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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:
Ohnoooooooo · 28/02/2024 14:46

You were not wrong to raise it but very wrong to send a voice note - it should have been said in a two way communication. A voice note is you ranting

IsthisthereallifeIsthisjustfantasy · 28/02/2024 14:48

What mitigating circumstances could there possibly be that, if he'd explained it to you, would have made his behaviour all right?

He's in the wrong, you've called him out. Don't chase him.

Panama2 · 28/02/2024 14:55

The MH issue is to avoid owning what he is up to. My exh did this everyone thought he was having a breakdown he wasn’t it was guilt and not wanting to face up to reality.

He did it a second time with his second wife now ex wife.

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 28/02/2024 15:13

I don't see where you did anything wrong.

Even the ranty voice note, you were annoyed and you called him out on it. I think you were right to do so.

He took advantage of your hospitality.
He cheated while using your bed.
He's the one who lost the plot with you when you called him out on his shit.

I would either do nothing and wait or send a brief text saying, "annoyed and all as I am over using my bed, your still my brother and I'm here for you anytime you need to talk".

That's it then, the ball is in his court.

Yes, his behaviour is shit. Yes, it's horribly unfair on his gf. Yes, he's now no longer trustworthy. But at the end of the day, there are no children involved which would make it worse and while it's a shitty thing to do, it shouldn't have a long term impact on your relationship. I suspect it will recover in time.

Lavenderandbrown · 28/02/2024 15:22

Much good advice here op. Too many to quote. I’m following the other thread of the replaced SIL and I just keep thinking….men never let their feet touch the floor of the jungle. They just swing from branch to branch. He absolutely lied to everyone and absolutely was giving OW a ride before dumping GF. I’m very particular about my home and bed but I’m not shocked about the sex in your bed. Not the actual bed. It’s the idea he SET YOU UP to unwillingly facilitate his affair. He needed a place and you generously offered your home. I really do hope the GF and OW both dump him and mean it. As for you OP he’s your brother. He has done something callous and immoral and involved you in it. He is STILL your brother. People we love do shit we don’t like. I would not cover for him but i would
still be there for him as i feel my siblings are my forever friends. i never heard the expression NC before MN but I now realize in some cases it’s essential.

BusyMummy001 · 28/02/2024 15:30

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 12:18

You're right re the good guy, but up until yesterday morning I definitely believed that. I think up until Christmas he was, and then it all went south (his doing for sure). I hate being angry and disappointed in him, they're not emotions I would generally associate with him, we are close and always have been.

I’m sorry, but this behaviour didn’t come out of the blue. I suspect he’s been manipulating his exGF and family for years. You’ve just never seen it - that’s why he is being so foul now - he’s been exposed for who he really is.

I know you love him, but it doesn’t mean you have to like him, or hide what you now know about him from other family members who he’ll probably try to sucker next.

Noseybookworm · 28/02/2024 15:37

He's not a good guy - he's in the wrong here and has turned it around on you so you have somehow ended up feeling guilty for being cross with him! He's lied and been manipulative. Hopefully his gf will come to see that she is better off without him!

ReadingSoManyThreads · 28/02/2024 15:47

You've done nothing wrong. Your brother is a disgrace.

I once found out, when I was a student, that my work colleague shagged someone in my bed when they were at my student house for my housemate's birthday party (I was away for a few days). It made me feel physically sick and utterly violated that they'd shagged in my bed. I slept in the same fucking bedding, having no idea when I returned what had happened!!! They'd also rummaged in my bedside cabinet and used my condoms.

I don't blame you for being disgusted at them violating your bed.

Your brother deserved everything he got from you. I've no idea why you'd keep his dirty secret for him though.

wronginalltherightways · 28/02/2024 16:11

Your brother isn't actually 'a good guy'.

Which you don't seem to be getting.

His poor long term girlfriend. I hope she dumps the arsehole and makes a happy life for herself elsewhere.

mathanxiety · 28/02/2024 17:41

Your brother is a piece of shit and deserved every bit of the bollocking he got.

He clearly wanted to get you onside about his atrocious treatment of his GF, and had no expectation that he was going to be held to account for his behaviour toward you.

This is a man who thinks rules are for other people. He's not a 'good guy'.

mathanxiety · 28/02/2024 17:42

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 12:39

No, sorry if I've not made this clear. He left their flat in January but they were still in a relationship, he just needed some time away and space to get his head straight and so came to stay with family. The gf (not him!) only called time after she spoke with the OW as she knew there was no way back.

He didn't need time and space to get his head together.

He needed time and space to shag the OW.

feedbackhq · 28/02/2024 17:43

This reply has been deleted

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

mathanxiety · 28/02/2024 17:56

Who told you he had sex in your bed with his OW? I bet it wasn't him.

Do you realise that his talk of 'context' is a tired old story that most friends or relatives of cheaters have heard? Cheaters establish a well known script in their heads to excuse the bad behaviour, the lying, the cheating, and in order to minimize the discomfort they would feel if they looked themselves squarely in the mirror and admitted their partner was actually a perfectly nice woman or man who didn't deserve to be lied to, and the problem in the relationship was actually them.

You owe this turd nothing.

mathanxiety · 28/02/2024 18:08

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 12:41

@feedbackhq yes, I can only assume that things were not rosy for them, though externally everything seemed fine. It doesn't provide a justification for his frankly bonkers actions, not for me anyway!

You can assume no such thing.

Look up "the script" to see what you're most likely dealing with.

LookItsMeAgain · 28/02/2024 18:18

@Imnottoosurereally you wrote "My brother is a good guy" - nope. No he isn't. I really gave up reading your post after you wrote that.

Not only does he have an OW on the go, he abused your hospitality by having her around to your house without your consent and without your knowledge.

He is not a good guy.

Time to kick him out and for him to stand on his own two feet and face the music!

LookItsMeAgain · 28/02/2024 18:21

I was thinking that his long term girlfriend of 13 years has had a very lucky escape.
You should be rallying around her and not your brother. He must face the consequences of his actions.

Workhardcryharder · 28/02/2024 18:42

If I’m honest, I think that him bringing her to yours is irrelevant. I kind of get you are upset due to the principle, but that’s all it is as realistically that doesn’t affect you at all (we’ve all slept in beds others have had sex in). You weren’t involved in the affair at all apart from owning the 4 walls they had sex in.

However being upset he’s hurting people around him is totally fair. He shouldn’t have blown up on you, I imagine he’s feeling guilty and trying to justify his actions. He needs to
grow up and take responsibility. This doesn’t mean he is a bad person, but one’s opinion will reflect another’s actions and he’s not helping himself.

Workhardcryharder · 28/02/2024 18:44

LookItsMeAgain · 28/02/2024 18:18

@Imnottoosurereally you wrote "My brother is a good guy" - nope. No he isn't. I really gave up reading your post after you wrote that.

Not only does he have an OW on the go, he abused your hospitality by having her around to your house without your consent and without your knowledge.

He is not a good guy.

Time to kick him out and for him to stand on his own two feet and face the music!

Someone can do something bad without being a bad person. I’d hate to think a couple of shitty selfish actions of mine dictates my whole character.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 28/02/2024 18:48

Workhardcryharder · 28/02/2024 18:44

Someone can do something bad without being a bad person. I’d hate to think a couple of shitty selfish actions of mine dictates my whole character.

He's lied to literally everyone though. His GF, his sister, his OW, the rest of his family. And he's manipulated into feeling sorry for him through those lies. And he's continuing to lie to the rest of his family.

For me, it's the ongoing dishonesty and manipulation that gives away the most about his character.

Workhardcryharder · 28/02/2024 18:50

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 28/02/2024 18:48

He's lied to literally everyone though. His GF, his sister, his OW, the rest of his family. And he's manipulated into feeling sorry for him through those lies. And he's continuing to lie to the rest of his family.

For me, it's the ongoing dishonesty and manipulation that gives away the most about his character.

Hmm maybe,

I guess if he’d spent his whole life being honest, and kind, would this override that and make him a horrible deceitful man? Maybe I’m not cynical enough but I’d like to
think I look at them as a whole

Iamnotawinp · 28/02/2024 19:07

I wouldn’t get too hung up about his behaviour being ‘out of character’

Ive read too many posts on MN by wives, partners and girlfriends about their partner cheating and they never in a million years thought that he was the sort of man that would ever do that. They always say “I really thought he was one of the good ones”.

NAMALT, but there’s more than we think, who are just like that.

FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 19:09

I think the tricky thing is when you look closely you often notice that they haven’t spent their entire life being honest and kind. They have lied and cheated while acting honest and kind.

Hence he is now in a mood about being called out on his poor behaviour. His tale of woe no doubt would have detailed how his ex was awful, they had fallen out of love and she was actually the instigator due to her mean callous personality and now he had Laura on his arm due to a chance meeting while he was in his pit of despair due to his exes nasty ways.

They are boringly predictable.

feedbackhq · 29/02/2024 16:10

This reply has been deleted

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

CleverHedgehog · 01/03/2024 07:27

Not only did he direspect his girlfriend, he disrespected you as well. He completely deserved the bollocking and more. I would not keep his affair a secret or anything he has done, with his actions are consequences. He clearly knew what he was doing. He's just angry cause he's been caught. Leave him to sulk in his shame.
Xx

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 01/03/2024 08:27

Imnottoosurereally · 28/02/2024 13:18

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.

It honestly sounds as if you tried very hard to handle this carefully and respectfully.

so no, I really don’t think that you should feel guilty about this.

the one thing I would want to hear - from him - was whether his GF’s version of events is actually true. Did he have intercourse in your bed? I’d want to hear that from him. Because it’s truly disgusting and gross!🤮

and no, your brother does NOT sound like a good guy. Not at all.