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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:
ohnowhat · Yesterday 18:41

It may be flirtatious chat (for now) and nothing more.
Things don't usually leap to full blown affair, they start with just clicking and having a bit of fun chat. Not sexual (at first).
However, depends how far it has gone.

time4anothername · Yesterday 18:44

he's really stupid to be doing this on work teams. It could get him sacked. Does he understand that DMs on Teams are not actually private? Any complaints and IT can access them.

bellhawk · Yesterday 18:44

He really should be telling you the exact content, full transparency not a 'sugar coated' version. Then staying elsewhere for the night.

Contain4 · Yesterday 18:44

You don’t know he’s cheating.

But you do know that he now knows you’re suspicious.

For the next few days he’s going to be very careful.
If he is cheating, he will eventually get sloppy again.

If it was me, I would act completely normal and carry on as before.
But I would be keeping it in the back of my mind and seeing if there are any other red flags.

PinkyFlamingo · Yesterday 18:46

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.

Jesus what a charmer. Don't let him gaslight you whatever you do, the longer he has the longer he has to make up lies and nonsense.

HenriettaG · Yesterday 18:49

You’ve definitely caught him at something - whether that is cheating or not. Has he mentioned her before? They all do - usually but making out that they don’t like them/ or they’re pretty non existent in their eyes. Cheating men are eerily similar.

powersthatbe · Yesterday 18:49

I would let him know how much damage his actions have caused. He has admitted flirting and says he can’t restore the messages so tell him you would like reassurance by looking at his phone to establish there’s nothing more going on. If he has nothing to hide he should have no problem with resolving the potential crisis he has brought about.

SereneFinch · Yesterday 18:50

My gut instinct is that he was flirting and trying to chat her up. And that would be mortifying for him for you to read that, let alone the infidelity aspect.

I don’t know what you should do. Would you be able to forgive him if it was just that?

Walkerzoo · Yesterday 18:51

Maybe remind him that on a works computer they can track all messages including teams

Also she may make a complaint that she is being harassed....

Them see his face

Releasemeplease · Yesterday 18:52

FancyKitten · Yesterday 18:38

Probably nothing going on… It’s usually the guy that starts these flirty emails, texts etc with (younger) female colleagues. Often such women just play along as the men are more powerful, senior than her. I had it all the time when I worked in an office (and was young & hot). It’s an ego boost more than anything for the likes of your DH. She’s not actually interested… But he thinks she is!

Is that supposed to make OP feel better? That the only reason you think he isn 't cheating on her is because the woman isn't interested even though he would if she were?

B9waiting · Yesterday 18:55

TheRobotsAreComing · Yesterday 18:31

OP your gut is screaming at you that this isn't right. Follow it and don't be persuaded. So sorry he's putting you through this.

Agreed!

wildnwilde · Yesterday 18:56

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

Are you for real ? Unless he works for M15 if he's got nothing to hide he'd show her he messages in this situation

Chilltme · Yesterday 18:57

It’s a bit weird because most people wouldn’t be exchanging inappropriate content on Teams. Yeah I’m sure some people are idiots but it’s not going to be sensible given the company can access it. Also yes most companies don’t allow total deletion, you can restore.

I think it’s probably flirty banter. You’re in a difficult position as you can’t prove anything. I’d be telling him he shows you the messages or that’s the end of it.

Hotandbothered222 · Yesterday 18:58

Even if the teams messages are gone, there might be texts or WhatsApps on his phone that can be restored?

Madamecholetsbonnet · Yesterday 18:58

I’m so sorry. I think if the trust is broken then the relationship is over sadly. 💐

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 19:04

I’ve never had his passcode for his phone or log in details for his computer, I’ve never needed them and never before felt suspicious about anything like this.

He’s saying there is nothing in it. Trouble is he’s shot himself in the foot as he can’t prove anything now, how am I supposed to believe anything he says if he repeatedly refused to show me the messages then deleted them.

I’ve asked if she knows he’s married, he said yes then pled his innocence again. I told him I would drop by the office tomorrow to speak to her myself. (I wouldn’t do this by the way, I just wanted to see his reaction).

OP posts:
ReadingSoManyThreads · Yesterday 19:08

@CoffeeRevelsfan and what was his reaction?

ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 19:08

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 19:04

I’ve never had his passcode for his phone or log in details for his computer, I’ve never needed them and never before felt suspicious about anything like this.

He’s saying there is nothing in it. Trouble is he’s shot himself in the foot as he can’t prove anything now, how am I supposed to believe anything he says if he repeatedly refused to show me the messages then deleted them.

I’ve asked if she knows he’s married, he said yes then pled his innocence again. I told him I would drop by the office tomorrow to speak to her myself. (I wouldn’t do this by the way, I just wanted to see his reaction).

How did he react ?

ChocolateCinderToffee · Yesterday 19:09

Never mind Joanna knows he's married, how about he remembers that HE is married?

ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 19:09

Chilltme · Yesterday 18:57

It’s a bit weird because most people wouldn’t be exchanging inappropriate content on Teams. Yeah I’m sure some people are idiots but it’s not going to be sensible given the company can access it. Also yes most companies don’t allow total deletion, you can restore.

I think it’s probably flirty banter. You’re in a difficult position as you can’t prove anything. I’d be telling him he shows you the messages or that’s the end of it.

Unless he’s admin on Teams he won’t be able to restore them once the undo window has closed.

ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 19:10

ChocolateCinderToffee · Yesterday 19:09

Never mind Joanna knows he's married, how about he remembers that HE is married?

Exactly.

FancyKitten · Yesterday 19:13

Releasemeplease · Yesterday 18:52

Is that supposed to make OP feel better? That the only reason you think he isn 't cheating on her is because the woman isn't interested even though he would if she were?

Don’t mean to upset OP. But it’s very commonplace in office culture, that’s a fact…

TheBlueKoala · Yesterday 19:13

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 19:04

I’ve never had his passcode for his phone or log in details for his computer, I’ve never needed them and never before felt suspicious about anything like this.

He’s saying there is nothing in it. Trouble is he’s shot himself in the foot as he can’t prove anything now, how am I supposed to believe anything he says if he repeatedly refused to show me the messages then deleted them.

I’ve asked if she knows he’s married, he said yes then pled his innocence again. I told him I would drop by the office tomorrow to speak to her myself. (I wouldn’t do this by the way, I just wanted to see his reaction).

If they are having an affair then he will have warned her. If he's just flirting though he wouldn't have told her anything. So interesting to know. If it's ONLY Teams I would say flirting. If he also has her on WhatsApp/other I would be suspicious. But as others said- YOU don't have to do anything. I would withdraw from him emotionally and physically for the time being.

CoffeeRevelsfan · Yesterday 19:13

ReadingSoManyThreads · Yesterday 19:08

@CoffeeRevelsfan and what was his reaction?

He froze a bit. He obviously wouldn’t want me to turn up at work and cause any sort of scene. I’ve told him I am absolutely baffled how he’s let this situation get to this point when he could have simply just shown me the messages and had an apology from me if it was all innocent. Why did he delete them?

OP posts: