Ana R.
Some couples choose open marriages for a variety of reasons, and in certain cases, this kind of arrangement can even benefit a family. But its not a onesizefitsall solution, and it certainly doesnt work for everyone.
One of our readers, 33yearold Samantha, shared a story that quickly became a lesson about boundaries, trust, and respect. As someone who deeply values monogamy, she had no interest in sharing her husband with anyone else. Yet he kept pressing the issue, until life itself stepped in to teach him a lesson he wouldnt soon forget.
� Monstera Production / Pexels 
Hi, Bright Side!
Im 33, and I used to think that by this age Ive achieved everything a woman might dream of. I have a happy family with my beloved husband, Steve, 39. We run a successful business together, we have a very nice house and whats most heartwarming is that we have 2 absolutely adorable kids.
Our life has been awesome, up until one day, when my husband, Steve, decided that he wanted a change in our relationship and came forward with an absolutely wild idea, which I hated from the very start.
My husband said hed leave me if I didnt agree to an open marriage. We need this, he said. I hate the idea, but I caved. I wanted to save our 15-year relationship. I love him, I was open to doing anything to help. We both started dating other people.
Then one of my partners sparked total chaos. All because he sent me nice flowers and an expensive ring with a pretty big diamond. I must say that before that, Steve bought presents for his side partners, and I knew about that, so it seemed like everything was fair between us. We both were free to choose our partners, and we both were fine with the signs of attention that accompanied our side relationship.
But for some reason, the flowers and the ring that I got as a present from another man made Steve extremely mad.
Steve got totally mad after he saw the flowers and the ring. He blamed me and called me an absolutely bad mother to our kids. He said that its totally inappropriate that some stranger knows my address and orders a delivery to my house, where our kids also live. Steve claimed that I didnt think of our kids safety.
Then, he literally started crying. He was blaming me for all sins in the world. When I tried to object, saying that he was seeing other women as well, he didnt even want to listen. I never saw him crying, like, with tears in his eyes. But this time he was smashed, broken and absolutely helpless.
And now let me tell you that this was part of my plan.
All this time, while Steve was having side relationships with other women, I remained faithful to him. I only pretended that I had other men in my life. But I had a plan, and part of it was to show my husband that hes not irreplaceable and that sooner or later, there will be a man in my life, who will treat me like a princess.
I didnt share my home address with any other man. I bought these flowers myself and arranged the delivery. The ring was borrowed from my grandma, it was our family heirloom ring and I knew it was very expensive.
Now, Steve insists that we must return to a monogamous marriage. But I dont want him to feel relaxed now. I recently told him that I really liked the idea of an open relationship.
Now, my dear husband is putting all his efforts and energy into persuading me that we totally must treat this open relationship as his own stubborn mistake. And it brings me satisfaction to see him trying to win my love again. I think it was worth it. What would you do if you were me?
- Trust your gut . If an open marriage doesnt align with your values, dont force yourself into it just to save a relationship.
- Set boundaries and stand firm. Make sure both partners respect the limits you agree upon and honor your right to say no.
- Prioritize open communication . Be honest about your feelings, fears, and needs, and expect the same in return.
- Recognize your worth . You deserve a relationship built on mutual respect and loyalty, where youre cherished, not manipulated.
- Evaluate the future . Decide if this relationship, as it stands, is worth continuing, or if its time to move towards a path that truly fulfills you.
If youre up for more powerful reminders of how messy and complicated relationships can become when the boundaries of loyalty are tested, check out this next article and learn how couples navigate this emotional journey.
Preview photo credit Monstera Production / Pexels Lucky you! This thread is empty, which means you've got dibs on the first comment.
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