I encouraged my boyfriend, Noah, to go out with other women—just to see what would happen. I’d invite him and a female friend to dinner, then pretend I was sick at the last minute so he could go without me.
At first, it was a mix of curiosity and insecurity. I wanted to see if he’d ever cross a line—or if I’d feel jealousy. Every time, he came back exactly the same: respectful, affectionate, and loyal. He never flirted or lingered; he simply enjoyed the company and returned to me.
I realized the tests weren’t about him—they were about me. I’d been cheated on before, and I couldn’t let myself fully trust. I started therapy to unpack why I kept looking for betrayal before it happened.
Noah never pressured me. He stayed. And eventually, I learned that trust isn’t about certainty—it’s about choosing to be brave, even when you’re afraid.
Years later, we married in a tiny forest ceremony. Friends from those “tests” were there. I looked at him and realized the real lesson wasn’t about proving his loyalty—it was about learning to trust myself and my heart again.