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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:
ANNotherWriter · Yesterday 17:53

I'd be tempted to say 'Ok, darling, sorry, I believe you,' then watch his behaviour like a hawk, do some digging unknown to him, let him think you are no longer suspicious and wait for his next mistake. Be super-nice and you will catch him off guard. He'll make another mistake for sure if something is going on.

Calliopespa · Yesterday 17:55

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.

He ‘knew how you’d react’? To a work message with a colleague?

This stuck out to me too OP. I'm so sorry you are going through this.

GenEx · Yesterday 17:57

Trouble is it could well be only just flirting, which isn’t good and he’ll be mortified, but it means there’s nothing to find, yet you’re left imagining the worst.

MaggieGlover · Yesterday 17:58

Sorry this is happening op.now that he’s no longer ‘panicked’ would he agree to hand his phone over? Immediately without time to delete more stuff. If its just teams that’s one thing but if ithey have met in person/gone further it will likely be on his phone.

wifty · Yesterday 17:58

not sure if anyone has already said but it’s really hard to permanently delete Teams messages - I had it in a job previously where I deleted a chat but then when I went to message them again, the old chat appeared. Also on a laptop, you can press ‘undo’ on the message when it displayed ‘This message was deleted’ - perhaps worth a check?

So sorry OP but the lack of mentioning is equally crap as mentionitis xx

Calliopespa · Yesterday 17:59

Keroppi · Yesterday 17:24

Well you either blow up and demand to see the conversations and threaten him if not. Marriage counselling and open access to all his devices at all times

Tell him you will just find Joanna yourself and ask. She will be easily googlable with his company on their website or LinkedIn or his socials

Or say OK I believe you and then lay low for a few weeks (get all financial info together just in case you need to divorce) and then once he thinks he's pulled the wool over your eyes, you search his phone, laptop etc for conversations

Or say OK I believe you and never fully trust him again but lay it to one side because staying together suits you for now.

Tell him you will just find Joanna yourself and ask.

Or don't tell him this and just do it. no point giving them a heads-up as it will only make your job harder. I suspect they'll be on their guard for a week or three now.

It is possible Op that it is nothing too lurid in reality, but his reaction makes me think he'd like it to be ...

summitfever · Yesterday 18:00

I’m starting to wonder if anyone that claims to be married to a great guy is either lying or delusional. Sorry op, this must suck. But it’s not surprising. 🫩

TiredMummma · Yesterday 18:00

He has clearly cheated on you. You can get deleted messages back on Microsoft teams so why doesn’t he get them back? (Although I’m not sure why if you were on teams you would be messaging!) I would not trust him, especially with his reaction. An awful gut punch when you think you know someone - I am
sorry!

Yupstillhere · Yesterday 18:01

No words of advice, just to say that's bollocks and I would be gutted..I hope you figure out what was going on with proof. Xx

PopcornKitten · Yesterday 18:01

at last he has started to be honest, OP. I’m sorry.
People are saying that there is a restore function on teams. If this is the case then I would be asking to see. He has told you his version ‘could be construed’ so now he can show you.
I agree that you also need to say calmly how sad and worried about your marriage you are and how is he going to reassure you. Obviously access to the messages is a big part of that.
I would want to know how he is contacting her etc. Is it just teams?
plenty of people message work colleagues without behaving like this so what is it about Joanna?
only when you know a fuller picture can you decide how to proceed.
if he’s unwilling to attempt to reassure you then I would be asking him to stay elsewhere.

Calliopespa · Yesterday 18:02

Johnogroats · Yesterday 17:35

People are really fucking stupid. I did investigations at a big corporate for 10 years…. Not saying I’ve seen it all, but I’ve seen plenty to know that some people don’t think with their heads.

Sidelining but what was the juiciest? (approximately obviously, not verbatim ..)

Megifer · Yesterday 18:02

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 17:48

im back home, he’s pulling the woe is me face. He again told me there was absolutely nothing going on and he has no idea why he reacted like that. I continued to press him for what caused his reaction and why Neil from work was actually Joanna. He has eventually admitted the messages were of a nature that could be “construed” as flirting, and has admitted he has deleted them as “he panicked”. I am furious and gutted all at once, the main stab in the heart is his refusal and reluctance to prove he was anything other than guilty. Really don’t know where I go from here.

He can get restore the messages today.

If he refuses, that tells you everything you need to know.

Runningfrommyproblems · Yesterday 18:03

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 17:48

im back home, he’s pulling the woe is me face. He again told me there was absolutely nothing going on and he has no idea why he reacted like that. I continued to press him for what caused his reaction and why Neil from work was actually Joanna. He has eventually admitted the messages were of a nature that could be “construed” as flirting, and has admitted he has deleted them as “he panicked”. I am furious and gutted all at once, the main stab in the heart is his refusal and reluctance to prove he was anything other than guilty. Really don’t know where I go from here.

Demand that he undos the deleted messages. As others have mentioned, this should be possible within 24 hours of deleting.
You’ve been together 15 years, you have every right to get the proof and reassurance that it is nothing more than what he is claiming. Which is already completely unacceptable.

Rooroobear · Yesterday 18:04

Yuk, what a pos!! I’m sure over the next couple of days you’re going to get drip fed! Be prepared

RappelChoan · Yesterday 18:04

I’m so sorry OP. My advice is, to protect your sanity, and your future, don’t bother with an inquest. Reality is, he can’t be trusted, he has lied to you. I speak from experience. Put yourself and any children first, and him so far beyond last you can’t even see him.

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 18:04

He’s refusing to restore them by saying they can’t be restored.

OP posts:
Freeme31 · Yesterday 18:04

I would ask him to leave the house tonight and give you time to think. He has been caught, is he out often ? Ask him to retrieve messages on his phone and work devices. Tell him it’ll a deal breaker that he is honest and to go away until he can tell the truth.

Rooroobear · Yesterday 18:04

Because he doesn’t want you to see. Because it’s more than flirting!! Otherwise why wouldn’t he try

ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 18:05

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 17:48

im back home, he’s pulling the woe is me face. He again told me there was absolutely nothing going on and he has no idea why he reacted like that. I continued to press him for what caused his reaction and why Neil from work was actually Joanna. He has eventually admitted the messages were of a nature that could be “construed” as flirting, and has admitted he has deleted them as “he panicked”. I am furious and gutted all at once, the main stab in the heart is his refusal and reluctance to prove he was anything other than guilty. Really don’t know where I go from here.

You go into the spare room while you decide what you want to do and you get yourself tested for STD’s. Let him know in no uncertain terms that you consider his actions marriage ending. Of course he knows why he reacted like that, don’t let him try to convince you otherwise. He was clearly flustered and if it was only that those messages could have been construed as flirty, as he says, he would have had no hesitation in showing them to you and putting your mind at rest. By deleting them he’s effectively removed that option and now you have to try on him being honest. He needs to know he’s fucked up badly.

Megifer · Yesterday 18:05

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 18:04

He’s refusing to restore them by saying they can’t be restored.

He can show you the chat then cant he? If they cant be restored there wont be an option there.

mtobrokeme · Yesterday 18:05

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...

We don’t have any IT department or HR where I work and we’re not a small company! Our profits run into the millions each year!

Journey1234 · Yesterday 18:05

@CoffeeRevelsfan he must show you or it’s over….. once you have read them you will be able to make a decision on whether or not this is forgivable.

bellhawk · Yesterday 18:06

It is possible to undelete Teams messages. He should do this and show you them, then you can both discuss how to move forward. It would be interesting if he had some long term intentions behind flirting with the woman from work - if he hoped it would go somewhere.

Summerunlover · Yesterday 18:07

Tell him if he doesn’t restore them you will contact Joanna yourself

Dontbesonosy · Yesterday 18:07

Whatever the messages were, his reaction shows that he knew he shouldn’t have been doing whatever it was. And his instinct was to lie.
He needs a big shock OP, if you’re strong enough.