validation, stop others having agency, think it’s others jobs to make them happy.

The good thing is you have proof he is a liar. He lied to all three of you. So you know the yarn he is about to spin - His take of woe and how he’s the victim is likely to not be entirely true.

He wanted to try out the other women and leave his partner dangling incase he chose to return. He then told the new lady he was single. But he didn’t give his partner (or you, or the other lady) the truth. He thought he deserved more. He thought her agency and truth didn’t matter. He doesn’t believe in honesty that’s for sure. He may say he does but words are cheap.

But don’t think it was because he was unhappy. If he was unhappy why keep the ex dangling? He’s a common garden cheater sadly. He was just test driving the new model in your bed.

FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 14:44

In fact he didn’t believe any of you should have agency or choice.

The ex - risk of std and lied to. Despite him creating a life with her.
New lady - told he was single. Fair play to her for dumping his sorry arse.
You - well your home is a perfect love nest for him. He invited a stranger to stay in your home without asking.

This is who he is and be aware that if he is scared that you will tell the family that he may already be spinning a tale of woe about how mean and nasty you are to the rest of your family. He may want his nice guy image to remain intact. He certainly doesn’t believe in loyalty towards his loved ones and he also lacks integrity and he is happy to lie. His actions have proven that. So look after yourself in all this shit he has dropped onto your doorstep.