Hi Ms. Emily, I have a boyfriend and we are together for a year now. I am happy with him, despite our differences because we are from different nationalities. I am Filipina and he's Indian. He never spent much time with me because his family is with him, and they don't know about this. (By the way, we are currently in Dubai.) But despite that, we still manage to see each other once in a while. Sometimes, we will talk about the marriage issues. I was happy everytime we talked about that because I think that he's serious with me. One day, he went for vacation in his country with the whole family. A colleague of his saw me and I asked him about my BF. I told him in jest that maybe he'll get married there in his country. He replied "Why, you dont know yet? He is already married with 2 kids!" When I heard that, my tears kept falling from my eyes and my whole body was numb. How can he do that to me? Of all the things I have done and sacrifice for him, he lied to me. When he called me, I asked him (but not in the serious manner) that maybe he'll get married. He keeps on insisting that he will remain to be single unless we get married. Ms. Emily, I don't know how to confront him. Every time I ask him, he still insists that he is single. I cannot tell him that his colleague told me. I don't want him to confront his colleague. I don't know also whether his colleague is telling the truth, or not. I don't know who I believe. Whenever I ask him about this matter, he will say : "Why don't you trust me?" I do trust him, but what if his colleague is telling the truth? Please help me. How would i know if he's cheating on me all this year of our relationship. I don't want to lose him, but if he's married already I don't have any choice.

--------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-------------------------

I am so terribly sorry for you if this is true.  I don't know why his colleague would be joking about this, but there's a remote chance it's true. It is not uncommon, however, in any country, for men (and women, to be fair) to lead a life of duplicity. In your situation, if he is lying, he has been able to cover his tracks by the distance from his home, and the fact that you haven't met his family. But that's where I would start -- with his family! I would tell him, "If you are serious about me and, perhaps, marriage, I must meet your parents." If he refuses, and continues to make excuses as to why you can't meet them, I think you have your answer. That's when you end this charade. You cannot stay hidden from his family, indefinitely, and now is the time for you to challenge this rather odd -- and potentially heartbreaking situation.