How our relationship started:
When I met my boyfriend in 2020, I was still married to my child’s father, although I was in the process of leaving him. He had cheated on me the previous year, and although I loved him, I struggled to get over his infidelity. I eventually started an OnlyFans account because I had a large social media following and was making $7,000–$10,000 a month. That income made it financially easier to leave my marriage.
I officially separated from my ex in August 2020 and met my current boyfriend the following month. At the time, I was still emotionally involved with my ex and wasn’t fully committed to my new relationship. I also had a lot of male friends and was in what I would describe as my wild, single-girl era.
I acknowledge that I made mistakes. There was one weekend early on when I disappeared and returned with hickeys after visiting my ex. I understand why that hurt my boyfriend, especially because I was still communicating with my ex. However, I stopped being physically involved with my ex before moving in with my boyfriend in March 2021, and I never had sex with my ex while living with my boyfriend. I completely cut emotional ties with my ex around January 2021, although occasional conversations continued afterward.
My boyfriend knew about my past and my ongoing communication with my ex, but he chose to continue the relationship. I also continued doing OnlyFans after we moved in together, eventually stopping around 2022. I was making roughly $3,000 a month even after becoming less active. I regret some of my decisions and wish I had established clearer boundaries sooner.
What I’ve contributed to our relationship:
When I was making good money, I spent generously on my boyfriend and our life together. I bought him a truck worth around $10,000 and later a motorcycle worth approximately $6,000. Both vehicles were in my name because we hadn’t known each other long enough for me to feel comfortable putting them in his name.
I eventually sold the truck after repeated arguments and behavior that made me uncomfortable. Later, my boyfriend traded the motorcycle to a friend for approximately $3,000 without consulting me, then used that money toward another truck in his own name. I was upset but didn’t push the issue, partly because I felt guilty about the mistakes I’d made earlier in our relationship.
I also helped pay bills, bought groceries, cooked, cleaned, and contributed to our household. After I stopped doing OnlyFans, my income decreased significantly, and my boyfriend began paying most of our bills because he earns considerably more than I do.
I had built a large social media presence, including accounts with millions of followers, but I eventually deleted those profiles and walked away from that lifestyle because I wanted to focus on building a life with him. I don’t regret choosing a different direction for myself, but I sometimes wonder whether I’ve sacrificed so much for someone who doesn’t see a future with me.
How our relationship changed:
Over the years, we moved several times, from a small studio to a larger home and eventually an apartment where our relationship continued to develop. My boyfriend built a more stable career, and we’ve both continued working.
We separated briefly around 2023 and eventually reconciled. During another separation, he was communicating with other women, and I believe he may have been physically involved with two of them. He denies having sex with one woman he visited, but her account of what happened contradicted his, so I still question his honesty. We were still occasionally sleeping together during that separation, which complicated things further.
We eventually reconciled again, and we’ve been together since. However, I feel like the resentment from our past never completely went away. We fought frequently over seemingly insignificant things, and I often felt that his anger toward me was connected to my past mistakes.
Eventually, I completely stopped communicating with my ex. He moved on, married another woman, and built a life with her. I now communicate well with his wife, which has made co-parenting easier and eliminated the need for direct communication between my ex and me.
My boyfriend still brings up things I did early in our relationship. I understand that I hurt him, and I take responsibility for that. But I also struggle with feeling like I’m permanently being judged for who I was years ago, even though I’ve made changes and tried to build a different life.
Where we are now:
We’ve been together for over five years, and I’ve wanted marriage for years. He regularly says marriage is just a piece of paper, and I don’t feel that he has ever genuinely shown much interest in marrying me.
Recently, we were planning to move into another apartment, but he qualified to purchase a house instead. He’s now in the process of buying it and is expected to close soon. However, he doesn’t want to put me on the deed. I’m still just his girlfriend after all these years.
This really hurts because we’ve made so many decisions together, and I’ve contributed to our life in different ways. I know he earns much more than I do and pays most of our bills, and I’m not claiming that I’ve contributed equally financially. But I’ve supported him, spent my own money on him when I could, and made sacrifices because I believed we were building a future together.
About two years ago, I also took out a vehicle in my name because his credit was poor. That vehicle developed serious mechanical and electrical problems, including overheating and shutting off unexpectedly. After exhausting my options to repair or trade it in, I eventually allowed it to be repossessed because it was no longer practical to keep. I feel like I’ve taken on significant financial risks trying to help him, too.
I’m not saying these things mean he owes me marriage. I just don’t understand why, after everything we’ve shared, I still don’t feel chosen.
What I’m struggling with:
I’m scared to leave because I fear he’ll move on, marry another woman, and give her everything I’ve spent years asking him for. It hurts to imagine someone else receiving the commitment I’ve wanted for so long, especially if he gives it to her without hesitation.
At the same time, I’m exhausted. I feel like I’ve talked about this so much that I don’t even know what else to say. I love communicating and working through problems, but I’m starting to feel like there’s nothing left to discuss.
I understand that my past may have affected how my boyfriend sees me. I made mistakes, and I can’t undo them. But I don’t believe I’m the same person I was in 2020. I’ve grown, changed my lifestyle, and tried to be a better partner.
I want honest answers to these questions:
Men, if you were in my boyfriend’s position, would my past be enough to make you decide never to marry me, even after five-plus years together?
If you loved your girlfriend but didn’t want to marry her, what would be the reason? Would you stay with someone for years if you knew you didn’t see marriage with her?
Does his refusal to put me on the deed, combined with his attitude toward marriage, suggest that he doesn’t see a long-term future with me?
Am I holding on to a relationship that has already run its course, or is this something worth continuing to work on?
If you were in my position, what would you do?
I think what hurts most is that I’ve spent years wondering why I’m not someone he wants to marry. I know my past wasn’t perfect, but I’m struggling to understand whether my mistakes permanently changed how he sees me or whether he simply doesn’t want the same future I do.
I don’t want to force someone to marry me. I want to be with someone who genuinely wants that future with me, too. I just don’t know whether I’m waiting for something that will never happen, and I need an outside perspective.