My Husband Wanted to Date Other People—Now He Regrets It

When people don’t talk about their worries and needs, relationships can grow, change, and even break. As open marriages and other atypical relationship forms grow more common, many people who enter

them may not completely understand what they are getting into or how it will affect them emotionally.
One woman accidentally got caught up in a love triangle that she didn’t mean to start…

and what happened next made her rethink what she thought she knew.
“I said yes because I loved him.”

When my spouse first proposed an open marriage, it felt like a complete collapse. It wasn’t a talk; it was a threat. The choice was between a divorce and an open marriage.
I loved him. I still do. I agreed.

A surprising turn of events

For the first few months, I didn’t really date anyone. But I did meet someone in the end. Ben, my husband’s closest friend, was the individual I encountered. We started going out six months later.

At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Ben was pleasant, attentive, and familiar in a manner that only someone who knows your family well can be. We went out a few times. We kissed. My husband didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything.

At some point, though, it stopped seeming like an experiment and started feeling like a bond. I was unprepared for Ben’s unexpected visit one night and his unexpected revelation.

A confession and what happened next?

Ben sat in our living room last week, the same area where we had celebrated holidays and birthdays with him, and said the words that broke the illusion of control: “I’ve always been in love with you.” Before all of this transpired, I witnessed a change in my husband’s expression.

I saw the color leave my husband’s face. At first, he didn’t say anything, but that didn’t last.
He got up, angry. He claimed that Ben had deceived them, bided his time, and exploited the situation. I had no idea what to say. I didn’t know.

He wants me back now, but is that possible?

My spouse finally gave in later that night. He said he was sorry for what he did and that he never really imagined I would meet someone else, especially not someone so close. He told me he was afraid he might lose me for good.

He wants to fix things. He says we can go back. End the marriage. Get better and try again.
I don’t know what to do because I’m devoted to my feelings.

I never meant to hurt anyone. I never intended to cause harm to my husband or Ben. I did what I thought was best for my heart in a scenario I never asked for.

However, I now possess fragments of two relationships, and I’m uncertain if they can reunite.