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  • startingover
    Junior Member
    • Jan 2011
    • 3

    My husband is a stranger...

    I was just going to go back to bed for the day but found this website instead. Reading about other similar situations has given me some courage to share my story.

    I have been married almost 19 years to a man that I thought was my best friend. I moved to his country when we married and we started making a life together. After 7 years he took a job overseas and I went with him. It was meant to be for 18 months but stretched into 6.5 years! I have no regrets as it was a wonderful time for us. After returning he struggled to find work and eventually relocated to a small town where there was a job opportunity for him. I had gone back to study and refresh my skills and was awarded a job in our hometown. I gave this job up to move to the small town and we started a new life together - we even bought a lawnmower and moved to the suburbs! After 6 months he got bored and decided to take unpaid leave and take another overseas contract for 18 months. This time I didn't go with him as the country is volatile and living standards are poor. We commuted every 5 weeks and though it was hard I thought that it was for a limited time only. He had been very loving this last year, always buying me flowers and gifts and we spoke on the phone at least twice a day. He also encouraged me to get a puppy for company and I was so excited as I have wanted a dog for years. We do not have children as he never wanted any.

    He came home just before Christmas for a 3 week break. The morning after he returned he told me that he wanted to separate as we had drifted apart. I was shocked and upset and so he suggested that we go a romantic place on the ocean to discuss things. The location was beautiful but we didn't talk much as he said he had work to do. i knew something was wrong but I was hurting so much that I just kept quiet. On the last morning I took the puppy for a walk and saw him talking on his mobile at the window. When I confronted him he said that he had just called a friend to give her some support. This "friend" was having an affair with his flatmate/best friend and things were difficult. I knew about the affair as he had told me. I was friends with the wife and hadn't said anything to her as they have been married for 32 years. We had a huge row and then drove home in silence. Once home I asked him to leave for a few days as I needed to think about the separation.

    After he left I went and checked his emails and found out that he had ALSO been having an affair with this woman. All 3 of them were cheating as she is married to a local man. My emotions ran wild and he eventually admitted to the affair on the phone. I have not seen him again as I do not know how I will react.

    In the emails he stated that he now wants children, with her, and that broke me.

    Since I found out his flatmate has broken off the affair and is working on fixing his marriage but my husband has stayed in touch with her. i don't know whether her husband knows about the sordid situation. I have been to a lawyer and will start proceedings next week.

    I just want it all to be over. i have to start a new life - relocate, find a job, meet people. I am scared and have no family in this country but have had support from unexpected sources.

    my husband still calls most days to discuss the division of property but he is cold and nasty on the phone. I feel as if i don't know him at all. He also threatens me about what I may or may not say to friends and family. His own sisters do not know about the affair only that we have split up. He has told me not to mention the affair as it makes no difference to our relationship and people are not interested. I have only told one couple the truth and he had a fit when he found out.

    How could I have been so blind? i thought that we would grow old together. The worse part is that there is no way to fix this. I could never go back to him knowing all the sordid details of the affairs.

    i just have to be strong and not go back to bed!
  • lizzardb63
    Veteran Member
    • Aug 2010
    • 1493

    You deserve so much more than that. It sounds like you've gone above and beyond to make this man happy. You deserve someone who's going to do the same for you. I am glad that you're accepting that it is over and to be strong to move on. Never forget that you deserve so much more!!!

    Comment

    • startingover
      Junior Member
      • Jan 2011
      • 3

      Thank-you... I will "live one day at a time" and hopefully, down the track, the hurting will ease. At least my beautiful puppy still looks at me kindly and makes me laugh with her antics.

      Got to get busy living - sometime soon!

      Comment

      • lizzardb63
        Veteran Member
        • Aug 2010
        • 1493

        I think you'll be just fine, if not better off! You have a wonderful attitude and sound like a very strong person!

        Comment

        • zarzie
          Member
          • Dec 2010
          • 22

          tough times do not last for ever

          Comment

          • Ashlee T.
            Veteran Member
            • Dec 2008
            • 6412

            He has no right to tell you who to talk to. Talking is your therapy right now. He knows he's a louse and he knows people will find that out once they know what he's done.

            Classic case of the cheater. He thinks he's in love with this woman I bet. That's why he so abruptly and decisively wanted to split from you. He thinks he'll leave you and they'll live happily ever after. Chances are, he's sorely mistaken. So be prepared for the fact that in the future, he's likely to come crying to get back with you. Don't be a fool and take him back when he does. "Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!".

            I see no point in talking to him daily at this point. There should be lawyers involved if you're divorcing. They should do most of the communicating. As far as division of property, make a list of things that you consider "yours" and things you want. Don't be conservative and regret it later. Cut off this daily communication. It's poison for you.

            You seem to have a very healthy attitude, and seem very intelligent. You'll come out of this stronger and 10 steps ahead of him. Things will not turn out for him as he hopes right now. Hang in there, talk when you need to talk (to anyone BUT him), do not let him bully you, get a lawyer, get it over with, and be done with him. It's time for a new chapter in your life as hard as I know it must be right now.
            "Be what you're looking for."

            Comment

            • CHANDLERS WISH
              • Mar 2008
              • 22440

              my husband still calls most days to discuss the division of property but he is cold and nasty on the phone. I feel as if i don't know him at all. He also threatens me about what I may or may not say to friends and family. His own sisters do not know about the affair only that we have split up. He has told me not to mention the affair as it makes no difference to our relationship and people are not interested. I have only told one couple the truth and he had a fit when he found out.

              How could I have been so blind? i thought that we would grow old together. The worse part is that there is no way to fix this. I could never go back to him knowing all the sordid details of the affairs.

              The grass is always greener on the other side NOT....

              One day he will clearly see all that he has lost, yet you will find yourself, open up like a butterfly and be loved again but with dillegence not, with gifts.

              He can't settle, hasn't been able to for a while, has no sense of purpose in life...

              Take your little puppy and believe what comes around goes around.... Don't get even.....His family will find out themselves, in due course.....

              You do seem like a sensible woman, intellegent and strong.....

              WORDS, remember, they are only words....This affair has made him fall for someone, so he thinks...But, she will try to make her marriage work and throughout that, he won't have her,will be lonley...and eventually reminise about you, him, ....especially if you don't speak bad about him...and one day, he'll ask you to forgive him and try to get back with you....that will be your day, when you can say, you had your chance ...

              CW
              PUT A LITTLE 'LIKE' IN MY SOUL!

              Comment

              • startingover
                Junior Member
                • Jan 2011
                • 3

                Thank you all so much for responding and for your advice. I read it over most mornings - while drinking my coffee - and it boosts me!

                I have finally cut him off (3 days and counting...) and I do feel better! I can concentrate on the future and not be made to feel guilty about talking. I am not telling tales just allowing a few friends to give me the support that they want to. I have had contact with 2 of his sisters, they contacted me, but I didn't talk about him, just about what plans I am making. It will all come out soon enough and hopefully by then I will be focussing on some new and exciting venture.

                He is a bully and I have a good lawyer; he is going to have a fit but that is no longer my problem.

                My puppy has started acting like a crazy loon again (very energetic breed), she ran off with my toast this morning - and that shows me that we are on the mend. Still one day at a time... that's all we need to do right now.

                Life is for living! Thank-you again as you have helped tremendously, hugs from me!

                Comment

                • Ashlee T.
                  Veteran Member
                  • Dec 2008
                  • 6412

                  What kind of puppy do you have? I'm so glad you have her. She will bring you such joy and so much laughter in times when no one else can make you smile. She'll remind you there is always hope and there is ALWAYS unconditional love. Home doesn't even feel like home if my dog isn't there.
                  "Be what you're looking for."

                  Comment

                  • WildChild
                    Banned
                    • Sep 2008
                    • 14142

                    Stick to your resolve. You will come out this, maybe feeling like have been in a battle but with fresh opportunities for happiness ahead of you!

                    Comment

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