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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

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:
Elasticatedtrousers · 25/08/2024 10:09

I hope you’re ok @Thoroughthought i know how utterly painful trying to navigate all this is.

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:22

Thank you all for your replies. I have drafted the letter and it’s ready for me to give to her partner. I feel very torn but will see it through but I’m planning to go to their house and wait for him to exit at some point next week. I hate the way I feel beyond sense and my new involvement now but I am hoping it will give me some peace. Yes I’m broken and frankly cannot believe this is my life right now. Thank you for your messages. I will update. I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support. Should I? I don’t know their circumstances or if there are young children in the household since the last two years. How do you deliver damaging information in the least damaging way? Who knows they might not even be together which would end this anyway. Any further advice would be helpful or am I over-thinking this?

OP posts:
Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:26

Thank you to you all for chiming in. I have read so many stories of “dignity” elsewhere and having to be the perfect person who moves on without informing the other person. I’m not like this, I can’t handle the pain no matter how hard I have tried and so thank you for helping me see that I am feeling in a normal way and that this is not about me not being able to be that perfect person who accepts the destruction caused to me and the damaging of my children’s lives so far whilst I have been hurt and putting on the brave face.

OP posts:
RootToVictory · 25/08/2024 22:33

This. Leave him, let things settle and then decide what to do. This is all a distraction from the real problem- him.

hesemotionallybankrupt · 25/08/2024 22:48

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:22

Thank you all for your replies. I have drafted the letter and it’s ready for me to give to her partner. I feel very torn but will see it through but I’m planning to go to their house and wait for him to exit at some point next week. I hate the way I feel beyond sense and my new involvement now but I am hoping it will give me some peace. Yes I’m broken and frankly cannot believe this is my life right now. Thank you for your messages. I will update. I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support. Should I? I don’t know their circumstances or if there are young children in the household since the last two years. How do you deliver damaging information in the least damaging way? Who knows they might not even be together which would end this anyway. Any further advice would be helpful or am I over-thinking this?

Nice to hear from you OP

I don't know if the social services get invoked in things like this but let see if others have more insight about it

Tell him and I say so because that's what I will do without a doubt and gird yourself for what ever comes after. If I were you, I would take pictures of the letter and email it to myself for safe keeping.
Don't worry, all these too shall pass and you come out on the other side

But remember to look after yourself and children and that should be your priority above all.💐💐

Catoo · 25/08/2024 23:48

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:26

Thank you to you all for chiming in. I have read so many stories of “dignity” elsewhere and having to be the perfect person who moves on without informing the other person. I’m not like this, I can’t handle the pain no matter how hard I have tried and so thank you for helping me see that I am feeling in a normal way and that this is not about me not being able to be that perfect person who accepts the destruction caused to me and the damaging of my children’s lives so far whilst I have been hurt and putting on the brave face.

How will stalking her home until you can put a letter in the hands of her husband help your pain? Won’t you feel desperate sitting around waiting? How will it reduce the damaging of your children’s lives? What if he knows and they see you hanging round and report you for harassment when you finally deliver the letter?

The person who caused the destruction you mention was your H. He encouraged OW to say spiteful things about you. Her information about you came from him. He betrayed you. I’m not sure you have dealt with that.

I would absolutely advise you to have some counselling on your own before you drag this all up again by trying to get your revenge on OW.

Mangococktail · 26/08/2024 00:07

I agree with those advising that closure comes from ending the marriage.

That is closure.

letmego24 · 26/08/2024 00:11

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:22

Thank you all for your replies. I have drafted the letter and it’s ready for me to give to her partner. I feel very torn but will see it through but I’m planning to go to their house and wait for him to exit at some point next week. I hate the way I feel beyond sense and my new involvement now but I am hoping it will give me some peace. Yes I’m broken and frankly cannot believe this is my life right now. Thank you for your messages. I will update. I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support. Should I? I don’t know their circumstances or if there are young children in the household since the last two years. How do you deliver damaging information in the least damaging way? Who knows they might not even be together which would end this anyway. Any further advice would be helpful or am I over-thinking this?

Social services??? What the hell for ? This is just revenge

XChrome · 26/08/2024 00:13

Please do not send a copy to social services. That is a massive overstep. This is not the business of social services. It's a private matter between spouses. Let them solve their own problems, or not, as the case may be. Don't try to go for an outcome here. You are delivering information to the person who has a right to that information. That is the husband, not social services. Detach yourself from what happens after that. Once you have delivered the info, their relationship is no longer any concern of yours.

Just send the letter to his work address if he has one. Or send it in an email. Hanging around his house waiting for him will come across as stalkerish.

XChrome · 26/08/2024 00:23

Just wanted to add that I sent the husband of the OW the information in an email. I have had no contact with him, or her, since then. He did not answer the email and I was glad. I gave him what he had a right to know and that was it. It was up to him what to do with the information and was none of my business.

OP, your husband has betrayed you horribly. He is the number one villain here. The OW is scum and will probably get her just desserts someday when she messes with another marriage and gets a beatdown from an enraged wife. But you're better than that and your husband isn't worth losing your dignity over. Don't let this stupid bitch take up real estate in your head anymore after you give her husband the info.

Lentilpasta · 26/08/2024 00:33

I love how most people on this thread are not telling OP to be the “bigger person” 😂 Genuinely!

OP, I think you should focus on getting rid of this “husband” first and then move onto exposing her with proof. They both sound vile.

And yeah social services wouldn’t be interested in this at all.

2sisters · 26/08/2024 00:41

But for your husband she wouldn't have had information about you or access you your life to try and destroy it. He let her into your life and into your child's life.

I'd divorce him without thought. He doesn't love you. He doesn't care about you. He has no loyalty to you.

His suicide threats are more emotional abuse and manipulation. If he wants to die he can discuss that with his parents, his therapist, his religious guidance, his mistress, Samaritans or A&E. You are not responsible for his mental health or his safety.

You can destroy her life but I wonder in that will really make you feel better. I think the best revenge is your own happiness and success. She is more than capable of destroying her own life and getting involved in your lowlife H is testament to that.

BowlOfNoodles · 26/08/2024 08:14

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:22

Thank you all for your replies. I have drafted the letter and it’s ready for me to give to her partner. I feel very torn but will see it through but I’m planning to go to their house and wait for him to exit at some point next week. I hate the way I feel beyond sense and my new involvement now but I am hoping it will give me some peace. Yes I’m broken and frankly cannot believe this is my life right now. Thank you for your messages. I will update. I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support. Should I? I don’t know their circumstances or if there are young children in the household since the last two years. How do you deliver damaging information in the least damaging way? Who knows they might not even be together which would end this anyway. Any further advice would be helpful or am I over-thinking this?

Erm no actually I wouldn't be getting social services involved didn't you describe the woman as evil? Well if you destroy her life out of spite ( you're still with him and I wouldn't be surprised if he was involved with somebody else when you meet him ) then what does she have? A very good reason to seek retribution then you may end up seeing that she's worse/more psycho than you originally thought!

Sheeplesss · 26/08/2024 08:29

Please focus on removing that vile scum from your life and home asap.
His mental health is not your responsibility.
I don't blame you for wanting him to know.
He deserves to know.

If they are still together I would be tempted to post a copy of the letter into the neighbours houses that surround them.

See how she feels about everyone knowing how she behaved.

hesemotionallybankrupt · 26/08/2024 10:49

Sheeplesss · 26/08/2024 08:29

Please focus on removing that vile scum from your life and home asap.
His mental health is not your responsibility.
I don't blame you for wanting him to know.
He deserves to know.

If they are still together I would be tempted to post a copy of the letter into the neighbours houses that surround them.

See how she feels about everyone knowing how she behaved.

Good idea which I would do
Do what you think will make you happy (within reason) i understand completely how you feel by wanting to tell the husband. I would too

Yes, hand him a copy and post through neighbours doors.

Dery · 26/08/2024 11:22

@Thoroughthought - you haven’t addressed everyone saying that you will get closure by leaving your H. Why not? That is what will bring peace.

Instead, you seem to want to stay with your H but blow up another family to the extent of talking about involving social services. That’s wrong thinking. Understandable but wrong. You must recognise that. If you do this while you are still with your H, you create danger for yourself and your DCs.

And - while you stay with your H - what is the point? Her H will see you decided to stay so it’s not like you’re modelling robust behaviour about this. You’re just modelling sucking it up.

No-one is telling you to be the bigger person. They are saying - for your own sake - get your house in order. Get your H gone. That’s what will bring you strength. That’s how you’ll find peace again.

LoneHydrangea · 26/08/2024 11:29

If you want closure, dump your vile husband and start from there.

Telling the other husband won’t help you and it is just spiteful. You need counselling.

MoveToParis · 26/08/2024 11:47

Thoroughthought · 25/08/2024 22:22

Thank you all for your replies. I have drafted the letter and it’s ready for me to give to her partner. I feel very torn but will see it through but I’m planning to go to their house and wait for him to exit at some point next week. I hate the way I feel beyond sense and my new involvement now but I am hoping it will give me some peace. Yes I’m broken and frankly cannot believe this is my life right now. Thank you for your messages. I will update. I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support. Should I? I don’t know their circumstances or if there are young children in the household since the last two years. How do you deliver damaging information in the least damaging way? Who knows they might not even be together which would end this anyway. Any further advice would be helpful or am I over-thinking this?

Giving him the letter won’t bring you any peace. I can tell you that now. It does seem there is a specific outcome you wish to see- that she is hurting like you do: but she doesn’t love her husband, otherwise she would not treat him like that. So it won’t happen- and you aren’t going to get to watch her suffering.

Try for it to be enough to know that you can deliver the news, but you cannot control the outcome in any way. What if the husband turns on you and says “You fucking bitch coming to my house to do this- hasn’t your husband done enough damage without you coming to finish off what he started. Never speak to me again.”

The way to feel better is to take back control. If you empty the trash out of your own life by getting a divorce you will feel happier sooner. That’s not about being perfect that’s about looking after yourself first.

She is absolutely a cunt who has it coming, but now is not the time to deliver it.

AnyThoughtsWelcome · 26/08/2024 11:50

@Thoroughthought Yes tell the husband.

Most importantly: are you intending to leave your scumbag H? If not, why not?

Your pain will continue as long as the relationship does.

user1492757084 · 26/08/2024 11:52

It's more than okay but be ready for the husband to not believe you as he will not think it possible for anyone to be so mean.

CaptainCabinetsTrappedInCabinets · 26/08/2024 12:01

I'm sorry your going through this OP.

This stuck out to me though; by shifting the messages and affair back to her - where they belong.

It's your husband they belong too. Not the OW. You are focusing so much on her when it's your husband who has betrayed you op. It's very common to not want to lay the blame at H door, you want it to be someone else's fault, to protect yourself and your life BUT it is firmly HIS fault you feel this way. HE betrayed you HE allowed her to speak about you and spoke about you in ways that hurt you.

Focus on your husband and your marriage. Focus on revenge is only damaging you further.

TottingUpThings · 26/08/2024 12:04

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.

This ia a man who hates women.

He pitches women against one another for his pleasure.

I personally think his abuse of women needs addressing and the h needs to know. Op, you were once the favoured one, being a second wife, he will use different women to gang against you. It currently looks like the first wife has delivered retribution to you and is favouring his affair partner.

You are emeshed in a triangle that he has created, tell her h, but I hope this gives you the power back to understand that you must get away from him, he will punish you for placing him in danger and humiliating him.

This type of man purposely loads the gun with women, watches it fire and gets off on it, he picks women who have to show their loyalty by being utterly vile.
Something went wrong in his upbringing, he shouldn't be with women or children in my opinion.

As for him threatening suicide, is this part of you not spilling the beans to her h ? I would imagine it is, maybe he is fearful of him. Maybe your actions are showing the underlying fear of your h and telling her h transfers that fear back onto him, basically you're hoping involving another male may protect you.

I doubt he will commit suicide, he's the type to drive someone to it though.

He's very unsafe and probably dangerous, with sadistic tendancies.
Keep safe.

dontpost · 26/08/2024 12:06

CaptainCabinetsTrappedInCabinets · 26/08/2024 12:01

I'm sorry your going through this OP.

This stuck out to me though; by shifting the messages and affair back to her - where they belong.

It's your husband they belong too. Not the OW. You are focusing so much on her when it's your husband who has betrayed you op. It's very common to not want to lay the blame at H door, you want it to be someone else's fault, to protect yourself and your life BUT it is firmly HIS fault you feel this way. HE betrayed you HE allowed her to speak about you and spoke about you in ways that hurt you.

Focus on your husband and your marriage. Focus on revenge is only damaging you further.

OP, most people are saying it's your husband you cheated and should be the focus

But then they fail to understand that everyone is different on how they feel about these things and how they handle it. Perhaps some have never experienced this before and some have and they are just different.

Don't feel like your feelings are wrong at all because I completely understand how you feel and in this type of situation, there is no wrong or right way to feel. You feel how you feel.

Tell her husband and I guarantee it won't solve the problem but you will feel a bit better. How much better, I do not know but then it can also make things worse to be ready for anything

But I would tell the husband he deserves to know

Have you got good friends and family around for support?

TottingUpThings · 26/08/2024 12:28

I completely understand the devastation you have gone through op, I would be willing to suggest his first wife went through something similar.

I think you know by delivering this information, your h will never forgive you.
He is a man who hates women but is fearful of other men, he will count this as a betrayal in his warped mind, little caring of what he has inflicted on you.

Many ow do not understand the dynamics of this type of personality disorder, they believe colluding against a wife is the utmost sign of love within an affair, it isn't, many are just used to devalue and dehumanise the wife for some pre conceived punishment that needs to be delievered to the wife.

He will continue to behave this way, his model of relationships is skewed.

Deliver your information, this is a man who will continue to harm women if he is allowed to get away with it, shine a light on his abuse.

Ivegotaboneinmyleg · 26/08/2024 12:43

Okay, please can I clarify this story OP?
From messages I conclude that your husband had an affair 2 years ago. During this affair, there was much nasty banter about yourself (passed between your DH and this OW) and then you found out and were super hurt?

I understand your hurt and I understand that you would now wish to hurt that OW back...that is very natural. Weigh up the benefits of this if children are involved however...

The brutal truth is that your DH (now seemly forgiven?) was the one who made promises to you and broke them. Your pain very likely comes from the inability to trust him as you did. Think before you act, but get closure. I personally would leave, but I wish you the best in whatever you decide.🌻