The woman detailed her story on a community forum, where the majority of post commenters said she should be "suspicious" of her spouse's relationship with the other woman.
A woman says she is "hurt" that her husband gave a "very thoughtful" gift to a female colleague after years of choosing lackluster gifts for her.
The woman detailed her story in a forum on the U.K.-based community site Mumsnet.com, a place where women can go to seek advice from other women about interpersonal issues. In her post, the woman said that she and her spouse have been together for 24 years, and he has "never been great with gifts."
"I have dropped hints, asked outright for what I would like [and] all I really want is his time and effort. If he booked dinner out and the cinema or theatre, then I would be happy. I would feel seen," she said.
The original poster (OP) went on to say that she recently saw her husband packing up a going-away gift for a teammate at his office. She also clarified that the teammate is a woman in a follow-up comment.
"It was so very thoughtful," she said, adding, "A mug of a band they like, a badge that went with it, a set of gluten free treats he had selected, a record from his personal music collection, a lovely bottle of gin and a really nice coffee that he knows they buy for work."
"I looked and saw this lovely thoughtful set of gifts and had to leave the room and hide as I wanted to burst into tears," she continued.
She goes on to say, "For my birthday he bought a pack of peanut bars (that I hate), a bottle of gin (nice but I’m not a big drinker) and a beauty product that I already have in the bathroom and a spare one of the same."
"Why or how can he be so thoughtful with gifts for others but not me?" she asked.
The woman said she ultimately brought her feelings up to her husband -- but things didn't go over well.
"I didn't scream or shout. I just said that I was hurt that he could be so thoughtful and kind to someone else but not me. That I crave that thoughtfulness," she said, adding that her husband then called her "horrible."
"Am I being unreasonable?" the woman asked at the end of her post.
Post commenters were quick to reassure the OP that her feelings were valid -- and many said that they thought her husband's behavior was downright suspicious.
"You're right to feel upset," one person said, adding, "Your husband's response -- that you were 'horrible' -- is designed to shut you up, stop you talking, stop you asking questions or criticizing him."
"The fact this colleague is female is extremely worrying and suspicious. He has either already shagged her, or he wants to shag her. He has a massive crush on her. I'm sorry," said someone else.
Others said that regardless of the sex of the colleague, the OP's husband should step up.
"You're not being unreasonable, OP," one person said. "Your husband doesn't think he needs to put that effort in for you. If you twist it, you can see it as partly a good thing ... Your husband feels safe and secure with you and doesn't feel anxious about gift-giving. But without those mental gymnastics, it's actually mostly just s -- and you deserve some effort, too."