Those in friendships will always vow to go above and beyond for their pals - and usually with the best of intentions.
However, when you don't immediately agree with their new relationship - things can quickly take an ugly and distressing turn.
A woman on Mumsnet revealed her distress over her friend's partner - with whom she had rekindled a relationship with after three years.
Wanting the best for her pal, the woman's revealed in the post that she's "constantly worrying about her and doesn't know what to do".
" I’m 99 per cent sure my friend’s boyfriend isn’t what he seems," they titled the post.
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"My friend met someone online a few years ago and they ‘dated’ for about six months," she said.
"By dated I mean he popped over to her flat whenever he could - they never actually went out together and nobody met him.
"He is apparently in the army and everything he does is very secretive, he can’t take any time off so those stolen moments were all they could have."
After her friend found the situation "too difficult" - they "threatened to break it off" and her partner then said he would leave his position in the army.
A while later, "she bumped into him in public at a busy tube station and went to kiss him - he pushed her away - and acted like he didn’t know her.
"When she text to ask WTF he said his feeling had changed and that was that!!!
"She was REALLY sad - he never contacted her again."
Fast forward three to four years - and the couple are dating once again.
The woman revealed that just after four weeks "they have said they love one another are talking about buying a house together" - despite the friend searching for a job after being made redundant.
The user continued: "I asked her how he explained what happened last time and she was in total denial - said it never happened."
The pair have now picked up as if they were never apart.
"He’s still coming over at night a few times a week and they still haven’t been anywhere together and nobody had met him still!
"He has said he’ll go to her parents for Christmas Day but I 100 per cent guarantee some kind of emergency will mean that he can’t!"
Whilst the woman described her worry about the situation and doesn't want to "act too suspicious", she feels like she needs to keep a "close eye" on the situation - and has found several red flags.
They include suspicious activity - from his stories being "out of line", how he can't book time off work, and won't even have his photo taken.
The woman said: "During lockdown, [her friend] was suffering from really bad anxiety and depression and was incredibly lonely.
"I really fear he could break her heart and push her over the edge.
"She’s even said now that she doesn’t want to look for a new job or will look for something exclusively from home so she can be around when he’s available…"
Seeking help, the woman asked users on Mumsnet for urgent advice over concerns that she was being "super suspicious" - but many agreed with her fear.
"Is there any way you could speak to the dodgy bloke?" One user suggested. "Corner him somehow without your friend knowing."
"It's obviously all a lie. he's either married or a con artist, maybe both," proclaimed another.
"That sounds dodgy as hell!" A third fumed
A different user added: "Very difficult, I think you need to give one good attempt at sitting her down and trying to make her see what you see.
"If she won’t listen it’s a case of being there for her when it does click."
What do you think she should do? Let us know in the comments below
