This seemingly harmless clue is a telltale sign your partner is cheating, private investigator says
Oftentimes, suspicious partners will look through a person's text messages, emails or other messaging systems to catch them in the act.
In doing so, private investigator Paul Jones from ARF Private Investigators shared with The Sun specific clues to be on the lookout for.
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Innocent-looking emojis can reveal if a partner is cheating.
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If you're tempted to sneakily read through your partner's conversations on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat — popular options for cheaters — random, innocent-looking emojis could be a dead giveaway that your partner isn't being faithful.
If you come across messages specifically with the croissant or padlock emojis in them — you might be in for a rude awakening.
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'On the surface, it might look innocent, but there's usually a deeper meaning,' he told the outlet.
'We've had people using a croissant emoji as a way of saying 'meet me for breakfast', or the letter emoji as a subtle 'text me when you're free.''
Before you panic, an occasional use of these emojis might not mean much — but if the majority of messages include them, you most likely have a cheater on your hands.
'Used once or twice they don't mean much,' Jones told The Sun.
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'But when you see them appearing regularly in chats with the same person, especially late at night, they start to mean something more.'
If something feels off — it's best to confront your significant other about your suspicions.
'On the surface, it might look innocent, but there's usually a deeper meaning,' Jones told the outlet.
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Getting cheated on is a devastating experience and psychotherapist and sex therapist of 45 years, Esther Perel, shared the one reason behind why many people do it.
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While sometimes people stray from relationships because of… 'rejection, betrayal, disconnection, or alienation. Loneliness is a big one. Other times, the reasons are internal and have little to do with the relationship itself,' she told the Telegraph.
But she believes the main reason behind infidelity is 'deadness' in a relationship — which is when a partner feels like the other person no longer cares about them.
As a result, the person feeling this way will look elsewhere to feel 'alive' again.
'It means exploration, discovery, active engagement with the unknown, and being alive. It's a good entry point,' Perel said.
To avoid this, Perel advises couples to show curiosity about one another and ask questions — even if you think you know your significant other well and have been with them for years.
'Do you know how many people go out with friends, see their partner talking about a movie or band or experience, and then in the car or on the train, they ask, 'Who is picking up Johnny tomorrow after school?' or 'Did you get the groceries?' From there, not wanting to have sex or feeling distant isn't far behind.'
People's interests, needs and wants often change in a relationship, since people evolve and grow over time. As a result, Perel said to never stop exploring one another as individuals.
'It's about giving your partner the chance to see you and themselves in a new light,' she said.
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