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Relationships

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Tell other woman husband of affair

257 replies

Thoroughthought · 22/08/2024 11:33

I don’t really have people around me that I can talk to about this so I’ve decided to try this. I’m still hurting and I can’t move on without a final step of closure.
My husband had an affair two years ago. It lasted for a year and a half and I was blindsided. Found out by chance by my car not matching his phone. Dealing with the gaslighting lying and pain whilst over months discovering that each detail was worse than the version sold to me before. We have three children. The pain caused by my husband is not the reason why I am writing. I am writing because in my learning of this… I read messages that stay with me because of the nasty character of husband but also the woman involved. Hurtful things they shared about me. Discussions about my body, pubic hair, our sex lives, my personal life, work, loss of my baby for example. Messages where she nastily encouraged my husband not to buy me a gift for my birthday (which he agreed with to her but did anyway) and I can’t undo what I’ve read in this catastrophic soul destroying dialogue over the years that I was caring for our young children unknowingly of this deceit. I thought we were happily married and think my husband is a psychopath. On the other woman- I can’t let it go that she had contact with my children and sent them gifts.- some of which I even thanked her for over the phone. The reason why I write this is because whereas I am navigating the storm that is my husband and know he is abusive. I have thought endlessly about how I can get closure and I feel that after so much ruminating…. I know… or at least feel that closure for me, as weird as this seems … please bare with… is that I need to tell the husband/partner of the woman of the affair. I want him to know what she was doing and that it was not just their affair but also the nasty steps taken to unnecessarily cause me (and no doubt him unnecessary humiliation and pain). I’m sure he is not aware. I have battled with this for over two years as my closure because too hurt for words but understand myself better now. Being unable to find a way for full peace. Sometimes the pain of what I read, thrives in me, it’s less now but it cuts deep to think (aside from the obvious with my husband) that a woman exists that attempted to dismantle my children’s lives purposefully, unkindly… pitching my husband against my daughter. I didnt really want to involve myself but I’m set that this is the way I can put this behind me finally- by shifting the messages and affair back to her - where they belong. I want to be truthful with him about the restaurants the coffee shops, the days out, the sexual talk, the degrading of me and him, the meet ups and the fact she became pregnant and had a termination. The reasons for this are- I cannot get over her involvement with my children (phone calls with my young daughter) and the nastiness she put into our lives. I believe it is one thing to have an affair with a man (obviously unacceptable his behavior- but I think it’s a whole different thing to be actively trying to destroy the wife, the children and that is unfortunately what I have read from the messages and contact I have seen - I think of the painful arguments we had where I felt he was being unfair to my daughter- now knowing how these were being spurred by her dialogue that he wasn’t being “tough enough”.. etc She even messaged my husband the week we lost our baby enquiring about my mental health and proposed meeting times in the delicate time after (which were agreed to). I can’t let go of the fact that such nasty people exist in this world and how much she involved herself in my life unbeknownst to me, . Even messages laughing at me and using code phrases to indicate that either I or her husband were around. I feel that for whatever deficiencies I have as a person, I need to throw all of this madness back into her life and, by doing so, out of my head.

is it okay for me to expose affair to her husband so he is better informed?

OP posts:
silverjackal · 22/08/2024 13:32

If I were her husband, I would want to know. He deserves the truth

StirlingMallory · 22/08/2024 13:57

Yes, tell him. Your husband & the OW need to feel the consequences of their cruel actions. And her husband has a right to the information which you have.

Don't feel bad. You have not caused this situation. As you say, get some of the pain out of your heart & give it back to the OW.

ThisHumanBean · 22/08/2024 14:00

My god, all affairs are shameful and shocking but this takes some beating in terms of deceit and destruction. I’m so sorry you have been through this.

Tell the husband.

But you will ultimately get more closure and peace from leaving your husband. I am really hoping you have done this already.

Coconutter24 · 22/08/2024 14:01

Are you still with your husband or did you split? If you’re still with him how will this help your feelings? Surely the same anger will still be there it won’t go away just because you tell her husband. Obviously if he doesn’t know he does deserve to know the truth but it doesn’t sound like you’re doing it for his benefit or because you care about him but simply to try hurt the OW.

eggandchip · 22/08/2024 14:06

Is a one night stand with a married man an affair just a one time thing and you didnt know he was married.

HelpAGirlOut1234 · 22/08/2024 14:12

I would absolutely tell the husband... it's one thing having an affair, what this cretin of a woman did is disgusting.

But that's the vengeful side of me....I'm really not sure if this is going to help you overcome the feelings you're having though. Have you had therapy to process all this?

I'm really not sure I could continue a relationship with a man who did this to me and my children.

Moonshine5 · 22/08/2024 14:14

Tell him

MounjaroUser · 22/08/2024 14:35

Well, I would definitely tell the husband under certain circumstances. However, if she's now with your husband and you've separated from him, then you need to be careful as your children will spend time with her and the very last thing you want is her to take it out on them.

Weonlyhavealoanofit · 22/08/2024 14:44

I think it is impossible to offer good advice without knowing if you are still with your husband.
If you are, what are you hoping to achieve by telling the deceived husband of the OW? Assuming of course that they’re still together and he is ignorant of things.
If you are with your husband I’m going to assume that he doesn’t want any of this being ‘stirred up’ because it forces him to confront his appalling behaviour and lack of remorse.
If you’ve stayed with your husband did he agree to hearing about your pain and distress or has it all been consigned to the ‘get over it…you’re boring me now’ bin?
Clearly you’re not at peace with all that has happened, and frankly I don’t know how people forgive multiple betrayals and stay with their tormentor. I think forgiveness is only possible where there is genuine remorse and in the absence of that, only a physical separation, gives a person enough space to process all that has happened to them.
If you have separated, is your husband still seeing his children?
Is he in a new relationship?
What do you hope to achieve by telling the other husband?
What might be the repercussions FOR YOU? Will it ease your pain, do you feel that you’ve been silenced? Are you trying to make a stand? Have you had any contact with the OW since the affair came to light? Would she be blindsided by knowing of your intentions to contact her husband? Are you hoping for some recognition and vindication? In an ideal world your suffering would be redressed, but we don’t live in an ideal world, and people play dirty especially when they are shameless.
Your husband sounds an absolute shit. That’s really where all this starts and ends. His choices, his deceits and his vanity. The fact that the other woman is an appalling piece of work, does not absolve H of his role in the affair. After all he could have said ‘leave my daughter out of it’ …‘don’t criticize or mock my wife’…..BUT HE didn’t. He is a disloyal bastard.
At some point you have to draw a line in the sand and say to yourself: I have stopped letting HIS betrayals dominate MY life, MY thoughts, MY ability to function.
Confide in a friend you trust, before doing anything. I’m not saying that exposing the betrayals won’t be cathartic but please just think through all the consequences. You sound a very caring person, far far better than your husband or the OW.

whatwouldtheydo · 22/08/2024 14:54

I would divorce him first, then tell the other man everything. Get out, you deserve better than that x

DysonSphere · 22/08/2024 14:56

If you do that then you are lower than a snake.

The woman was vile but it's your husband that cheated on you.

All you want to do is inflict your pain on someone else hoping it will make you feel better. It won't.

How the hell is the OP 'lower than a snake' for serving just deserts to those deserving of it? And actually, the OP is saying behind her words: I feel disempowered, I feel this woman has won. This woman has harmed me at a personal psychological level. Yes her husband is shit, but he wanted a Fuck. But the woman went for the OP at every level.

Affairs are disgusting, but most affairs, despite the trauma they cause aren't personal.

This however, was personal. The other woman has been malicious, and in an attempt to be the 'preferred choice' has denigrated the OP in a nasty cruel way.

People who do things like this, are deeply problematic in society, inflicting dysfunctional chaos wherever they go. They never are held accountable because their actions aren't criminally sanctionable. But they devastate others. She sounds like a competition-ridden narcissist. Do you think her actions are much worse than a physical assault?

THAT SAID I do not think telling the OW husband is something the OP should do, precisely because I suspect someone so nasty may be capable of retaliation.

But if you're still with your DH OP, you need to be brave and dump him and you take him for every single asset and every last penny.

I'd also be inclined to put a very public declaration on Facebook about what he's done.

OWRLOSERS · 22/08/2024 15:02

Regardless if you stayed with him or divorced - certainly tell the OW's husband. Not only was she an adulterer but an absolute bitch.

I'm so sorry @Thoroughthought you have had to go through this as know from experience just how painful it is and what you have endured. Have you had any counselling? It may help to get it all off your chest.

I'm a few years on and whilst the pain of the affair has gone, his betrayal and the subsequent abuse I received from the bunny boiler he was involved with are what I too struggle with. If she had been married I'd have been not only telling her husband and provide evidence but her family and wider community.

I have absolutely no time for low life men or home wrecking women! All those who say turn the other cheek, rise above etc have never been through the kind of pain and how it messes with your head.

Do not feel guilty you feel like this, it is perfectly natural particularly if she was around your children.

Good luck and stay strong.

sunflowersngunpowdr · 22/08/2024 16:45

I would shame them both publicly in a heartbeat. I hope you got rid of the husband, he sounds like a lowlife.

Thoroughthought · 22/08/2024 16:50

Thank you for your responses. Apologies for the lack of paragraphs!
both of our families know. His family berated me, blamed me for being emotionally unavailable. I stopped them from being around me or the children. They were awful human beings, I was at my lowest. Externally, we looked like the perfect picture and everyone used to comment on what a lovely family we were. I am the breadwinner so in theory- it was also me paying for her meals.

  1. she spoke to my daughter through phone/video calls with him.
  2. I genuinely believe he is mentally ill so remained with him because he was threatening suicide and fought hard over months for the marriage. I now know that he lied about most things in this time. He has destroyed my soul and I think that has been a major factor for remaining in the marriage whilst he has been a controlling abusive person.
  3. we went through couples counselling- after around 8 sessions, his ex wife told me over the telephone that he was cheating on me with her during the early part of our marriage. I fell apart again, he was there everyday arguing fighting, controlling the narrative.
  4. in hindsight, I have stayed in the marriage because he has bombarded me with confusion and issues since I’ve known him that I have tried to help or fix and I am now, after years not able to handle the toll. I am a fraction of the person I used to be and can’t even make big decisions. I think dealing with the affair is a big part of my closure and deciding to kick the husband out.
  5. I do see things now and know he is sick and that I must protect myself from him by ending the marriage.
OP posts:
Boomer55 · 22/08/2024 16:52

Guavafish1 · 22/08/2024 13:01

Why do you want more drama…

Ditch the husband

This. You don’t need to upset anyone else.

Jordanstits · 22/08/2024 16:54

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

XChrome · 22/08/2024 16:55

Tell him, but be prepared for him to not do anything about it.
I told the husband of the POS my ex was cheating with and he still stayed with her. But at least he knows the truth. You have to do it because it's what's right, while understanding that the outcome is not within your control.

Thoroughthought · 22/08/2024 16:57

The in car screen “mirrors” the mobile phone it is attached to so his call log was on the screen when he picked me up. The car had calls on it that were not the same as the ones on his phone meaning he was deleting calls on his phone before I got into the car. BUT, because the car hadn’t turned off or detached from his phone- they were still on the car. I questioned him from there the spiral unfolded…

OP posts:
Lavender14 · 22/08/2024 16:59

I'm not clear if you're out of the relationship with your husband or planning on leaving but I think I would first focus on getting free of him and then yes I would tell her husband and ideally send him proof if you have it. I think anyone who thinks they're in a monogamous relationship where someone is having sex behind their back deserves to know that their health may be compromised.

I wouldn't do it while your husband is still with you because I would worry about him becoming more abusive towards you in the fallout from it. You need to put your own safety and the safety of your children first. And op - this is his mess. If he's suicidal he can seek help plenty of places for that it does not have to fall on your shoulders. He is an adult and he is responsible for himself. It is not your job to fix him at the expense of your own mental health and resilience.

They both sound like horrible people and I hope you are free of them both soon. But I think it's important you seek counselling and support from womens aid/ your gp because telling her husband will not make the pain go away unfortunately.

Deebee90 · 22/08/2024 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DysonSphere · 22/08/2024 21:17

Thoroughthought · 22/08/2024 16:50

Thank you for your responses. Apologies for the lack of paragraphs!
both of our families know. His family berated me, blamed me for being emotionally unavailable. I stopped them from being around me or the children. They were awful human beings, I was at my lowest. Externally, we looked like the perfect picture and everyone used to comment on what a lovely family we were. I am the breadwinner so in theory- it was also me paying for her meals.

  1. she spoke to my daughter through phone/video calls with him.
  2. I genuinely believe he is mentally ill so remained with him because he was threatening suicide and fought hard over months for the marriage. I now know that he lied about most things in this time. He has destroyed my soul and I think that has been a major factor for remaining in the marriage whilst he has been a controlling abusive person.
  3. we went through couples counselling- after around 8 sessions, his ex wife told me over the telephone that he was cheating on me with her during the early part of our marriage. I fell apart again, he was there everyday arguing fighting, controlling the narrative.
  4. in hindsight, I have stayed in the marriage because he has bombarded me with confusion and issues since I’ve known him that I have tried to help or fix and I am now, after years not able to handle the toll. I am a fraction of the person I used to be and can’t even make big decisions. I think dealing with the affair is a big part of my closure and deciding to kick the husband out.
  5. I do see things now and know he is sick and that I must protect myself from him by ending the marriage.

So sorry OP

You deserve so much better.

Get rid of the deadweight. You may even find that once you've got rid of him, you regain your own self determination and you start to gradually rediscover the old you, that you don't even care about telling the other woman anymore.

Currently you are stuck with all that is a familiar tie to the pain. You need to realise that you are experiencing real trauma. You need to get yourself free from it and sometimes you have to experience hurt and a bit of turmoil during the getting free. Then you get the reward. Then you can soar.

He's not worth it. He's not even the big love of your life. Don't let him take anymore of your years. I know from very bitter experience that time passes quickly and you don't want to go through this again with him cheating on you with someone else, when you've spent another 5, 8,10, or 15 years with him and forgiven him all this!

You'll be the one feeling suicidal then.

Start putting plans and money in place now, even if you feel confused and too weak to leave atm.

Margergreen · 22/08/2024 21:21

Fucking do it, she’s a grade A cunt. Just protect yourself in the process

BowlOfNoodles · 22/08/2024 21:22

If you are cooking him breakfast no
If you ended the marriage absolutely

Margergreen · 22/08/2024 21:22

And he is - that goes without saying

Catoo · 23/08/2024 00:25

Agree with some PP here that you need to exit the marriage first. Get that all sorted out.

You can be open with friends during the separation/divorce that it is because of the affairs and you can see clearly now that it can’t be saved. Word may or may not get back to her husband.

But I would not deliberately tell her husband until you are away and have set up a calm and happy home without him. These things tend to backfire on the messenger and while you live with your H this could get very nasty for you. You don’t beed extra hassle.

Don’t be blackmailed into staying with him either. This is a common trick with abusive men. He will be ok. No doubt he’ll move on to someone else quickly. Be prepared for that. And relieved.

You will get your life back OP.
💐