I live abroad now (7 years) and after returning to the UK to visit my gravely ill mum (breast cancer - palliative care) - I accidentally discovered that my husband of 21 years had secretly been messaging her previously long-term ex-girlfriend (before me) on LinkedIn. Hehad also reached out to other ex-girlfriends on Facebook Messenger.
There is some irony as her LinkedIn ex previously cheated on him and caught them in bed together - hence I've always had a healthy dislike of this girl. One girl did respond in Messenger but nothing progressed.
I love my husband dearly and have never for one moment had feelings for anyone else and have believed we have operated transparently and 100% honestly. My husband was away when I made this discovery with my eldest daughter on a dance trip (I have two other children) so had to process and digest and decide how to confront him.
I decided to take a breath and consider what may have caused it. We have been going through a rough time - he lost his job suffered workplace bullying and there has been financial pressure on us. When he returned for the sake of my daughter I did not say anything until she had gone to bed. When I said I had discovered these messages he said it was nothing and it was over. I have been incredibly upset and my heart truly broken.
He now says he's sorry but it started as looking for new job opportunities that she may help and she was very comforting - she is in the States and we are in Australia - about 20 messages over 4 weeks were exchanged - ending with 'you are like a breath of fresh in my life'! from my husband! He is having counselling for the workplace bullying whilst I have been left to support him by doing everything, cooking, and cleaning chores as he recovers from the workplace bullying. That is OK as I love him.
He is also depressed because he misses the UK and wants to return home but the kids and I are settled in (I have a really good job). My concern is that I am going to suffer from exhaustion keeping the family together and trying desperately to save the relationship - I have asked to go to marriage counseling but he says it is too hard to consider whilst he deals with his depression and anxiety from the bullying and missing the UK. Now I have just seen his Facebook history and have seen that he searched for his ex-girlfriend whilst he was ill with Covid in Feb 5 months earlier.
He is also forever on his phone looking at sports pages and when I try and get any attention he says I am being too demanding. As I write this I am thinking what the hell am I doing staying with him but I love him and find him so attractive it cripples me - I cannot bear the thought of him being someone else. I am forever cuddling and hugging him but he never initiates anything - I'm at a loss - please please help me!