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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:
BowlOfNoodles · 26/08/2024 12:49

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.

Yeah the social services thing just removes all sympathy for me.

Anonym00se · 26/08/2024 13:05

I was in this position. It was a four year affair, and she was nuts. She even applied for a job I was advertising and came to work for me. I had no idea. It was all a bit Fatal Attraction. When I discovered the affair I messaged her husband on facebook and said that I had information about his wife that would affect their marriage and to get back to me if he wanted to know. I didn’t explicitly say it was an affair but he’d have guessed. Anyway, he blocked me so he obviously didn’t want to know.

If I can give you any advice it is this - Don’t even consider couples therapy. Get therapy for yourself. Get yourself into a good place and you’ll find the strength to do what you need to do. You know that you deserve better. It feels like a mountain, but you can climb it an inch at a time. Take care of yourself and your own needs. x

Sheeplesss · 26/08/2024 15:08

There is nothing spiteful about telling the truth.
I think most people would like to know that their spouse has had an 18 month affair.
The motivations of the person telling the truth of what has occurred, is none of anyone's business.

Once the truth is being revealed there is no argument to be had by anyone IMO.
The person who has been cheated upon owes diddly squat to the other cheating party, and to suggest they do is absolutely preposterous in the extreme.

Dery · 26/08/2024 15:18

Completely agree that OP owes the OW nothing: but she has stayed with the DH who has caused her such harm. Reading how he has behaved and how she feels, getting shot of him seems far more likely to bring her the peace she craves. Also, OP is still with her H so what particular point does she think she’s making to the OW’s husband?

coldcallerbaiter · 26/08/2024 15:18

Tell her husband.
then get yourself a bf and rub it in dh face.
Leave dh when it suits you.
Tell dh to fuck off regularly.

Sheeplesss · 26/08/2024 15:44

Obviously the OP needs to leave that piece of shit asap.

But she is not spiteful for wanting to fxck up the OW's life with the truth.

She doesn't owe the cheaters husband any explanation, no more that he owes the OP any information as to what he will do with the information.

Once she is telling the truth, she doesn't owe anyone anything.

OP, please get rid of that awful man so that you may begin to heal.

BowlOfNoodles · 26/08/2024 15:55

Sheeplesss · 26/08/2024 15:44

Obviously the OP needs to leave that piece of shit asap.

But she is not spiteful for wanting to fxck up the OW's life with the truth.

She doesn't owe the cheaters husband any explanation, no more that he owes the OP any information as to what he will do with the information.

Once she is telling the truth, she doesn't owe anyone anything.

OP, please get rid of that awful man so that you may begin to heal.

No but making calls to social services about an affair with zero indication of abuse is wasting resources and asking for trouble.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 26/08/2024 16:10

Hmm. You definitely need to ditch this utter creep asap.
As for telling the DH - you need to be very careful that you are factual and don't sound as if you're out for revenge. He could easily think you're a nutter who's jealous of her, or something. I would focus on my own life and have nothing to do with any of them if it were me.

DysonSphere · 26/08/2024 21:59

BowlOfNoodles · 26/08/2024 12:49

Yeah the social services thing just removes all sympathy for me.

Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick, but the OP said: I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support.

I assumed she was thinking that she didn't want there to be serious repercussions to the children and wanted to ensure they had support? I could be wrong, it was a bit convoluted.

DysonSphere · 26/08/2024 22:04

dontpost · 26/08/2024 12:06

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?

The problem is it seems the OP wants to feel better to be able to endure staying in the marriage.

She can't find the strength to leave, which is understandable after all the emotional and mental abuse so she wants to dull her pain by causing the OW pain and giving just deserts.

Which most of us are saying is fully justified, go do it. BUT just don't do it while giving the husband a green light.

wrongthinker · 26/08/2024 22:07

End the marriage. That's the only closure you can have. Telling this woman's husband won't make you feel any better. You are living with an abusive man. Your kids must be going through hell.

End it. Divorce. You can decide what to do about the OW later.

Zanatdy · 26/08/2024 22:26

I don’t know that it will help you by telling her husband. Your problem is your husband, he’s the one who has massively disrespected you. End it with him and walk away. I’d steer clear from doing anything in revenge. Because it won’t help you.

Eldrick47s · 26/08/2024 23:27

Do what feels right to you.

Me, 100% I'd tell her husband everything.

The partner is often the focus when this topic crops up here ("he's the one who made vows, not her"), but there are occasions where the ire also needs to be directed at the OW, and this is one of those times. What a nasty cretin she is to say those things about you. Her husband probably has no idea who he is married to, just as you didn't. He at the very least deserves to know.

And yes, bin your husband OP.

Theimpossiblegirl · 27/08/2024 08:33

You will only be able to heal when you leave this awful man. He has done this. Everything she has said and done is because he let her into your lives. I would also tell her husband, I would want to know.

BowlOfNoodles · 27/08/2024 10:12

DysonSphere · 26/08/2024 21:59

Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick, but the OP said: I thought about sending a copy to social services in their area to also highlight that they might need external support.

I assumed she was thinking that she didn't want there to be serious repercussions to the children and wanted to ensure they had support? I could be wrong, it was a bit convoluted.

Yeah it's most definitely crap lol 😆 social services don't police cheating arguments lol

lazybrownfox · 27/08/2024 11:03

You will never get closure on this - you just learn to tuck it away at the back of your mind. However you will NEVER get to this place by remaining with him. Why would you taint the rest of your life by staying with him? It will ALWAYS be there.

Divorce him. Then see how you feel about telling the husband. I was the spouse who didn't know as the other person felt he didn't want me to go through the pain he had. I did find out though and wish I had known at the time.
If I were you I probably would tell him at some point.

Edingril · 27/08/2024 11:55

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?

What has social services got to do with you not dumping a cheat?

TottingUpThings · 27/08/2024 12:22

Edingril · 27/08/2024 11:55

What has social services got to do with you not dumping a cheat?

Who knows maybe op wishes to exact maximum himilation on her rival or maybe she is genuinely concerned for the fallout out of a potentially nightmare situation.

Whatever the reason, the fact is, this ow took her chances, it was her chance to take regarding her husband finding out.
She made that choice, she colluded in the abuse of another woman, knowing full well of the awful behaviour and treatment of op by this man, and she probably had a good idea of what he was capable of whilst at home alone with his wife.

She cared not of op's vunerability at the hands of this monster, she was afforded no empathy, pity or mercy.

Whatever op decides to do, it is her choice now, she is not required to take the ow into account, but it sounds as though she has some semblance of concience unlike her h and the ow.

Edingril · 27/08/2024 12:32

TottingUpThings · 27/08/2024 12:22

Who knows maybe op wishes to exact maximum himilation on her rival or maybe she is genuinely concerned for the fallout out of a potentially nightmare situation.

Whatever the reason, the fact is, this ow took her chances, it was her chance to take regarding her husband finding out.
She made that choice, she colluded in the abuse of another woman, knowing full well of the awful behaviour and treatment of op by this man, and she probably had a good idea of what he was capable of whilst at home alone with his wife.

She cared not of op's vunerability at the hands of this monster, she was afforded no empathy, pity or mercy.

Whatever op decides to do, it is her choice now, she is not required to take the ow into account, but it sounds as though she has some semblance of concience unlike her h and the ow.

Again what has social services got to do with it?

GiddyNavyJoker · 27/08/2024 12:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

flower858 · 27/08/2024 14:35

Yes do it, and ditch him if you haven't already

mushroomforest · 27/08/2024 14:46

Wishing you all the best OP, I think you’re making the right decision.

MustyDooDah · 27/08/2024 14:52

My DH’s affair was discovered by the OW’s husband.

I will be FOREVER in his debt that he immediately made sure I knew. I found speaking with him over the period of about a week really important to my own processing of what happened and think it really helped my recovery.

Happyface246 · 27/08/2024 15:02

FastCaar · 22/08/2024 13:11

This response displays a lack of understanding of the OP's post. It is not vengeance the OP seeks.

Agree, no need for this. Tell him OP x

1HappyTraveller · 27/08/2024 15:02
  1. Leave your husband.

  2. Tell the partner of the other woman.

  3. Get some therapy.

I mean all of this with sincerity and kindness. You have been through a lot and you have a lot to work through. I am so sorry that this has happened to you. I hope that one day you get the closure that you need and learn to love and trust again. If you manage to work through this with your husband then you are a better person than me. He doesn’t deserve you.