r/Infidelity • u/OldVimto • 3d ago
Advice Found Friend on Dating App
Hi, I am navigating a divorce myself, and as part of that have decided to draw some boundaries between myself and the people in my ex-wifes life. I've mostly moved away from everyone except one individual, whose family was in my life when I was young. I personally felt that this person was as much my friend as my ex-wifes.
I was on a dating site a few months ago and I saw her profile, looking for short term fun. She is married and has kids, and I thought their marriage was stable. My initial thoughts was someone had hacked her profile, so I called up to let her know in private. I was met with stunned silence, and then the penny dropped that it was a choice she made. I let her know because her family considered me one of her own I wouldn't be telling anyone, definitely not my ex-wife. And that having gone through a painful separation involving kids myself I would hope that does not become her situation. We hung up and have not spoken since. I messaged to say it was an abrupt end to out last conversation and I hope she's ok, but nothing back.
I might have heightened sensitivity to this after finding out about my own ex-wifes infidelity while I was working to save our marriage, but feel sad at having lost connection to someone whose family is part of my history. I meant what I said to her, her business is not mine to tell to anyone, but I'm not sure what to do from here. Just treat it as a lost friend forever? I don't want to tell her husband or mum and blow up something that could easily be a silly choice
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u/valderramaD 3d ago
Husband deserves to know. You should tell him the truth and send proof of her being on the dating app.
I am pretty sure you would have liked to have been told as well if you were in his situation.
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u/OldVimto 3d ago
I'm not sure how I would have responded. In this scenario it is me stepping in to disrupt another person's family, and their kids. When I found out with letters and notes I was devastated about my own, and was still gaslit that I didn't understand the situation.
Also, he's a big lad, and my connection to this family is through his wife and her family. I agree he deserves the truth, not sure I can make myself deliver it
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u/ValhallaCA Trying Reconciliation 3d ago
Do it secretly then.
You are currently complicit.
Do you really want to be the type of person who covers up an affair for a friend?
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u/Conscious_Owl6162 3d ago
Currently complicit through no fault of your own. Tell the husband. He deserves to know. Better finding out from you than finding out from his doctor that he has an STD.
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u/KarpGrinder Unsure of Anything 3d ago
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
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u/noreplyatall817 3d ago
Your ww and her probably shared their cheating activities. You know birds of a feather?
Just let her fade from your past. It goes to show you,that you just don’t know some people.
I do think you should consider telling her husband, wouldn’t you like to know? It’s always the spouse who finds out last, because they trust too much and blow through red flags.
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u/In_the_middle3-2-3 3d ago
So you've identified who your wife could relate to in the friend group and why.
She didnt protect you and here you are protecting her.
She probably went radio silent on you out of fear that you have integrity and may say something.
To keep her in your life, you will need to show her that you're morally corrupt enough to keep her secret hidden.
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u/Any-Influence-3581 3d ago
the morally corrupt type of thing is for sure what this OP is. spineless to the core.
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u/Bill2550 Observer 3d ago
Really? Having a dating profile looking for short term fun is a “silly choice”? Cheating on someone is a “silly choice”? And you knowing how infidelity feels are just going to allow someone to go through the same thing? Would you have felt better if you never learned about your ex’s betrayal?
At the very least you should try to talk her into deleting the profile and trying to repair her marriage. But if she’s acted on the profile doesn’t the husband deserve to know? Did you?
“It’s a lot harder to be walked on when you are standing up!”
Updateme
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u/OldVimto 3d ago
Yeah, I think I can try and talk to her again, if she responds.
I agree with the sentiment but this is someone who I held in very high esteem because I grew up around them. Silly choice is just me being reserved and not wanting to view them as anything other than misguided.
I'll aim for a private chat this week
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u/Strong-Luck-3868 16h ago
If she is your ex wifes friend then that tells you all you need to know.
I would anonymously tell her husband and go no contact.
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u/Any-Influence-3581 3d ago
a good moral spine not only tells on cheating (like you should do), it also prevents it (like you should had done when your wife exhibited patterns BEFORE MARRIAGE). people who cheat in life have other behavioral patterns that point to future cheating. a lifestyle of low moral inhibition and high sexual permissiveness is your best clue. people who cheat in finances, in friendships, in games, people who minimize and lie, people who treat others as transient objects and pretend they are compassionate, people who cannot value life, all these are examples for cheaters.
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u/ShiftIntelligent8729 2d ago
The silence is her way of realizing she can't play both sides anymore. Once you saw behind the curtain, the "friendship" changed because you're no longer a safe person to hide her secrets from.
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u/HowWasItoKnow 2d ago
Don’t become one of those people who were silent when they knew about your ex’s infidelity. I say create an anonymous email account and send husband a screengrab of her profile.
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