My (21M) girlfriend (19F) cheated. I know cheating is unforgivable but she seems really remorseful and willing to change. I can't decide to stay or go
We had been dating exclusively from July of 2021 and I we became an official couple in Nov 2021. I found out that she had been cuddling amd having sex with another guy in her dorm whom she met on a dating app before me. The first incident occurred in October and they had met for cuddles or sex at least eight times throughout the relationship. She was crying and kept saying that she was feeling alot of guilt and she knew i would leave if she told me, and she was scared of losing me.
When we met to talk, I asked for transparency, and she showed me their online conversation. She was having sex with him just a few days before and after I asked her to officially be my girlfriend, and was even texting him during some of our dates. There were times when she told him he had a bigger dick than me and loved how it felt. They were also having sex on some special days/monthsaries. All the while I thought I was having trust issues and even went to see a therapist for anxious attachment, but she did not admit it then.
I get it, the extent of the cheating is bad. Shes basically been cheating on me before the relationship started and throughout the entire "official" relationship.
However, we spoke about it and she kept apologising for her actions and saying that the root cause was her lack of self-esteem, and she didnt have much friends to lean on in her dorm at that time. She has a fear of being alone/rejected which is why she kept seeking validation from other sources. Her unhealthy lifestyle choices served to reinforce that low self-esteem cycle. She says that she has a problem with rejecting men and that he came onto her very strongly.
She acknlowedges that what she did was selfish and fucked up and is willing to change. She even sent me a list of things she will let me do to regain my trust (eg. Free access to her phone, Live updates of where she is and who shes with + live video proof). So far, she has stuck to these measures. She even says she will let me do surprise visits to her dorm. She says she will take time off soc med, start to eat healthier and get rid of her unhealthy lifestyle to deal with the self-esteem issues. She also realises how much she has let everyone down including the friends and family of mine that she has met.
I still do love her very much and I want to be there for her as she improves her self esteem. Her remorse seems genuine and her will to change seems sincere. But i am also disgusted and disturbed by the fact that she couldve sucked him off one night and kissed me the next without me knowing. The extent of the cheating goes deep as well. I am unsure of what to do and this conflict has been going on in my head ever since i found the truth.