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I think I’ve just caught my husband cheating

500 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:
Blondeshavemorefun · Today 15:03

CoffeeRevelsfan · Today 12:27

He’s sent me a message. He’s now saying that the became ‘pally’ a few months ago and she became his confidant. They have discussed personal stuff such as family members who have passed away this year and my gynae surgery. Apparently it’s all innocent and they are just friends.

why would he feel concealing a new found friendship at work with a female colleague who he’s now described as his confidant is acceptable?

If innocent why delete them

and chatting to her about huge personal intimate surgery over steps the line hugely

estrangedparents · Today 15:03

There seems to be a huge amount of jumping to conclusions here. Firstly, your partner is entitled to some degree of privacy, as are you, particularly concerning work messages. If you have no other reason to suspect him then I wouldn't immediately assume he was up to no good. It could be perfectly innocent, a bit of office banter. I suggest that you have an adult conversation with him about how you feel. If there are trust issues in the relationship then that's something you have to address before it becomes a major issue.

bigboykitty · Today 15:04

estrangedparents · Today 15:03

There seems to be a huge amount of jumping to conclusions here. Firstly, your partner is entitled to some degree of privacy, as are you, particularly concerning work messages. If you have no other reason to suspect him then I wouldn't immediately assume he was up to no good. It could be perfectly innocent, a bit of office banter. I suggest that you have an adult conversation with him about how you feel. If there are trust issues in the relationship then that's something you have to address before it becomes a major issue.

Ah welcome, OP's husband. Are you off shore yet?

Wentforyo · Today 15:08

bigboykitty · Today 15:04

Ah welcome, OP's husband. Are you off shore yet?

Whilst I may not agree entirely with @estrangedparents it struck me as a very balanced and thoughtful post that you decided to scorn (and ridiculously do that Mumsnet silliness of accusing someone of being the other person involved 🙄)

user1464187087 · Today 15:13

Wentforyo · Today 14:46

@Puzzledandpissedoff if you find yourself creating a fake Facebook profile to catch a partner out - it is dead in the water whatever you find out.

I totally agree. Why go to those lengths when he is clearly cheating anyway?

estrangedparents · Today 15:14

Wentforyo · Today 15:08

Whilst I may not agree entirely with @estrangedparents it struck me as a very balanced and thoughtful post that you decided to scorn (and ridiculously do that Mumsnet silliness of accusing someone of being the other person involved 🙄)

Yes, it is very silly and clearly I'm not. I'm simply advocating openness. If there is a trust issue then it's time for an adult conversation about it.

AmnesiacsDream · Today 15:18

So by his own admission (so far) he has a female friend at work who he talks about your gynea issues with and flirts with and is his confidant? Someone he has avoided mentioning and lied about her sex to you when you saw him texting? That sounds like an emotional affair.

Wentforyo · Today 15:19

user1464187087 · Today 15:13

I totally agree. Why go to those lengths when he is clearly cheating anyway?

Such a waste of time and energy. All for the “gotcha”

but it is over. If @Puzzledandpissedoff is doing this…. It has got seriously toxic and nasty and has been for some time

FlorenceLawrence · Today 15:19

"Openness" is a 2 way thing and the "D"H here has shown he is being anything but open.
You can't have an open adult conversation with someone who lied to your face yesterday, and then deleted the messages.

Piknik · Today 15:33

He has had almost 24 hours to strategise and has come up with the option that most assumes you are a fool... minimising.

What a pathetic and disappointing declaration. Does he think you're an actual idiot?

I would be replying along the lines of.

Unfortunately, your actions - panic/lies/message deletion/stonewalling do not align with your claims of 'innocent friendship'. I believe that this message you've now sent is your attempt to minimise a deeply inappropriate situation. The fact that you think admitting to an emotional affair and betraying my privacy is something i would be 'ok with' - shows how little you know me and how little you hold me in esteem.

I don't know if your relationship with Joanna is physical or if that is something you just were working towards, and to be honest the betrayal doesn't change as much as you think it does. As far as our marriage is concerned, you have broken the trust. It would be helpful to know if you have been physical if only so I know whether to arrange STD tests.

In the meantime, please give me the space I need to think about how I want to move forward.

Piknik · Today 15:35

estrangedparents · Today 15:03

There seems to be a huge amount of jumping to conclusions here. Firstly, your partner is entitled to some degree of privacy, as are you, particularly concerning work messages. If you have no other reason to suspect him then I wouldn't immediately assume he was up to no good. It could be perfectly innocent, a bit of office banter. I suggest that you have an adult conversation with him about how you feel. If there are trust issues in the relationship then that's something you have to address before it becomes a major issue.

erm... context?
Jumping out of his skin / deleting messages / lying about who he was talking to / admitting flirting / discussing OP's gynae issues

Just stop trying to be a 'cool wife'. Being ACTUALLY cool is about having self-respect and speaking up.

LivingwithHopenowandforever · Today 15:38

@CoffeeRevelsfan OP I was thinking maybe it’s time to put the fear of god into him. Tell him you are giving him 24 hours to tell the truth if not you will be going to his workplace telling his manager he has been having an affair with Joanne and they have been messaging using company apps. Point out to him that his Manager will start an investigation……..let’s see him sweat then. Remind him he has 24 hours to show you the extent of their conversation or he will be out of the house and out of a job!!!!!!!

outerspacepotato · Today 15:40

estrangedparents · Today 15:03

There seems to be a huge amount of jumping to conclusions here. Firstly, your partner is entitled to some degree of privacy, as are you, particularly concerning work messages. If you have no other reason to suspect him then I wouldn't immediately assume he was up to no good. It could be perfectly innocent, a bit of office banter. I suggest that you have an adult conversation with him about how you feel. If there are trust issues in the relationship then that's something you have to address before it becomes a major issue.

He had a mad overeaction if that was office banter. He even had a physical response to OP discovering a "bit of office banter". He jumped out of his skin and changed colour. You don't do that when your wife sees an innocent chat with a buddy from work. Then he lied about who it was from. Then he said it was flirty.

Office banter isn't confidential.

What he was working on isgetting into coworker's pants and he got busted. He knows it, OP knows it, Miss Joanna knows it, come on now.

BeckhamsBalls · Today 15:41

Textbook sorry, took me 9 months of being gaslighted between first message I accidentally saw and then real proof, gaslit the entire time, told me I was paranoid and psychotic, 22 years down the drain, you are right, trust your gut and get ducks in a row x

ZesKola · Today 15:42

CoffeeRevelsfan · Today 12:27

He’s sent me a message. He’s now saying that the became ‘pally’ a few months ago and she became his confidant. They have discussed personal stuff such as family members who have passed away this year and my gynae surgery. Apparently it’s all innocent and they are just friends.

why would he feel concealing a new found friendship at work with a female colleague who he’s now described as his confidant is acceptable?

He is still lying.

shuggles · Today 15:44

Wentforyo · Today 15:02

That doesn’t mean they were prostitutes @shuggles

@Wentforyo That doesn’t mean they were prostitutes

I think you are being a bit silly by splitting hairs. Sure, the person making the offer to sell sexual photographs or videos may not be the woman who made the material, but that's irrelevant to my point.

you speak on behalf of all men?

Yes.

Wentforyo · Today 15:46

shuggles · Today 15:44

@Wentforyo That doesn’t mean they were prostitutes

I think you are being a bit silly by splitting hairs. Sure, the person making the offer to sell sexual photographs or videos may not be the woman who made the material, but that's irrelevant to my point.

you speak on behalf of all men?

Yes.

You said you’d been contacted by prostitutes

You have not.

Beenwhereyouareagain · Today 15:46

estrangedparents · Today 15:03

There seems to be a huge amount of jumping to conclusions here. Firstly, your partner is entitled to some degree of privacy, as are you, particularly concerning work messages. If you have no other reason to suspect him then I wouldn't immediately assume he was up to no good. It could be perfectly innocent, a bit of office banter. I suggest that you have an adult conversation with him about how you feel. If there are trust issues in the relationship then that's something you have to address before it becomes a major issue.

Did you read the last update from @CoffeeRevelsfan? If you haven't, please see the quote below:

CoffeeRevelsfan · Today 12:27
"He’s sent me a message. He’s now saying that the became ‘pally’ a few months ago and she became his confidant. They have discussed personal stuff such as family members who have passed away this year and my gynae surgery. Apparently it’s all innocent and they are just friends.
why would he feel concealing a new found friendship at work with a female colleague who he’s now described as his confidant is acceptable?"

Any conclusions posters have reached are supported by the explanations OP's husband has offered a tiny bit at a time.

shuggles · Today 15:49

Wentforyo · Today 15:46

You said you’d been contacted by prostitutes

You have not.

As I explained, my point is that a sexual message online from a random woman is always tied to money. It could be an offer for sex, lewd photographs, or lewd videos (prostitution) or it could be a scam. The fact that the person contacting me may not be the prostitute in the photographs or videos is irrelevant.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make, and I strongly suspect that you don't know either.

Wentforyo · Today 15:52

shuggles · Today 15:49

As I explained, my point is that a sexual message online from a random woman is always tied to money. It could be an offer for sex, lewd photographs, or lewd videos (prostitution) or it could be a scam. The fact that the person contacting me may not be the prostitute in the photographs or videos is irrelevant.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make, and I strongly suspect that you don't know either.

You described the message sender as a prostitute because she was sending you videos and lewd messages.

Not necessarily.

Wentforyo · Today 15:53

shuggles · Today 15:49

As I explained, my point is that a sexual message online from a random woman is always tied to money. It could be an offer for sex, lewd photographs, or lewd videos (prostitution) or it could be a scam. The fact that the person contacting me may not be the prostitute in the photographs or videos is irrelevant.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make, and I strongly suspect that you don't know either.

Says the man who talks about men as “we are not stupid” like all men without exception aren’t stupid.

Another man who is on Mumsnet loads, no kids, no partner - and I just ask myself…. Why??

shuggles · Today 16:17

Wentforyo · Today 15:52

You described the message sender as a prostitute because she was sending you videos and lewd messages.

Not necessarily.

I don't understand what you're saying. Selling sexual photographs and videos is prostitution, by definition.

Wentforyo · Today 16:21

shuggles · Today 16:17

I don't understand what you're saying. Selling sexual photographs and videos is prostitution, by definition.

No @shuggles it is not

It is a woman sending naive men lewd messages and videos. They are not prostitutes.

secretmum41 · Today 16:24

He’s making it worse OP. He’s had time to think up what he feels is a plausible story. That’s all. It’s still lies. And his plausible story is actually even more vile - he’s told her about your most intimate, private health information. He has no clue at all. 🤯🤷‍♀️

user1464187087 · Today 16:25

LivingwithHopenowandforever · Today 15:38

@CoffeeRevelsfan OP I was thinking maybe it’s time to put the fear of god into him. Tell him you are giving him 24 hours to tell the truth if not you will be going to his workplace telling his manager he has been having an affair with Joanne and they have been messaging using company apps. Point out to him that his Manager will start an investigation……..let’s see him sweat then. Remind him he has 24 hours to show you the extent of their conversation or he will be out of the house and out of a job!!!!!!!

Ah a case of washing your dirty laundry in public.
I would absolutely not do that and i've seen it happen twice. It's never good.