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I think I’ve just caught my husband cheating

471 replies

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 16:00

DH is working from home and I was doing the housework, I walked upstairs as a jet went over the house so it was really loud. We don’t live on a flight path so it was unusual. I went into his office and he literally jumped out of his skin and pressed the X to hide a teams message on screen. I asked about the jet just as another message popped up on teams from a woman called Joanna - he scrabbled to press the X again as fast as possible and was as red as a beetroot. The message said “yeah, it looked better in my head hahaha”.

His whole demeanour had changed and looked hugely guilty and caught out. I asked who he was messaging to which he said no one, i again asked who it was and he said a man from work - i told him i saw it was from a woman called Joanna. I asked why he was acting like this and looking so guilty and lying - he said it’s because he knew how I’d react. I am well aware he works in a mixed team and have never taken any issue to him having work conversations with other women so this is completely gas lighting on his part. I told him this was bull shit and to bring up the messages, he refused. I asked again and he locked his screen then picked up his mobile - he has teams on his phone so I am assuming he was deleting the messages. I asked if that’s what he was doing and he dug his heels in and shouted that there is nothing going on. I told him to prove it by showing the messages, he repeatedly refused and told me no as he didn’t feel he should have to prove himself, and then wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

if that was me and the conversation was innocent, I’d have brought up the messages and demanded an apology. Everything about him screamed red flag during that situation.

ive left the house and am currently in my car in a park, shaking and feeling sick. There surely can’t be any other explanation for his reaction and refusal to prove himself innocent?

we’ve never been in a situation like this, I’ve not had any cause to doubt him in the past. Been together for 15years.

OP posts:
CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 16:01

The message itself could be read as quite innocent, but his reaction tells me otherwise.

OP posts:
TFImBackIn · Yesterday 16:04

He's certainly guilty of something. Has he had mentionitis before this, where he's talked about someone at work? It's quite common for them to stop talking about them after the initial period.

1983Louise · Yesterday 16:04

Oh dear, I'm so sorry, can you call his bluff and say no problem you'll contact Joanna directly. At least you know her name, I'm sure someone will be on soon with better advice x

hotmumshit · Yesterday 16:06

I would suspect the worst op, sorry.

How is your relationship otherwise? How is life?

The deleting of the messages, I couldnt come back from as I just wouldnt believe him trying to explain them away.

Xx

Lmnop22 · Yesterday 16:08

I’m sorry but his reaction, frantic closing down of the window, the content of the message you did see, the lying that it was a man, the refusal to show you the thread and the immediate DARVO gaslighting of “how dare you not trust me” are all pointing firmly towards him cheating or at very least having an inappropriate conversation for a married man with a work colleague.

I would talk to someone about this in real life and absolutely do not succumb to his suggestions that it’s your fault for “sneaking up on him” or “being nosy” or “not trusting him” because it’s a classic deflection tactic designed to shift the blameworthy behaviour from him to you.

Take some time, gather your thoughts and then do what you need to do.

Om83 · Yesterday 16:09

I’m with you, definitely sounds dodgy- just from his reaction. If he has not been doing anything wrong then why the massive secretive over reaction?

Unless, optimistically do you have some big birthday that he is getting help to plan a surprise?!?

I would sit him down and tell him trust is losses hanging by a thread. Give him another opportunity to come clean and show you or you’ll have to take time to consider your next steps. If he has deleted everything then I don’t think I’d accept whatever his excuse is.

Comeonbabylightmyaga · Yesterday 16:12

I wouldn’t let my husband read my work teams messages but I also wouldn’t react like that to any work messages.

I would think the same as you. How’s everything else?

Imdonehere · Yesterday 16:14

Well that reaction was complete and utter guilt.

runnerducky · Yesterday 16:18

Textbook response. Turning it round onto you. He ‘knew how you’d react’? To a work message with a colleague? Bullshit. I’ve never had to hastily shut down a Teams chat with any of my male colleagues because my husband had entered the room. Why would I? We are talking about work or just small talk.

Sorry, OP, but if he’s deleting messages and reacting like this then you have your answer. I don’t think there’s any coming back from deleted messages as clearly there has been inappropriate stuff in them.

Megifer · Yesterday 16:20

Yep, hes definitely up to something with Joanna. Otherwise hed show you the messages as hed then be able to legitimately kick off about you not trusting him etc.

Sensiblesal · Yesterday 16:20

I’m sorry but you have no right to see his work teams messages. Literally he will have a policy at work saying this.

I mean you have clearly caught him flirting but who knows if its more.

You have to decide if you trust him. You can’t demand to see his work stuff

Megifer · Yesterday 16:22

Sensiblesal · Yesterday 16:20

I’m sorry but you have no right to see his work teams messages. Literally he will have a policy at work saying this.

I mean you have clearly caught him flirting but who knows if its more.

You have to decide if you trust him. You can’t demand to see his work stuff

Unless he is a top secret agent it would be absolutely fine for him to show op a couple of messages.

Particularly as no one would find out.

thegrumblingkitten · Yesterday 16:23

His behaviour told you everything you need to know ... he's behaving inappropriately with another woman. Whether or not it's progressed to sex is irrelevant if he's emotionally invested in another woman.

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 16:24

His reaction was so completely over the top for an innocent conversation with a female colleague.

he talks a lot about work and I know some of his colleagues, but he’s never mentioned a Joanna. As I said, the message on its own is just a chatty message, but his reaction tells a
very different story.

OP posts:
1983Louise · Yesterday 16:26

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 16:24

His reaction was so completely over the top for an innocent conversation with a female colleague.

he talks a lot about work and I know some of his colleagues, but he’s never mentioned a Joanna. As I said, the message on its own is just a chatty message, but his reaction tells a
very different story.

Always trust your gut and first reaction to something x

DistantConstellation · Yesterday 16:31

Do people really do flirty / affair talk chat on a work Teams chat?
Bet IT love checking the records on those...

Laiste · Yesterday 16:34

Trust your gut.

He'll have deleted everything by now.

Calm down. Go home. Tell him that you don't believe him. Calmly. Tell him he needs to prove you're wrong.
Or he needs to leave.

Seriously.

Warmlight1 · Yesterday 16:34

It's possible that he' s indulging in banter or flirting that might look damning. That could be happening with nothing else happening.
Or it could be more.

LittleRedYoshi · Yesterday 16:34

I’d tell him that in the absence of any other believable explanation, you have no choice but to assume the worst. The only reason for him to delete the messages is if they actually confirm that. Sorry, OP.

LittleRedYoshi · Yesterday 16:38

By the way - it might be that different organisations have different configurations, but where I work, you can’t actually properly delete Teams messages: they just get hidden, with a little Restore button (but if Joanna also deleted her messages, only she could restore those)

IronEverything · Yesterday 16:44

He's about as textbook as they come. I imagine he's currently deleting everything he can, so unless he comes clean you'll have a tough time finding out the truth.

WhereYouLeftIt · Yesterday 16:45

Trust your gut.

I can't think of any other reason for his behaviour, and I can usually think of half a dozen reasons at least for any given scenario. Not this time. ((hug))

FlorenceLawrence · Yesterday 16:46

Do you even need to see the messages? I don't think a bloke involved with innocent banter with a colleague would react like that.

HollaHolla · Yesterday 16:49

I'd agree - It's his reactions which are the issue here, I'd say. I work in a mixed team, and have a couple of male pals in the team, who I might have a jokey chat with (music, movies, grabbing a coffee, etc.) BUT never flirty.... Apart from anything, it could potentially lead to disciplinary action....

In relation to your marriage.. sorry, it sounds suspicious. You should not have to leave your home, though, OP. Can you go back, and either ask him to prove the messages; or go sleep/sit in another room, until he shows you?

ginasevern · Yesterday 16:50

That's pretty much what happened with my DH of 26 years. I came home unexpectedly. He shut down all comms, went bright red and flustered - which wasn't his style at all. I never thought in a million years he'd cheat. My legs nearly gave way from under me with the shock. So yeah, it's textbook I'm afraid OP. I'm really sorry. Look after yourself and don't believe a single word he says because he will read you "the script" for sure.