Hearing an “I love you” is always upsetting. But when these words come from an already married man, the heart races as much as the mind becomes troubled. Hope, guilt, excitement, doubts… everything mixes together. A question then keeps coming up: what does this really mean? Before letting yourself be overwhelmed by emotion or, on the contrary, judging yourself too harshly, it is essential to take a step back to understand what is at stake in this relationship with a married man.
An admission which often reveals unease elsewhere
In most cases, when a married man declares his love for another woman, it primarily reflects an imbalance in his married life. He may be going through a difficult period: lack of dialogue, emotional distance, established weariness. Your presence then becomes a refuge, a space in which he feels listened to, valued and understood.
This can be flattering, but also heavy. You are neither responsible for his difficulties as a couple, nor responsible for repairing what no longer works in his marriage.
When “I love you” becomes an emotional escape
Sometimes these words are sincere, but spoken for the wrong reasons. Some men use love as an emotional bandage. They draw on the attention, complicity and comfort that you offer them, without considering concretely changing their situation.
In this case, promises remain vague, decisions are constantly postponed and actions do not follow words. You then remain waiting, suspended from an uncertain future, while he retains the security of his official life.
Emotional manipulation: a risk not to be ignored
We must also accept a more uncomfortable reality: sometimes, “I love you” serves to maintain a bond without any real intention of leaving the spouse. These words become a way to keep a door open, to nourish an emotional need or to flatter the ego.
This form of manipulation is often subtle. It does not manifest itself in obvious violence, but can be profoundly destructive for those who hope. In the long term, it weakens self-esteem and creates an emotional dependence that is difficult to overcome.
