Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

The Eagle and the Rabbit - follow on from Is this the script?

30 replies

Whatachliche · 01/03/2025 21:18

Thank you very much for everyone's support through the last year. I had such uplifting and eye opening support here. Someone suggested a second thread, so here I am.

In response to the previous thread, I didn't plan to give him the time for a 'last conversation' but your views changed how I feel about it - before I felt mortally wrong and now I know this is what healthy boundaries might look like?

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 01/03/2025 21:23

love the title !

Whatachliche · 01/03/2025 21:27

coming from here:

Is this the script? Handhold please www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/5005102-is-this-the-script-handhold-please

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/03/2025 21:35

Yep you got boundaries 🥳

Oooooomph · 01/03/2025 21:36

I love the title - very fitting! ❤

ChristmasLightsLover · 01/03/2025 21:45

It's incredible to see how much your life has changed OP! I'm here and invested to see all you go on to do. Onwards!!!!

Chatterboxy · 01/03/2025 21:53

Well done lovely! 👌

Mum5net · 01/03/2025 22:36

How fitting the last posts on previous thread were the ‘Gotcha’. You are so special.

Imjustagirlintheworld · 01/03/2025 22:41

Just respond, why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that? And then block him

This would be perfect, that is if you want to comment at all before blocking.

This is absolutely your gotcha moment. He cannot stand how calm and cool you've been. That you held that knowledge and kept it to yourself to get what you wanted will be really doing his head in. He thought you'd cry, beg and believe everything he spoon fed you, and he was wrong - you knew all along and had the temerity and strength to hold it all in to get what you wanted. He certainly didn't expect that and despite his bravado he'll have been very shocked.

Just some thoughts:

"My" covert narc I believe was motivated by thinking he was "clever" by lying and manipulating two women (maybe more?) at once - he had both myself and (I believe) his dw thinking he was this wonderful, kind guy - the nicest guy in the world. I believe it made him feel powerful to push his lies further and further into the realms of bonkersness (telling me he had cancer etc) and feel he could control our emotions and the attention we gave to him at the click of his fingers. When he told me his dw had tried to overdose (bc he told her about me - despite previously telling me they were totally over and she was fine with it) I told him to go and look after her and that it was over between us, I didn't want that drama. He then rang me crying and telling me he hadn't a friend in the world who understood what he was going through. I then felt guilty (!!) and carried on talking to him. I played right into his hands despite having my spidey senses tingling - I didn't realise at that point that there were people like him walking the earth - it was like something from a movie! We often ignore our guts bc we want to see the best in people and bc we've no prior experience of that level of (what I think is) a pathological personality disorder. It's not our fault - we are not stupid, we just take people at face value bc why wouldn't you believe this amazing, lovely man is genuine?

These men aren't normal - their whole being is based on lies. I don't believe they have an authentic personality but have several different sides they present to different people. His whole raison d'etre probably comes from knowing he has the power to beguile and manipulate and for a long time you were his prime victim. He must be finding it hard now he's lost control of you...and who knows, maybe 'shiny new things' allure is wearing off now she's not forbidden fruit?

They collect ego kibbles and self validation by ensuring other people are interested in them and think them wonderful. I believe a narcissists ultimate torture would be to live alone on an island with no attention from others. They'd go mad after a day or two!

I am pretty certain that any contact with him will leave you regretful and freshly confused. He simply wants to see if you're still a pawn in his game. Don't give him the satisfaction, as tempting as it must be to satisfy your curiosity as to what he could possibly have to say.

It's one of the hardest things I've ever done not confronting the narc I was seeing - I desperately wanted answers - but I knew in my heart it would only give him satisfaction to see me upset and trying to understand his motives. Their power is gained from the control of others, they're like vampires sucking their energy from other peoples emotion and upset.

I'm so glad now I just told him I knew the truth, that I pitied him and then blocked him. Once I knew the truth there was absolutely nothing he could say that would've made things right or justified his behaviour, so what was the point of giving him air time?

I believe your ex would thoroughly enjoy meeting with you to tell you how wrong you were about everything, or that you couldn't really blame him when you were x, y, z. I'm sure he'll also make some subtle patronising comments regarding his amazing new love, designed to pierce your heart. He's probably been practising what he'll say in the mirror (I imagine him as a Patrick Bateman type)😂 You have no idea what he might have up his sleeve but it definitely won't be anything that's going to make you feel better.

You've done so well OP and it's only natural you'll remember the good times and how wonderful he made you feel. There's nothing like the attention of a narc to make you feel like you're in heaven such is the intensity of their "love", but the lows from knowing the truth and experiencing their specific kind of abuse are also the lowest emotions you'll ever experience. it's a complete head fuck to know someone was making you feel the most loved you've ever felt and then going and shagging someone else and saying the same to them in the next breath. It's SO fucked up that I really do pity them - what a way to live your life - it must be exhausting! Imagine being incapable of experiencing real love for someone, where they are your everything and you can't imagine ever loving anyone else? Experiencing the peace that comes with finding your person, valuing loyalty and respect. Having the self respect it takes to commit to that.

Sorry, a ramble but I really do understand and I SO want you to reach a point of just not caring. It will come in time but it's probably still far too soon - my bf had a very similar situation to yours and it's taken her 4 years to really get back to herself, finally exacerbated by her falling madly in love with a really nice man who is treating her like a queen. She's like "ex...what ex?" Its so lovely to see her back living life on her terms and just having fun. That'll be you too OP and you'll thank the OW eventually - the poor thing is oblivious to the fact she's just one of many whom he'll easily discard - you've (almost) got to pity her too! I know I pity anyone who finds themselves caught in the web of my ex-dickhead.

Congratulations if you read that 😂 - it's therapeutic writing things down and I'm definitely still not 100% over it. I'd rather swim with sharks than see him again but the hit to the ego and the fact I feel he got off scot free will mean a little bit of my heart and head is always slightly bruised. I've always been a confident person and secure in my own high standards etc so to feel I was "played" was a very humbling experience for me. But it's made me a better person I think - il never judge another's situation if I haven't walked in their shoes whereas before I was very much a "are you stupid?" slightly judgey kind of person.

Grrrpredictivetex · 01/03/2025 23:38

Well done you've got this.

Spooky2000 · 02/03/2025 00:05

A PP says "He simply wants to see if you're still a pawn in his game.". This aligns with my post to you on the last thread, which is that your morality is skewering your feelings to 'do the right thing'.

Let me be clearer: Your morality and his are entirely different. He doesn't really have any. This is hard to believe - you've spent that time with him, think you know him - but what you know is what he showed you in the marriage. Once you left you saw the real person. I'm sure you don't want to accept or believe this, and I am/was exactly the same: I wanted to believe that the person I thought I loved, who did a very good job of convincing me that he loved me is who I knew. Nope. I still can't get my head around that people do this knowingly and deliberately. I acknowledge it, but can't seem to accept it and keep making excuses because I just can't get through my head that this sort of shit isn't reactional, but is planned and I can't grasp how or why people would CHOOSE to behave like this. Here is what my inner best friend says to me, so I hope she speaks to you too.

Sighs. "Look. Both you and I wanted to believe and did for long enough that what you saw was who he was. I'm really sorry, but it isn't - it was a part, but not the whole him. The whole him was what you learned after the fact, when your heart was breaking. Anyone with a modicum of humanity about them would have showed some compassion but did he? No. You said your piece and got a bit of a kick for it, but you have made something itch, whether you meant to or not. He doesn't give a shit how you feel now, or what to bring closure or any other such shite. What he wants is to see you 'itch'. Don't, and not responding means that you are standing up for yourself. That is your boundary".

Prepare yourself for repeated, unwanted contact now because he will keep badgering to get a response from you. Log it ALL.

Itssofunny · 02/03/2025 07:15

Agree with all the advice here. Don't meet with him, it would be dancing to his tune.

wrongthinker · 02/03/2025 08:10

Don't meet him. Agree with pp that "Why on earth would I want to do that?" and block is the perfect response.

Noshowlomo · 02/03/2025 10:38

I love mumsnet for stuff like this. Women helping women.
Some great advice here OP. x

NotISaidTheCat · 02/03/2025 13:31

I've just read all of your posts in your original thread, OP, and I'm quite frankly in awe of you. What a strong and amazing woman you are. You knew the outcome you wanted and you held tough and stayed clever and got it. You owe your ex nothing (just like he used to tell you that he didn't owe you anything). Don't even bother responding to him anymore if you don't want to, and definitely don't meet up with him! He just wants to see that he still has power over you.

You are the eagle. Soar high and let him become the insignificant speck in your past that he deserves to be.

Hollietree · 02/03/2025 14:27

Why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that?

I beg you to send this 🙏🏼

It’s the perfect parting shot. Lets him know that you give absolutely no shits and that you are fully over him. It’s the “gotcha” you wanted and needed. You send that text, block him and you have won!

Mum5net · 02/03/2025 15:38

While I think @Hollietree's line Why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that? is just brilliant, it is probably too fabulous a reply.
It will sting so spectacularly, even if you block him afterwards, it will encourage him to contact you further.
Then considering this from:@Spooky2000
'Prepare yourself for repeated, unwanted contact now because he will keep badgering to get a response from you. Log it ALL.'
I now think I would reply with just 'Sorry, No' then block.
You are done with him. Give as neutral a response as possible, so he's had a reply. Then go and book a day trip or a lunch to mark the moment and continue the momentum of healing and widening your new world.

Shetlands · 02/03/2025 16:16

"Why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that?"

Yes it's a great response but maybe take the question out because that's encouraging him to answer it. I'd rephrase it as a statement.

"I have no intention of wasting my time doing that and I am blocking you now from all contact."

CinnamonJellyBeans · 02/03/2025 18:40

No message, just block the bloody man.

Whatachliche · 02/03/2025 20:30

I sent a message very close to the wording below, without the question mark the pp added:

Why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that!

(thanks @Hollietree for this!)

OP posts:
Whatachliche · 02/03/2025 20:35

actually it was @sistedtwister coming up with that gem of a response (thank you)

OP posts:
Imjustagirlintheworld · 02/03/2025 20:37

Whatachliche · 02/03/2025 20:30

I sent a message very close to the wording below, without the question mark the pp added:

Why on earth would I want to waste my time doing that!

(thanks @Hollietree for this!)

YEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

CinnamonJellyBeans · 02/03/2025 20:42

Have you blocked him as well?

Imjustagirlintheworld · 02/03/2025 20:45

Oh yes, it's imperative that you block him too aop - don't be tempted to let him respond. The beauty of it will be when he composes a lengthy response then presses send and realises he's blocked 😂

Acornsoup · 02/03/2025 20:53

Amazing 🤩 you have 100% taken all of your power back and done it with such grace. Can't wait to see your future updates OP ☺️

AcrossthePond55 · 02/03/2025 21:37

@Whatachliche

You have found your true self, my sister. Long live YOU!!!
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Swipe left for the next trending thread