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

I think I’ve just caught my husband cheating

538 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:
mtobrokeme · Today 20:50

ProudOpalRobin · Today 17:03

Might just be a “work wife” scenario and he got embarrassed, doubt he would be able to do anything explicit on teams in a work environment.

There is no such thing as a work wife. Show me a woman who calls herself a work wife and I’ll show you an attention seeking woman who wants to shag someone else’s husband. Work wife?! Work embarrassment more like.

Gobbledegoo · Today 20:56

My (D)H used to wear jeans and jumper when he went to his hobby. After a while my friend noticed he was dressing in a pressed shirt and good casual trousers, I didn't pick it up until he came in smelling of perfume, right down to his skin!

B9waiting · Today 20:57

mtobrokeme · Today 20:50

There is no such thing as a work wife. Show me a woman who calls herself a work wife and I’ll show you an attention seeking woman who wants to shag someone else’s husband. Work wife?! Work embarrassment more like.

I agree! I don’t know any self respecting person who calls themselves work wife / husband.

hourglass2 · Today 21:13

mtobrokeme · Today 20:50

There is no such thing as a work wife. Show me a woman who calls herself a work wife and I’ll show you an attention seeking woman who wants to shag someone else’s husband. Work wife?! Work embarrassment more like.

Well said....couldn't have put it better myself

Horses7 · Today 21:13

rainbowstardrops · Today 18:38

‘Work wife’ ffs.

Agree!
Can we all at MN expunge the term work-wife from our vocabulary? It’s derogatory to all concerned.
Sorry OP don’t mean to derail but Jeez it’s the 21 century!

CamillaMcCauley · Today 21:17

mtobrokeme · Today 20:50

There is no such thing as a work wife. Show me a woman who calls herself a work wife and I’ll show you an attention seeking woman who wants to shag someone else’s husband. Work wife?! Work embarrassment more like.

Agreed. A colleague who I worked fairly closely with once referred to me as his “work wife” and I was so fucking mortified. I was notably cool towards him for the rest of our working relationship.

k1233 · Today 21:25

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?

I'd be responding "wow, you've had Xhrs and that's the best you can come up with?"

SoggyTissue · Today 21:30

ThreadGuardDog · Today 13:30

He can’t do that unless he’s admin himself - otherwise he’d have to go through work and it’s only possible if the company have enabled retention protocols. Once the restore banner disappears the messages have gone. IT admin can restore them but they can’t be put back into the chat - they’re stored as PDF or similar for record keeping or investigations.

Joanna could share screenshots though.... mortifying to ask but I would to save my marriage x

Alittlefrustrated · Today 21:36

He can confide that he needs somewhere to live.

CollieBorders · Today 21:36

In my opinion, he would only have got onto the topic with her of your gynaecological issues for one of three possible reasons:

  1. She mentioned that she had a similar gynae issue to you, and she was sympathising with you having had a similar thing, and offering advice.
    I’m afraid this is probably not the case though, because surely then he would have told you something like “oh Joanna at work also had a hysterectomy/ fibroids / (whatever) and she mentioned some great advice about recovery time.”
    NB This would still be out of order of him, as he shouldn’t be discussing your personal health with other people without your permission!

  2. He has been flirting with her, and as part of this flirting he has been hinting to her about wanting sex because he’s not been getting it from you because of your gynaecological issue. Pathetic of him.

  3. He is being flirty and sleazy with her at work and looking for any excuse to get onto the topic of vaginas, especially her vagina, so he segwayed in by talking about your gynae issue. Pathetic and sleazy of him.

I’m so sorry, OP. It feels like a real breach of trust as to why he has discussed your intimate health with this woman. Especially in the light of him admitting that their chats could be construed as flirty. Have you asked him yet why on earth he told her about your health issue?

ThePoetsWife · Today 21:48

Why is talking about your privates could be seen as flirting??!

not believing any of his BS - sorry OP

ThisTealViewer · Today 21:50

Catching suspicious messages and secretive behavior right after a sudden distraction is a huge red flag. Leaving the house to clear your head in that moment makes complete sense.

WiddlinDiddlin · Today 21:59

He's totally following the script - act hurt, he's the victim, you've over reacted, he didn't tell you anything/be honest because he KNEW you'd react badly so thats all your fault...

Admit the bare minimum possible at every turn - so no its not a woman its a man... oh ok yes it is a woman but it could just be construed as flirty... ok yes it is a woman and she's my confidante and we've discussed personal stuff...

He's a liar, he's behaving in a way he KNOWS would hurt you and at that point it is irrelevant if he has shagged her, is planning on shagging her or is just investing in a personal relationship behind your back... he's behaved in a way that he knows would be a dealbreaker for you on your relationship with him, and he is not interested in fixing it, just in avoiding any fall-out.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread