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

658 replies

CoffeeRevelsfan · 14/09/2026 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:
YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 16:26

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/09/2026 16:17

OK OP, here’s what I would do.

Ask if you can talk to her on Teams again.

Ask her - while pretending to be your DH - if she can send over a screenshot of their conversation to prove that it’s entirely innocent.

Because there’s no reason for her to have deleted it.

If she supplies it right away and it’s innocent, then great.

If she stalls or says she’s deleted it too, then you know they’re lying and in cahoots.

We all think it’s the latter, but this is how you prove it one way or the other.

Why should this woman have to send over screenshots of the conversation that he deleted. He's the issue here. I don't think pretending to be him is the best idea either. He's already lying. That much was obvious when he was in such a hurry to delete the conversation

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 16:27

AI41 · 16/09/2026 16:24

This is an excellent idea.

It's a crap idea. The pretending to be him is ridiculous.

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 16:33

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 16:01

Sorry OP but like many others I think Joanna has had a tip off and so knew exactly what to say when your H (EVENTUALLY) has let you message her.
He now knows to hide things more carefully from you so be extra alert.
On the other hand it may have scared the hell out of him and bring him to his senses …. sadly I doubt it - he will just get craftier.
He must stop all messages and phone calls with her unless absolutely necessary for work and you need to have access to his phone etc at all times (yes it’s crossing his boundaries but hey he’s behaving VERY suspiciously).
ps I bet Joanna aka Neil isn’t the woman awaiting retirement!!

If you need to have access to someones phone at all times something is very wrong.

Dered · 16/09/2026 16:34

Thank you for keeping us updated . I hope you're feeling less anxious and sick . Sounds to me like you have found your brave pants
Your story will have resonated with many on MN
KEEP TRUSTING YOUR GUT FEELINGS
and keep checking in on here . Thinking of you

MarilynMerlot · 16/09/2026 16:39

Agree with PPs he’s tipped her off. The bullshit flags are waving high from the walls.

CoffeeRevelsfan · 16/09/2026 16:50

I definitely don’t want to have access to his phone/laptop at all times. I’ve never once felt that I needed to access his phone previously, and I won’t be messaging her on teams again either. I just wanted to gauge her responses. He wasn’t calm and collected when he uploaded teams, he didn’t know I was going to message her - I didn’t until I saw her name and clicked on her.

i genuinely don’t know what to think of it all now. His initial reaction was so over the top and I have never had any issues with female friends previously so it’s not as if I’ve got form for not liking it and he’d want to conceal it from because of that. I know I need space right now, I need time to think.

OP posts:
user1471600850 · 16/09/2026 16:51

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 16/09/2026 16:25

What a stupid shit comment

Absolutely bang on - stupid comment!!!

pinkyredrose · 16/09/2026 16:52

CoffeeRevelsfan · 16/09/2026 14:00

We talked, he told me again there is nothing underhand going on and he doesn’t know why he reacted the way he did, he panicked and it was a knee jerk reaction. He did eventually load up teams on his laptop after me repeatedly asking him too and sure enough the chat thread with her was gone. I clicked in the search bar and hers was the first name to appear and she just happened to be on line, so I messaged her whilst he watching, I pretended to be him and sent a chatty “hey, how are you”. “You’re working late” her replies were very inconspicuous and nothing note worthy. I then pushed a bit further and said “I’d caused a bit of an issue for us” and explained what had happened as if it was him telling the story. She replied with “oh why would you say it was Neil”. And “I would be really unhappy if (her DH) deleted the chat”.

so, I don’t think there is anything affair wise going on, but I do think he’s formed a relationship/friendship that he knows I would be uncomfortable with due to topics discussed. I cannot get my head around his reaction and why he wouldn’t have mentioned her in all those months. Friendships are absolutely fine. Secret friendships where you are close enough to confide in each other, and keep deliberately concealed from your wife are not fine.

He's obviously tipped her off.

user1471600850 · 16/09/2026 16:56

GeorginaWilby · 16/09/2026 16:25

OP, I'd leave my husband of 40+ year if he treated me, and my business associates as you have done. I can't imagine him demanding my phone or laptop to search for potential affairs. I'd have felt this way decades ago as well, so it's not just my old age talking. As far as I'm concerned the trust is gone, and I'd be just a closely monitored & controlled prisoner.

Another stupid shit comment - she's lost the trust in him not the other way round! He's the one that acted guilty and deleted messages but she's the one out of order - get a grip!

LiuBei · 16/09/2026 17:01

user427654 · 16/09/2026 15:47

Ooh, a little victim blaming. Excellent. Whether he's cheating or not, the assumption must be that you caused it, OP.

FFS

I mean, I specifically said I'm not saying this is definitely the case about OP.

Is your position that we should assume literally every poster is an angel? The most helpful input I've received from my friends hasn't assumed that I'm definitely 100% blameless.

AlwaysExtraHot · 16/09/2026 17:10

justthecat · 15/09/2026 12:33

Even if that is true he shouldn’t be discussing his wife’s gynae issues with a co worker

Yes, this is unacceptable.
I can't imagine my DP (male) doing that.

Sodthesystem · 16/09/2026 17:12

I mean best case scenario, he’s not cheating but he clearly thinks whatever he is doing is wrong. Eg, sharing information he has no right to share. Or, playing the woe is me act in the hopes she will have an affair with him.

Worst case scenario, she’s been prepped and already knows it’s you.

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 17:17

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 16:33

If you need to have access to someones phone at all times something is very wrong.

I disagree H and I use each others phones quite often and never give it a second thought.
However if he started hiding his phone or got a new secret pass code I would be very suspicious and you’re right something would be wrong - and wouldn’t he know it!

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 17:24

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 17:17

I disagree H and I use each others phones quite often and never give it a second thought.
However if he started hiding his phone or got a new secret pass code I would be very suspicious and you’re right something would be wrong - and wouldn’t he know it!

I think the previous poster meant have access because the trust is gone

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 17:25

CoffeeRevelsfan · 16/09/2026 16:50

I definitely don’t want to have access to his phone/laptop at all times. I’ve never once felt that I needed to access his phone previously, and I won’t be messaging her on teams again either. I just wanted to gauge her responses. He wasn’t calm and collected when he uploaded teams, he didn’t know I was going to message her - I didn’t until I saw her name and clicked on her.

i genuinely don’t know what to think of it all now. His initial reaction was so over the top and I have never had any issues with female friends previously so it’s not as if I’ve got form for not liking it and he’d want to conceal it from because of that. I know I need space right now, I need time to think.

The biggest issue for me is that you had no idea this woman existed until a few days ago

NortieTortie · 16/09/2026 17:31

I mean, now you've messaged her anyway.. can he not just go back to colleague on teams and say 'yeah, it was a stupid move on my part. I'm really sorry to get you involved but would you mind sending screenshots over of the previous conversation so I can put her mind at ease?'

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 17:33

CoffeeRevelsfan · 16/09/2026 16:20

I definitely do not make a big deal out of everything- I am quite a calm, rational person. Nothing about his initial reaction was calm and reasonable. It made me anxious and suspicious

You come across as very sensible OP - you just need to give yourself time to process everything. Don’t feel bad or guilty - you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, remember that.
Sending best wishes for an outcome that suits you best.

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 17:36

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 17:24

I think the previous poster meant have access because the trust is gone

I know that but I’m pointing out why have ‘secret’ phones or devices in the first places?? I honestly don’t get it.

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 17:44

Horses7 · 16/09/2026 17:36

I know that but I’m pointing out why have ‘secret’ phones or devices in the first places?? I honestly don’t get it.

When I was in a long term relationship my bf didn't have access to my phone. Its mine. He didn't have one. He was the cheat. I personally don't want someone looking through my phone history. It's private

Piknik · 16/09/2026 18:27

Op - well done for tacking head on.

I am afraid I agree that she was tipped off and probably thought it was your H typing but that you were standing next to him watching.

Only you can decide where you go from here. Good luck

Joliefolie · 16/09/2026 18:29

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 09:30

Yet more scenarios. You don't know they've not been intimate for a long time

It's not at all about whether they have or have not. It's about what is so, so often said in these situations by the DH. Situations when someone is confiding in someone like this, a confidence they deliberately hide from their spouse, make up lies about and delete the messages because - in his head - they could be construed as flirtatious. It's entirely possible that the confidante doesn't see them as flirtatious at all because she's not in the same mindset as the DH. But the DH does and from his perspective they needed deleting. But this is then turned on the spouse - it's the wife who's the one in fantasty land of course...

YourGoldLurker · 16/09/2026 18:35

Joliefolie · 16/09/2026 18:29

It's not at all about whether they have or have not. It's about what is so, so often said in these situations by the DH. Situations when someone is confiding in someone like this, a confidence they deliberately hide from their spouse, make up lies about and delete the messages because - in his head - they could be construed as flirtatious. It's entirely possible that the confidante doesn't see them as flirtatious at all because she's not in the same mindset as the DH. But the DH does and from his perspective they needed deleting. But this is then turned on the spouse - it's the wife who's the one in fantasty land of course...

Im not turning on her at all. I just don't think people making up scenarios of why he's doing this is helpful

Joliefolie · 16/09/2026 18:38

I didn't mean you were turning it on the OP. The person who thinks it could be construed as flirtatious (because that is what they've been thinking about), turns it on the spouse - you might have seen them as flirtatious because you are paranoid/jealous/dramatic etc. etc.

TheBlueKoala · 16/09/2026 19:11

@CoffeeRevelsfan Noone can KNOW if he has tipped her off. But it's good that you have the possibility in mind so you don't get played. It might be "innocent" as in flirtatious but it's impossible to know since the twat deleted it all. Whatever you do don't rush things. You don't have to decide right know what to think or feel.

secretmum41 · 16/09/2026 19:19

I too think he’s definitely tipped her off. They are both playing you. Your trust will never be the same towards your dh, only you can decide if you can live like that.