Originally Posted by
lizatola 
No, my AH originally went just to get away from me and work stress. I don't think he even considered it.
Ok, I'm new but that sounds like a quack to me? Not the work stress but the
get away from you part. And the buying of the condo thing also sounds like manipulation to me. You ask him to leave... he doesn't want to leave... so he makes it sound like he's moving on so that you rethink him moving out?
When we feel insecure, we try to shift our position so that we feel more secure. You were secure enough to ask for a trial separation which makes him feel like
you're in control,
not him. He manipulates you into giving him control by saying that he's going to buy a small house or condo (now you're the one fighting for the relationship when before he was the one who needed to fight for the relationship.)
Idk if that makes sense but that's my impression.