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Is he cheating? Urgent advice please!

479 replies

mouseymouse123 · 28/08/2026 18:32

Need urgent advice please because I don't know what to make of this and I'm incapable of keeping my emotions in! Months ago I found the back of an earring on my bed and confronted DH because I'm sure it wasn't mine, he was very convincing that there was nothing untoward going on. Naive as this may sound I don't think he's the sort that would cheat, I don't see how he'd even have the time for it (he works full time and we have 2 young DC). So I chalked it up to the cleaner/something I'd forgotten that got caught up and moved inadvertently.

This evening I have just found half a fake nail on my upstairs landing and I have no explanation of where it could have come from. I've fully panicked and managed to look through DHs phone. I didn't find anything on WhatsApp, Facebook or text messages.

I do not know what to do. I want to confront him because I'm terrible at hiding my feelings but I assume if anything IS going on he will just play it off again. What should I do? Apologies for the rushed and possibly incoherent message! x

OP posts:
Summerhut2025 · 30/08/2026 11:14

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 30/08/2026 09:53

I know that most Mumsnetters will think I am stupid for posting this reply, but that doesn't really bother me as they don't know me personally, and are maybe too narrow minded in their own thinking.

@mouseymouse123 Why are you reacting to your new, so painfully found out knowledge, by immediately deciding to divorce your husband? I do hope it isn't just because too many readers of Mumnet seem to have become enthralled - in it's original meaning - by the domineering personallities of our more loquacious Mumsnetters; those who apparently have no tolerance of the failure of any individual man if he has been shown to not be perfect every single second, of every single day, in every single way? Oh okay, I am exaggerating a bit, but in some cases it won't be my much!

I don't believe it is true that any man who visits a prostitute is necessarily an evil bastard, who cannot have any good qualities at all, and therefore they must be divorced from their wives as soon as the wives can get their dicks - oops sorry, I meant of course, their ducks, in an orderly row. You have told us, that finding out your husband has been seeing one or more sex workers, is actually worse in your mind, than you finding out he was having an affair. I'm afraid that I don't understand your logic here at all OP? If, and I know it is a big IF, your husband has felt the need/desire to have sex with someone else - which could be for a variety of reasons, but - the usual and most basic one is often because the male of our species is genetically hot wired to wanting to spread their sperm to as many fertile woman as possible. Unfortunately, your husband appears to be one of those many weak minded men who can't resist such a basic urge, so him wanting to have sex with someone/anyone, yet choosing to pay for the services of a sex worker, is surely more acceptable to you than him having an affair with a particular woman, who he was attracted to, and then went on to fall in love with, and to then eventually realise that he prefers to be with her all of the time, rather than with you.

My ex/first husband preferred his slightly younger mistress to me, which was incredibly hurtful at the time, so I know from personal experience that if he had had occassional sex with a sex worker, I could have probably come to terms with that, especially if we subsequently went to see a marriage guidance counsellor, or a relationship therapist, together. In the pretend scenario here, the one where he has an actual affair, you don't get a chance to make a choice, to be able to consider how much you have loved him, and felt that he loved you, or how much of your life is entwined together with his, which is of course especially important as you have 2 young children together. You just don't get any choice in that scenario - I know this because it happened to me many years ago - in the pretend case, he has already fallen in love with someone else, and will end up leaving you, and will then probably have more children with Her. So I really don't understand why you think that having sex with a stranger they have paid for, is worse than him having sex with someone that he obviously finds attractive, and who he can tell all the problems to, including any he is having with you, he has probably even explained to her that you just don't understand him ...

Yes, it would be a much better, and nicer World, if we all fell in love with someone, and were then committed to that person - with no-one else ever even crossing our radar as a tiny blip - but we are human beings, not swans, and one of the things that we can definitely know about each other, is that as we are human beings, we are 'fickle'. 'Fickle' looks, and sounds, like such an innocuous word, but here is my favourite AI's explanation of it's meaning:

Fickle means changing often and suddenly, especially in a person's loyalty, affection, or opinions .....

So, unfortunately, it doesn't have an innocuous meaning at all, instead it is one word that probably sums up the human state, more than most other adjectives ever get close to doing.

All I am asking of you @mouseymouse123, is that you take your time when deciding what the best outcome would be for your darling children and you. I think that you absolutely need some trusted advice in real life, and speaking to a therapist who has no agenda whatsoever, other than to help you reach the best solution for both you and your children, is probably the best and safest route you can take for now. Please remember OP, that if you seperate, and get divorced as soon as possible, that is most likely to be how things will stay, whereas, if you take time to think about it yourself, and hopefully ask a professional for advice, you can still choose to change your mind, and split up at any time in the future. 🩷

Omg he’s been paying to stick his dick in women who spend their days allowing themselves to be abused by men, potentially passing on horrible life long illnesses to their unsuspecting wives and partners and you think some consideration should be given to understanding why they have done that. And he has the audacity to do it in the marital bed!! Complete and utter betrayal of his marriage and a total disregard for his children who love him. How any woman could allow a man to touch her again after he has done that is beyond me. And this is why men carry on with this vile behaviour because women with zero self respect put up with it. Divorce is not life ending for children, if the OP remains amicable as far as the children are concerned they will be fine. If one of her kids is a daughter what do you think she will think of her mother if she stays with her husband when he’s treated her like that. She will say well done mam for leaving him I’m proud of you.

If he wanted to shag prostitutes he should have left his marriage and then done so, he’ll keep doing it. He’s vile.

ErNo20 · 30/08/2026 11:23

bananaobama · 30/08/2026 10:54

Surely he’s not bringing his affair partner to your house!

I believe he's bringing prostitutes to the house.

TheThingOnTheIce · 30/08/2026 11:23

bananaobama · 30/08/2026 10:54

Surely he’s not bringing his affair partner to your house!

He’s bringing sex workers to the house by the looks of it

grinandslothit · 30/08/2026 13:52

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 30/08/2026 09:53

I know that most Mumsnetters will think I am stupid for posting this reply, but that doesn't really bother me as they don't know me personally, and are maybe too narrow minded in their own thinking.

@mouseymouse123 Why are you reacting to your new, so painfully found out knowledge, by immediately deciding to divorce your husband? I do hope it isn't just because too many readers of Mumnet seem to have become enthralled - in it's original meaning - by the domineering personallities of our more loquacious Mumsnetters; those who apparently have no tolerance of the failure of any individual man if he has been shown to not be perfect every single second, of every single day, in every single way? Oh okay, I am exaggerating a bit, but in some cases it won't be my much!

I don't believe it is true that any man who visits a prostitute is necessarily an evil bastard, who cannot have any good qualities at all, and therefore they must be divorced from their wives as soon as the wives can get their dicks - oops sorry, I meant of course, their ducks, in an orderly row. You have told us, that finding out your husband has been seeing one or more sex workers, is actually worse in your mind, than you finding out he was having an affair. I'm afraid that I don't understand your logic here at all OP? If, and I know it is a big IF, your husband has felt the need/desire to have sex with someone else - which could be for a variety of reasons, but - the usual and most basic one is often because the male of our species is genetically hot wired to wanting to spread their sperm to as many fertile woman as possible. Unfortunately, your husband appears to be one of those many weak minded men who can't resist such a basic urge, so him wanting to have sex with someone/anyone, yet choosing to pay for the services of a sex worker, is surely more acceptable to you than him having an affair with a particular woman, who he was attracted to, and then went on to fall in love with, and to then eventually realise that he prefers to be with her all of the time, rather than with you.

My ex/first husband preferred his slightly younger mistress to me, which was incredibly hurtful at the time, so I know from personal experience that if he had had occassional sex with a sex worker, I could have probably come to terms with that, especially if we subsequently went to see a marriage guidance counsellor, or a relationship therapist, together. In the pretend scenario here, the one where he has an actual affair, you don't get a chance to make a choice, to be able to consider how much you have loved him, and felt that he loved you, or how much of your life is entwined together with his, which is of course especially important as you have 2 young children together. You just don't get any choice in that scenario - I know this because it happened to me many years ago - in the pretend case, he has already fallen in love with someone else, and will end up leaving you, and will then probably have more children with Her. So I really don't understand why you think that having sex with a stranger they have paid for, is worse than him having sex with someone that he obviously finds attractive, and who he can tell all the problems to, including any he is having with you, he has probably even explained to her that you just don't understand him ...

Yes, it would be a much better, and nicer World, if we all fell in love with someone, and were then committed to that person - with no-one else ever even crossing our radar as a tiny blip - but we are human beings, not swans, and one of the things that we can definitely know about each other, is that as we are human beings, we are 'fickle'. 'Fickle' looks, and sounds, like such an innocuous word, but here is my favourite AI's explanation of it's meaning:

Fickle means changing often and suddenly, especially in a person's loyalty, affection, or opinions .....

So, unfortunately, it doesn't have an innocuous meaning at all, instead it is one word that probably sums up the human state, more than most other adjectives ever get close to doing.

All I am asking of you @mouseymouse123, is that you take your time when deciding what the best outcome would be for your darling children and you. I think that you absolutely need some trusted advice in real life, and speaking to a therapist who has no agenda whatsoever, other than to help you reach the best solution for both you and your children, is probably the best and safest route you can take for now. Please remember OP, that if you seperate, and get divorced as soon as possible, that is most likely to be how things will stay, whereas, if you take time to think about it yourself, and hopefully ask a professional for advice, you can still choose to change your mind, and split up at any time in the future. 🩷

Rubbish take

DaisyChain505 · 30/08/2026 15:32

@PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting

I pray that you’re able to work on your self esteem and self worth so that in the future you can see how low your bar is set when it comes to what you’re willing to accept from a man.

Your post was really sad to read and I can’t believe anyone would excuse that behaviour or accept it.

Iwillcomeouttheotherend · 30/08/2026 17:27

wildnwilde · 28/08/2026 20:24

It sounds like some sweaty cow is leaving clues around your home OP 👀

Possibly.
and if that is the case, I cannot imagine a paid sex worker would be bothered to do that.

Brainstorm23 · 30/08/2026 18:53

If he's on the mortgage along with you then you can't actually kick him out as he's as entitled to live there as you. So be prepared for him to turn back up and move into the spare room. You can't really stop him.

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 20:56

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 30/08/2026 09:53

I know that most Mumsnetters will think I am stupid for posting this reply, but that doesn't really bother me as they don't know me personally, and are maybe too narrow minded in their own thinking.

@mouseymouse123 Why are you reacting to your new, so painfully found out knowledge, by immediately deciding to divorce your husband? I do hope it isn't just because too many readers of Mumnet seem to have become enthralled - in it's original meaning - by the domineering personallities of our more loquacious Mumsnetters; those who apparently have no tolerance of the failure of any individual man if he has been shown to not be perfect every single second, of every single day, in every single way? Oh okay, I am exaggerating a bit, but in some cases it won't be my much!

I don't believe it is true that any man who visits a prostitute is necessarily an evil bastard, who cannot have any good qualities at all, and therefore they must be divorced from their wives as soon as the wives can get their dicks - oops sorry, I meant of course, their ducks, in an orderly row. You have told us, that finding out your husband has been seeing one or more sex workers, is actually worse in your mind, than you finding out he was having an affair. I'm afraid that I don't understand your logic here at all OP? If, and I know it is a big IF, your husband has felt the need/desire to have sex with someone else - which could be for a variety of reasons, but - the usual and most basic one is often because the male of our species is genetically hot wired to wanting to spread their sperm to as many fertile woman as possible. Unfortunately, your husband appears to be one of those many weak minded men who can't resist such a basic urge, so him wanting to have sex with someone/anyone, yet choosing to pay for the services of a sex worker, is surely more acceptable to you than him having an affair with a particular woman, who he was attracted to, and then went on to fall in love with, and to then eventually realise that he prefers to be with her all of the time, rather than with you.

My ex/first husband preferred his slightly younger mistress to me, which was incredibly hurtful at the time, so I know from personal experience that if he had had occassional sex with a sex worker, I could have probably come to terms with that, especially if we subsequently went to see a marriage guidance counsellor, or a relationship therapist, together. In the pretend scenario here, the one where he has an actual affair, you don't get a chance to make a choice, to be able to consider how much you have loved him, and felt that he loved you, or how much of your life is entwined together with his, which is of course especially important as you have 2 young children together. You just don't get any choice in that scenario - I know this because it happened to me many years ago - in the pretend case, he has already fallen in love with someone else, and will end up leaving you, and will then probably have more children with Her. So I really don't understand why you think that having sex with a stranger they have paid for, is worse than him having sex with someone that he obviously finds attractive, and who he can tell all the problems to, including any he is having with you, he has probably even explained to her that you just don't understand him ...

Yes, it would be a much better, and nicer World, if we all fell in love with someone, and were then committed to that person - with no-one else ever even crossing our radar as a tiny blip - but we are human beings, not swans, and one of the things that we can definitely know about each other, is that as we are human beings, we are 'fickle'. 'Fickle' looks, and sounds, like such an innocuous word, but here is my favourite AI's explanation of it's meaning:

Fickle means changing often and suddenly, especially in a person's loyalty, affection, or opinions .....

So, unfortunately, it doesn't have an innocuous meaning at all, instead it is one word that probably sums up the human state, more than most other adjectives ever get close to doing.

All I am asking of you @mouseymouse123, is that you take your time when deciding what the best outcome would be for your darling children and you. I think that you absolutely need some trusted advice in real life, and speaking to a therapist who has no agenda whatsoever, other than to help you reach the best solution for both you and your children, is probably the best and safest route you can take for now. Please remember OP, that if you seperate, and get divorced as soon as possible, that is most likely to be how things will stay, whereas, if you take time to think about it yourself, and hopefully ask a professional for advice, you can still choose to change your mind, and split up at any time in the future. 🩷

I can't help but think that, with a username like @PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting, you are intentionally goading people with unpopular opinions just for kicks. Cheating was always going to be a deal breaker for me as I would never be able to trust him again and I cannot live my life that way. I realise other people have different feelings about that but with the specific circumstances here, the extent of his deceit - it is utterly unforgivable.

OP posts:
YourHeartyFatball · 30/08/2026 21:08

That is utterly awful, OP. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 30/08/2026 21:13

@mouseymouse123

Thank you for coming back to your thread.

It can't be easy for you.

How are you feeling today ?

Idprefernotto · 30/08/2026 21:32

KatyaKanani · 29/08/2026 22:14

What did they do?

Apologies, I posted on the wrong thread and thought I'd successfully deleted this 😂 ...I'll see myself out

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 21:44

Thank you for asking @OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon I'm actually doing better than I expected I would. I'm trying very hard, and actually succeeding, to not dwell on what he has done - I'm sure this is not healthy (and it will all come out in future therapy sessions!) but it's what I need right now to be able to function. I am having very weepy moments but I've managed to start to organise things today and made a to do list for the week. I'm back with my kids and have asked him to stay away until my head is clearer. He is cooperating for the time being.

OP posts:
Ifeelold48 · 30/08/2026 21:45

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 21:44

Thank you for asking @OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon I'm actually doing better than I expected I would. I'm trying very hard, and actually succeeding, to not dwell on what he has done - I'm sure this is not healthy (and it will all come out in future therapy sessions!) but it's what I need right now to be able to function. I am having very weepy moments but I've managed to start to organise things today and made a to do list for the week. I'm back with my kids and have asked him to stay away until my head is clearer. He is cooperating for the time being.

Did you manage to book an STI test?

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 30/08/2026 21:47

Has he admitted to what you found out ?

Frillysweetpea · 30/08/2026 21:51

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 20:56

I can't help but think that, with a username like @PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting, you are intentionally goading people with unpopular opinions just for kicks. Cheating was always going to be a deal breaker for me as I would never be able to trust him again and I cannot live my life that way. I realise other people have different feelings about that but with the specific circumstances here, the extent of his deceit - it is utterly unforgivable.

Quite. I'm not sure why this poster thinks that objectifying women, buying them and treating them like a piece of meat is somehow less awful than having an affair.

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 21:52

Everything was shut today but planning to see GP on Tuesday for STI test and mental health.

I haven't spoken to him beyond necessary arrangements for kids, but he messaged sticking to the original line that it was just one time for a massage, and he has no idea about the nail.

OP posts:
Witchergeralt · 30/08/2026 22:04

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 21:52

Everything was shut today but planning to see GP on Tuesday for STI test and mental health.

I haven't spoken to him beyond necessary arrangements for kids, but he messaged sticking to the original line that it was just one time for a massage, and he has no idea about the nail.

Of course, you probably have the prostitutes number from the texts. If he's innocent he will let you text her and ask the question. You will then have a definitive answer one way or the other.

LIPFearFactor · 30/08/2026 22:04

mouseymouse123 · 30/08/2026 21:52

Everything was shut today but planning to see GP on Tuesday for STI test and mental health.

I haven't spoken to him beyond necessary arrangements for kids, but he messaged sticking to the original line that it was just one time for a massage, and he has no idea about the nail.

Just a massage my arse! Lying twunt.

Well done OP. Sounds like you are handling this as well as anyone could expect you to. Weepy moments, angry moments, dark moments, hopeless moments, strong moments and any other emotion are to be expected. Ride the waves. Something tells me that in a couple of years time you’ll be on here posting on some other betrayed woman’s thread, reassuring her that hard as it is, there are brighter times ahead.

Look after yourself and know that there are loads of us here rooting for you, wishing you well, sending you strength and praying he gets sucked into a massive sink hole.

LIPFearFactor · 30/08/2026 22:06

Witchergeralt · 30/08/2026 22:04

Of course, you probably have the prostitutes number from the texts. If he's innocent he will let you text her and ask the question. You will then have a definitive answer one way or the other.

Answer to what? He contacted a sex worker. If he wanted ‘just a massage’ he’d have contacted and massage therapist.

He’s lying. Obviously.

Witchergeralt · 30/08/2026 22:12

LIPFearFactor · 30/08/2026 22:06

Answer to what? He contacted a sex worker. If he wanted ‘just a massage’ he’d have contacted and massage therapist.

He’s lying. Obviously.

I think you're probably right but ... If there is even the faintest chance he is telling the truth shouldn't she find out before throwing away her marriage?

FunCrab · 30/08/2026 22:14

mouseymouse123 · 28/08/2026 21:30

Thank you all for the support, I truly appreciate it. I've made him leave and I'm an absolute wreck. My head is utter chaos, what the fuck do I do now? There is no way back from this. How do I deal with the short term? Any advice please? FYI we have two DDs (3 and 6). x

This all seems to be moving very fast. It would be useful to stop and think what is best for you and what is best for your children.
Making decisions without a full understanding of the situation maybe to hasty. I feel you need a full conversation with him to understand exactly what has gone on. He needs the opportunity to explain himself. If you had a friend in this situation what would you say to them? Some people here are calling him all sorts without that understanding from him of what has really gone on and why. I am not here to defend this but I do think a balanced discussion is needed as there are two children who are innocent of all of this involved.

moondip · 30/08/2026 22:40

Just remember he will tell you anything to try to keep you. Why would he need a massage from anywhere other than a regular spa…

moondip · 30/08/2026 22:42

And anyone saying to think of the children before making hasty decisions: how healthy is it for children to be living among conflict and a total lack of trust. I think OP mentioned she has girls, who of course she owes it to to show how women do and do not deserve to be treated in this world.

DinoDoughnut81 · 30/08/2026 22:45

FunCrab · 30/08/2026 22:14

This all seems to be moving very fast. It would be useful to stop and think what is best for you and what is best for your children.
Making decisions without a full understanding of the situation maybe to hasty. I feel you need a full conversation with him to understand exactly what has gone on. He needs the opportunity to explain himself. If you had a friend in this situation what would you say to them? Some people here are calling him all sorts without that understanding from him of what has really gone on and why. I am not here to defend this but I do think a balanced discussion is needed as there are two children who are innocent of all of this involved.

Really? OP found messages to sex workers. He will only admit to "massage and conversation" from one. What is she meant to understand exactly? How the massage was? Even if he was only massaged and conversed (unlikeliest thing ever) with a prostitute that would be enough for many people not to trust again. That's absolutely fair enough. I don't know what he would be explaining to be honest. How do you explain the unexplainable?
Why he did it? Who cares, it's wrong, he knows it and OP does too.

Itsasecretnow · 31/08/2026 00:07

Witchergeralt · 30/08/2026 22:04

Of course, you probably have the prostitutes number from the texts. If he's innocent he will let you text her and ask the question. You will then have a definitive answer one way or the other.

I think it highly unlikely that a sex worker is necessarily going to remember who he is, out of all the other men she sees, especially as op said it was back in January! And she’s likely to even less remember if that particular man just had a massage or sex (not that I think many sex workers just do massages anyway, so I don’t think it’s helpful to op) also don’t think they would even reply anyway.
OP, I wouldn’t advise taking this route. And I think it’s clear that you have already made your decision already, your boundaries have been trampled all over, so I can’t even imagine that would be something you’d even consider doing, as it just wouldn’t make any difference. If a man wants a massage he goes and gets a massage, he does t go to a sex worker. If he wants sex, he’ll go to a sex worker, it really is that simple. He hasn’t denied he went, he’s just lied about what he went there for. But I think it’s all irrelevant at this point now that op has made her decision.

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