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Removing bf from potential abuse

(81 Posts)
Slaytheday Fri 31-Jan-25 12:02:50

I connected with an old friend from 25 years ago recently and have over the last few months started a relationship with him. When I found him he had a gf of ten years but was not living with her. Their relationship was volatile and he seemed unhappy. Roll forwards six months and he has attempted to leave the gf on a couple of occasions but she uses her son (who bf loved dearly) to guilt trip him back, as well as some extreme outbursts, tantrums and dramas for good measure. He runs back to her because he thinks she is emotionally vulnerable and her 14 yr old son is obviously relying on him. Bf is the type of person who wants to help everyone and he tends to gets taken advantage of. He sees her as a victim and feels he is ‘abandoning her’. I think she is an emotional abuser using every manipulative tactic in the book. We have kept our relationship secret as it is early days and he is in fear of the fallout of her finding out. He has told me that although he stays over he is not having sex with her and I believe him. For the sake of getting the kind of advice I need on this platform, I would like this to be taken as true, rather than spark any side debates about whether or not he is telling the truth. He is telling the truth.

My hunch is that if she knew about me then the abuse would stop. I believe she would not try the same tactics with me in the frame as essentially she knows she would not be able to manipulate me. Or she may try, but she would not get very far.

I want to respect bf’s Soave and let him deal with things, but I can see he’s having a real emotional battle with it because he wants to be the good guy. His mother and father have both expressed views that they think the relationship is abusive, but bf seems in denial.

What might I do?

keepingquiet Sun 02-Feb-25 09:14:27

Yes indeed- not just Grans! It is important to remember we had our own children first.

eazybee Sun 02-Feb-25 09:55:13

Let's look at this a different way.
Your fifty year-old 'boyfriend' has been in a relationship for ten years when you found him, which to me suggests you searched for him and initiated contact. His present girlfriend has a 14 year old son who for the past ten years of his life has regarded this man as a father figure and they have a good relationship. His mother is understandably upset at the prospect of losing her partner of ten years, not least for the damage this will cause to her son. Is this really emotional abuse?
You seem to relish the prospect of confrontation:
My hunch is that if she knew about me then the abuse would stop. I believe she would not try the same tactics with me in the frame as essentially she knows she would not be able to manipulate me. Or she may try, but she would not get very far.
What thought have you given, if any, to the effect the break-up of the relationship will have on the 14 year old boy.
You state that this man is the type of person who wants to help everyone and tends to gets taken advantage of. Has it occurred to you that he is helping you, because of his good nature ?
From the original post and your subsequent replies it would seem you are determined not to let him go, and you may well win through.
Is this two-timer really worth it?

JenniferEccles Sun 02-Feb-25 10:28:24

From what you have said it was you who hunted for him six months ago after not being in touch for twenty five years.
Why was that? Were you just friends before or were you in a relationship?

Barleyfields Sun 02-Feb-25 10:46:50

I find it interesting that the OP says her ‘boyfriend’ has tried to leave the other relationship ‘on a couple of occasions’ in the last six months. Only twice in six months? That speaks for itself I think.

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 10:49:55

Why does it sound as if the op hunted this man?
Reconnecting just means coming into contact, not stalking.

Allira Sun 02-Feb-25 10:59:41

I think she is an emotional abuser using every manipulative tactic in the book. We have kept our relationship secret as it is early days and he is in fear of the fallout of her finding out

She may know about you or at least knows there is another woman intent on stealing the man who has been her partner for ten years and acted as a father to her son from the age of four.

Do you not feel the slightest hint of shame or guilt? Is he just playing you both or is he weak and frightened to extricate himself from the web he's found himself in?
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive".

These kinds of clandestine relationships tend to end in tears and it would be best to walk away and find a man who is free to have a proper relationship with you..

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 11:19:57

Agree with the above.

Barleyfields Sun 02-Feb-25 11:36:18

MissAdventure

Why does it sound as if the op hunted this man?
Reconnecting just means coming into contact, not stalking.

I think it’s because the OP said she found him, which suggests she had been looking for him.

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 11:37:20

Ah, thank you. smile

JenniferEccles Sun 02-Feb-25 11:44:55

I certainly wasn’t implying that the OP was a stalker! I was just curious about what spurred her on to make contact with him.

Slaytheday you obviously have developed strong feelings for this man, so I don’t think you want to cool the relationship, do you?
In that case why not spend the time getting to know him again while he decides what to do about his situation.

It’s his decision to make so while he’s doing that you can also assess the situation from your perspective.
You haven’t seen him for a long time. People change, and as you get to know him more, you may see a side to him you are not happy with.

eazybee Sun 02-Feb-25 11:46:42

'When I found him'suggests a search for something lost.
A more normal comment would be 'when we met again'.
She is participating in an illicit relationship despite the fact he is still living, apparently ,with his partner and her son.

She has contact with his parents who have both expressed views that the relationship is abusive. Unless loverboy has told her this.

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 11:51:40

Oh, rightio.
Yes, perhaps the op did seek him out.

I should learn to read and digest what's said.
I do read; it's the digesting.

BlueBelle Sun 02-Feb-25 12:00:22

JenniferEccles

I certainly wasn’t implying that the OP was a stalker! I was just curious about what spurred her on to make contact with him.

Slaytheday you obviously have developed strong feelings for this man, so I don’t think you want to cool the relationship, do you?
In that case why not spend the time getting to know him again while he decides what to do about his situation.

It’s his decision to make so while he’s doing that you can also assess the situation from your perspective.
You haven’t seen him for a long time. People change, and as you get to know him more, you may see a side to him you are not happy with.

Jennifer Eccles she’s been seeing him over 6 months according to her opening post so more than enough time to ‘get to know him’ as you put it I would think she ‘knows’ him quite well by now 🤣🤣

She went into this relationship knowing he had a ten year partner which he doesn’t seem to want to leave also that he has brought a young son up with his partner making things much more difficult and complicated for leaving

She is his ‘bit on the side’ but wants to ‘save’ him from the ‘abusive’ girlfriend She’s either oblivious to the damage she could be causing or has no conscience

Allira Sun 02-Feb-25 12:00:46

MissAdventure

Oh, rightio.
Yes, perhaps the op did seek him out.

I should learn to read and digest what's said.
I do read; it's the digesting.

Sometimes a post can give you indigestion or hiccups.

BlueBelle Sun 02-Feb-25 12:00:54

If you don’t digest you get hiccups MissA

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 12:05:26

smile
Very true.

dragonfly46 Sun 02-Feb-25 12:07:13

I would walk away and leave them to sort it out. If he really loves you maybe it is what he needs to make the decision to leave her.
You cannot go on like this in limbo land.

JenniferEccles Sun 02-Feb-25 12:16:38

Oh I agree BlueBelle
I too think she should walk away but I was just giving an alternative scenario for her.
Yes six months is a fair while but this man is in a relationship with two women so how much time has the OP actually spent with him?
Also isn’t he likely to be on his best behaviour with her, if she is correct in that he needs ‘rescuing’ from the allegedly abusive girlfriend?

The OP is putting a lot of trust in what the chap is telling her. Failing to end the relationship now, which is the wisest option, a few more months while he’s dithering could save her from a big mistake.

BlueBelle Sun 02-Feb-25 12:18:30

But if someone was in a relationship for ten years would you go ahead and start a relationship with them while they are still involved??JenniferEccles
.

JenniferEccles Sun 02-Feb-25 12:34:02

No I certainly wouldn’t!

Skye17 Sun 02-Feb-25 12:40:45

I don't think starting a relationship with someone you know has a GF is a good thing to do - for you or her. You only have his story to go on as to how things were between them. He may have been more motivated to get you into bed than to be truthful.

The fact he cheated on her with you shows he is not trustworthy. He could have left her first if he wanted to.

I'd walk away and look for someone more honest. And I'd get an STI test.

Skye17 Sun 02-Feb-25 12:46:26

(I'm not saying he should have left her. Just that he chose to sleep with you without breaking off with her.)

Have you considered what is best for the 14 year old?

Delila Sun 02-Feb-25 14:23:29

Being the sort man who “wants to help everyone” and “tends to get taken advantage of” is a good line to spin if you want to fool someone into believing that you can’t possibly be just a cheat, wanting to keep two women onside at the same time. I wonder what he tells his partner about how he’s spending his time when he’s with you? Could he be using his relationship with the partner’s son as an excuse not to leave her? Do you ever wonder if his accounts of her behaviour are true?

In the first six months of this relationship anything you know about the situation between your bf and his partner has been filtered through him. You don’t know enough to be certain. Maybe bow out, let them sort things out between them, and see what happens.

Davida1968 Sun 02-Feb-25 14:28:46

Like other GNs here I'd advise severe caution. I know that you dont want to hear this, but I'd bet that he's still having regular sex with his (so called) "ex", as well as with you. My advice is to end it - you deserve someone who will love you with no "complications" or strings.

Skye17 Sun 02-Feb-25 21:49:17

Davida The OP says the allegedly abusive person is his girlfriend, not his ex.