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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

Brokenhearted and trying to save our marriage...

145 replies

LuJay · 24/03/2009 02:28

Here's summary of what has happened over the last year or so... I have told absolutely NOBODY about this so this is quite difficult for me, but here goes...
We have always had a close relationship and i have always trusted DH fully and absolutely. When we married i was so happy that i had found someone who i believed would never ever stray as this was way outside his moral beliefs and values. He is a kind caring man and i just never believed he had it in him to cheat, especially since he has always worshiped the ground i walked on so to speak. Anyway, early last year i began to notice a marked change in his behaviour and became suspicious that he may be having an affair. So i started making note of secret conversations he was having on the phone and to cut a long story short, found out that he had been having a telephone relationship with another woman. Well i was devastated and confronted him about it and he denied there was anything in it except that he was flattered that this attractive (also married) young woman would be interersted in him and admitted that he was attracted to her but that nothing had happened and it was mainly a phone thing because he found it easy to talk to her. This shattered me even further to think that he found it easier to talk to her than to me, his own wife. At that time we had a young baby and a toddler and i knew i had been neglecting him emotionally while caring for our kids - it is so easy for the children to take over and before you know it you haven't been intimate in a month. So i accepted my share of responsibility. Anyway, things were ok for a few more months but i was still noticing some strange behaviour around phone use. Anyway, then i busted him after he went on a short trip with her and my world fell apart. I was on the verge of leaving him but we worked through it and i decided to stay and give our marriage a chance to heal for both myself, DH and of course our 2 beautiful children. DH promised me that they did not have sex, but that he wanted to although he wasn't sure whether he would have actually gone through with it once in the situation. Apparently she was also struggling with it since she also still loves her husband and so for those reasons on both sides, they never consumated the 'friendship'. Even if i convince myself that nothing 'actually' happened, the fact that he wanted it to hurt me more deeply than i can even explain. He has always been my world, the love of my life. Then late last year i found out that they were still in contact via sms and all hell broke loose again. I was ready to leave if for nothing else than to give him a taste of what a broken home would be like. He swears that the only reason he has remained in contact with this woman was to try to keep her calm so that she wouldn't lose it and tell her husband out of guilt which would only complicate things further. Anyway, he promised that he would not talk to her or sms her again and that if she called, he would not answer her calls and he would tell me about it. Anyway, 2 weeks ago i randomly listened to his voicemail and she had left him a message on there. There was nothing untoward about the message, it was very short and basically just said that someone had called and she wondered if it was him as it came from a private number. My trouble is that he didn't tell me about the message as he had promised and i was already having so much trouble trying to trust him again. He said he just didn't want to open a can or worms again and that he didn't tell me because he didn't want to bring the whole thing back up again for no reason. He said he did not return the call and that the fact that she left a message should reassure me because he does not answer her calls. Any thoughts from anyone who has been in a similar situation?

OP posts:
GLaDOS · 24/03/2009 14:17

If you have the courage I would talk to her. You sound like a very together person with good social skills, so I am sure you can tell her how you feel without it putting her on the defensive, and so being able to sympathise with you and see what a shit your DH is being.

GLaDOS · 24/03/2009 14:19

Or that might be too much wishful thinking - it will at least plant a seed in her head and get her thinking about it.

KristinaM · 24/03/2009 14:23

the OP wrote

"But i think suffice is to say that my husband took out a life insurance policy this year for me and the kids after all of this stuff happened. I know that he did this out of genuine concern for us should the shit hit the fan. Apparently her DH is a force to be reckoned with and anything could happen if he found out that he even looked in her direction."

I am just seeking to clarify the nature of this policy. Obviously its sensible to have life insurance on BOTH of your lives, if you have a mortgage and dependent children. just wondering why it was only taken out this year and who it pays out to. the op and her husband bought their house a while ago so its not connected to the mortgage.....

solidgoldbrass · 24/03/2009 14:38

Bloody hell Kristina, I think you might actually have a bit of a point there. After all, everyone knows the trick of insuring someone's life and arranging an 'accident' for them, and though most people wouldn't do it, this DH has already demonstrated a high degree of selfishness and a tendency to cast himself as a kind of thwarted romantic hero, which is the kind of mindset that can lead people to do some pretty appalling things.

StirlingTheStrong · 24/03/2009 14:41

Hi Lujay - You know most of your opening post could have been written by me. I totally trusted my h. He worshipped the ground I walked on too. That is why the deception hurts so much. I was convinced that my h had been replaced by someone else. But that is just making excuses for him. He knew what he was doing - and so does your h.

He wants his cake and eat it!

Just to show they say the same things, my H also said that he couldn't tell ow it was over because he was afraid she would tell his boss (they worked together). This was total bollocks as he carried on speaking to her even after he had left the company (which he was supposed to be doing to get away from her!). Your h's worries about ow telling her husband are a smokescreen. He is stalling for time.

Even though it is possible that their relationship may have turned physical, that isn't the point here. He is carrying on a relationship that undermines you and that you are not happy with.

My main regret in dealing with a similar situation is that I didn't kick my h's sorry arse out of the door the day I found out. I let it carry on just like you and I am angry with myself now. Remember the dc will be fine. If you want a trial separation to show him you mean business then just do it. It will be the wake up call he needs.

Good Luck

QuintessentialShadow · 24/03/2009 14:43

LuJay - please check the terms of the life insurance policy. Please get legal help. Now.

We are not overdramatizing, but please ensure that you and your children stay safe.

PLEASE GET LEGAL HELP.

And please clear your cashe so your dh does not get to see this thread.

GLaDOS · 24/03/2009 14:57

Erm. It might be a bit overdramatic, don't you think. Check the terms by all means, but theres no evdence this womans husband is trying to kill her. Not sure we should be giving her sleepless nights.

solidgoldbrass · 24/03/2009 15:01

Yes, but checking the terms of the policy will set her mind at rest if it's all OK. It just seems a bit of a funny thing to do to 'prove' that you love your DW and are going to end your affair and concentrate on your marriage. You know, lots of blokes would buy the DW a nice diamond ring, or book a lovely holiday. Not insure her against a nasty accident...

GLaDOS · 24/03/2009 15:08

It is a bit odd, I agree.

noddyholder · 24/03/2009 15:10

This is all a bit Hart to Hart

AnyFucker · 24/03/2009 15:16

Lets not distract the OP from the original problem ladies.

Just one quick check of the policy should sort it.

We are getting off-topic.

frisbyrat · 24/03/2009 15:21

Call me cynical, but could it be that the OP's husband doesn't want her to discuss the relationship with this other woman because if she does, she'll find out that it is he who has been doing all the running?

dizzydixies · 24/03/2009 15:35

was my thoughts too frisbyrat, sounds like he has more to hide imo

modmum · 24/03/2009 16:17

My first post - no expert - just another mum
My first thoughts are:-

  1. Check the insurances;
  2. Get expert - legal/Relate - help; and
  3. Make the list of incidents.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT ASK WHAT YOU WANT FROM THE FUTURE.

So far we talked about him and her and her husband, but you deserve more consideration.

If you work out what you want/need from him in the future. Then you could try talking (calmly)to him and if he can't/won't give it to - give him a weekend bag/suitcase and tell him to go away and think about it.

KristinaM · 24/03/2009 16:29

i had no intention of being over dramatic. i simply asked for clarification of a point that the op had made. life insurance is a good thing, especailly for people with financial responsibilities. My Dh and i have it - it hardly demonstrates criminal intent.

HolyGuacamole · 24/03/2009 19:01

This DH sounds like a cracker! He has it all hasn't he? A gorgeous bit on the side with whom he can share all of his life woes and a dutiful wife at home looking after the children. How sweet for him

You don't need this man in your life, he is a waster and has no respect for you. He is probably feeding the OW the same bullshit that he is feeding you, like someone else has mentioned below "my wife doesn't understand me" etc etc.

A year is far too long to be messed around. If you have ran out of ways to snoop on him, does that not tell you something - that he will go to extreme lengths to pull the wool over your eyes.

If the other husband is indeed violent then your DH should have thought about that before he started getting involved with the mans wife. And, if nothing has happened, then why is he so bloody worried?

The only card the DH is playing is the joker. A year of your life has been wasted, how much more of your life do you think he deserves? IMO, he has had too much already.

BitOfFun · 24/03/2009 19:19

< applauds HolyGuacamole >

PlumBumMum · 24/03/2009 19:21

Lujay for you have read most of the thread, and I'm sorry if I'm repeating some posts,

I don't understand why she would feel the need to tell her dh if you knew, I would make it clear to your dh that you will tell her you know if he dosen't stop all contact with her

Was the Insurance policy for him, or specifically a life ins for you and the dcs?

mumoftoby · 24/03/2009 19:36

Hello Lujay I have just read your thread and i am really sad for you.

He sounds like a selfish liar (out both nights of the weekend while you are in with 2 young children - wtf? It isn't the 1950s).

You should speak to the other woman at least. I would bet money she has never threatened to tell her husband if you find out.

I think I would approach the woman's husband myself as I think he is using that as an excuse. If he is such a dangerous man why is he out on the streets? Is he known to be a gangster? I just don't get it. If it is just that your DH is scared of a bit of a beating - unlucky - he deserves one.

LuJay · 24/03/2009 22:42

good morning ladies, it's nice to awaken to a whole new board of opinions. To KristinaM, the policy only protects me and the children in the event of his death or permanent disablement. He gets nothing if anything happens to me.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 24/03/2009 22:43

how are you feeling LuJay

LuJay · 24/03/2009 23:09

I was present at the meeting where the policy was bought and paid for so i don't need to look at the policy, i signed the check for it and i know exactly what it covers us for. So i hope that clarifies any concerns you all may have that my husband may try to knock me off - he may be a cheater, but he is not a murderer

OP posts:
LuJay · 24/03/2009 23:15

Hi AnyFucker, i'm feeling rather fragile this morning. Didn't sleep at all well last night, in fact i doubt i've had a proper nights sleep in months.

OP posts:
PlumBumMum · 24/03/2009 23:17

I assumed that was what it was but others thought different so just wanted some clarity

Hope you are alright

LuJay · 24/03/2009 23:17

I tried to call the OW yesterday on 2 different numbers and both are disconnected.

OP posts: