I discovered I’m pregnant with another man’s children while my husband and I navigate our open marriage.

My husband Todd and I have embraced an open relationship for the past two years, a decision we made after five years of marriage. Initially, I was apprehensive when Todd first broached the idea, but over time, I came to see the benefits it could offer. Neither of us harbors jealousy, and we value honesty above all else in our communication.

While we initially viewed this arrangement as temporary, with the agreement to return to a traditional marriage if either of us felt uneasy, we’ve found it surprisingly fulfilling. It injects a sense of freshness into our relationship that we both appreciate.

Our relationship was thriving. Last December, I began seeing another man, and our connection blossomed into regular dates. Meanwhile, my husband had his own consistent partner, and amidst it all, Todd and I remained deeply in love. Then, just last month, I discovered I was pregnant with twins, conceived with my secondary partner, despite being on birth control.

It was a shocking revelation that took time to process before I could share it with Todd. Initially, his response was overwhelmingly supportive. He reassured me with words of love, saying, “I love you, and these babies are a part of you, so I will love them with all my heart, too.”

I was pleasantly surprised by Todd’s initial reaction. It’s important to note that throughout this journey, I’ve faced numerous health challenges, particularly with my reproductive system.

Doctors had previously told me that conceiving would be unlikely, so the news of the pregnancy was not just unexpected but also a cherished opportunity for motherhood.

However, Todd’s stance on the babies shifted recently when he realized that the biological father intended to remain involved in their lives.

Drawing from his own experiences, Todd expressed discomfort with this prospect, citing his own complicated relationship with his biological father and his deep connection to the father figure who raised him.

It’s perplexing that Todd, who himself yearned for a closer relationship with his biological father, now struggles to empathize with the desire for involvement from the twins’ biological father. It’s a complex situation, and his sudden ultimatum is both shocking and distressing.

His departure and the letter he left behind, delivered in the early hours of the morning before a business trip, present an incredibly difficult decision. It seems Todd is issuing an ultimatum: I must choose between the babies and our marriage.

I’m torn because what if this opportunity to have children is fleeting? After years of struggling to conceive, what if it doesn’t happen again? This uncertainty is what’s making everything so challenging for me. I desperately need advice, yet I can’t seem to decide how to navigate living with Todd while also pursuing parenthood.