‘I found a ring looking for socks – I feel awful, I’ve ruined the surprise’

A woman was left feeling guilty after she accidentally found the engagement ring her boyfriend had been hiding from her – but she didn’t know whether to confess or act shocked when he proposed

A woman was torn after she was ‘looking for a pair of plain black socks’ in her partner’s sock drawer – but got more than she bargained for. When she was rooting, she found an engagement ring, and was ‘in complete shock’, but didn’t know whether to own up to what she’d found, or just act shocked when he decided to pop the question.

She took to Mumsnet to say the proposal would’ve been a ‘complete surprise’ had she not found the ring, and she felt like she’d accidentally ‘ruined it’ for both of them – but others reassured her that it was fine.

She confessed: “I feel SO bad! I was looking for a pair of plain black socks in my partner’s sock drawer (I prefer his) and found an engagement ring in there.

“I was in complete shock. My sister called me about two minutes after and I told her my discovery and she knew all about it as she has helped him pick it, plan it, etc.

“I feel so so bad, I love surprises, and now feel like I’ve ruined it for both of us. I wouldn’t have expected it at all so it would have been a complete surprise too.

“I’m not going to tell my partner I know, but I can’t help but feel awful now. I’m worried my reaction when the time comes will give it away and ruin his moment for him. Has anyone else ever done this?”

People rushed to the comments with many saying it was the right thing to do not to tell him, but others saying she should come clean and admit what she’d found.

One wrote: “No, don’t tell him! If he spoke to your sister he’s obviously put a lot of thought into this so don’t let on before he asks you.

“Tell him later and then it can be a joke. Put it out of your mind and just wait for the surprise because when it happens, emotions will overtake what you’re thinking now.”

Another disagreed, commenting: “To be honest I would tell him. You will feel foolish and dishonest faking a surprised reaction which he may or may notice, even if he doesn’t realise you already know you will feel like the whole scenario is fake (which it will be!) and you won’t really enjoy the moment.

“Just say you were looking for socks and found a wonderful surprise. Not the engagement he had planned but it will still be lovely.”

Someone else said: “I wouldn’t tell him, but I am decent at acting. (I would probably fess up at some point, but I’d want him to have his moment.) If you aren’t you might need to.

“I get you are disappointed you found out about the surprise, but life is like that, so let it go. It’s also a fun story to tell your grandkids.”

One Mumsnetter suggested a subtle way of accepting the ring, writing: “Assuming you are going to accept – say nothing but leave a note in the box saying ‘yes please’.”

Would you let your partner know you’d found your engagement ring? Let us know in the comments.