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Relationships

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Partner keeps searching for his ex online and I feel second best

10 replies

ArganaSpinosa · 03/08/2026 03:05

I can't quite believe that I'm awake still, mulling this all over. How I didn't lose my shit about this as it happened.... again.... I have no idea. I think I am done but would love to get opinions.

Been seeing someone for nearly six months. We're both late fifties. I've never married but was with someone for over 10 years. Amicable ending, no shared offspring. He's been divorced for over 5 years, separated for 5 years before that, but shared children, now in their early thirties.

Quite early on, so February time, we fell out over his ex. She's a published author, but hasn't released anything in many years. I noticed he kept looking at her website and YouTube channel at really odd times of night. So after going to bed, middle of the night and 5 am when he gets up for work. Yes I snooped on his phone, but we weren't having sex, he had... still has... ED.... and I got suspicious that there was someone else.

He looks at specific photos of her every time. A minute later he's looking at porn. Then her photos again. Very specific clothes and hair styles. I had it out with him and he denied that he still has feelings for her. I didn't believe him and we split up for over a month. I really missed him so when he reached out we decided to start again,

I told him I wouldn't snoop again, he played it all down, saying he was just curious about her. I decided to let things play out and see what he's all about.

Yesterday evening we sat down to watch something on YouTube on his TV. He started typing the name of the show into the search bar and there in the search history, right at the top, was her name, immediately followed by a couple of videos entitled "Husband does XYZ to wife" etc.

His defence is that they are old searches from earlier in the year. That he hasn't been looking at her and the other videos just popped up. But I know that's not how searches work. There's a clock beside each search which means they aren't suggestions.

He's really upset that I want to end it again. I've come home and feel really let down. He seems to be obsessed with her. I'm even beginning to wonder whether they're sleeping together. He insists he doesn't have feelings for her but the endless looking at her is abnormal. Well at least I personally feel it is!

I feel like he's settling for me and still wants her. Oh and ironically he started getting an erection as I was leaving!

It's piss poor behaviour isn't it?

OP posts:
WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 03/08/2026 05:54

Yep piss poor. He still has sexual feelings regarding his ex wife - ditch

He’ll probably be looking you up when he’s in the next relationship if the erection was anything to go by. He obv wants what he can’t have, weirdo.

DozyCrow · 03/08/2026 06:00

After 10 years he should be over his ex but yes, he appears to have some addiction or obsession as far as she's concerned. The alternating between her pics and porn is icky. I'd be kicking this one to the curb OP.

ArganaSpinosa · 04/08/2026 14:18

Just caught up with a good friend and updated her about him. She's been divorced for over ten years as well and despite sharing three now adult offspring with her ex, says she rarely gives him much thought. She definitely agreed that I need to end it. I've kind of disappeared off the radar the past few days as quite frankly I can't be arsed to bring it up for the third or fourth time with him. He'll just keep denying it and blame pop ups despite knowing I work in IT security.

Whatever is going on in his head, he can get on with it and live in his fantasy ex wife land. I'm done. There are other red flags that I haven't even mentioned here as this one really pissed me off as I thought we'd dealt with it. But clearly he's pretending to be an honest man when he's not.

OP posts:
ArganaSpinosa · 04/08/2026 14:24

Ahhh hahhhhh.... Lightbulb moment as it were. It now makes perfect sense as to why he was so keen for me to meet her. We're talking within the first three months. I thought it was odd but went with it. Just thought they were very relaxed family that got on well.

He wanted to make her jealous. She had a boyfriend pretty much within a year of them separating but he struggled to get into another relationship at all. Seems I'm the first relatively serious one in many years but she had several. I do remember when she turned up she had her hair done exactly in the style he likes and was looking at online AND the exact same clothes.

Strikes me there's some weird ass dynamic between them. Good riddance weirdo.

OP posts:
Kitkate21 · 04/08/2026 14:27

Ewwww put him back in the pond before you end up in deeper!

TheThingOnTheIce · 04/08/2026 14:41

Oh that’s weird

ArganaSpinosa · 04/08/2026 14:47

Very weird. The online wife fantasy was all to do with forcing the wife to dress a certain way and then, OK this is truly bizarre, cutting all her hair off when it is either in two bunches or in buns and making her cry or be really upset. Like cutting her hair while she sleeps or cutting it much shorter than she wanted. Remember Princess Leia? I'm old enough to!!! So that kind of hairstyle.

I've had some odd dates but never come across anyone like this 😂

OP posts:
TheThingOnTheIce · 04/08/2026 14:56

Back in the bin

UpDownAllAround1 · 04/08/2026 14:59

So 6 months ago you met, moved in and fell out
over an ex and stopped having sex?! Dating should be better than that

ArganaSpinosa · 04/08/2026 15:05

Never moved in with him but he asked me to. I won't leave my own home for anyone other than the funeral director 🤣

OP posts:
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