After some thinking and marinating on this, I think I understand my feelings a bit more;
My SMV is above her’s and it always was. Outwardly I seem great, but the things internally I deal with, always made me feel “less than”. Like I didn’t even deserve the women I want or that I wouldn’t be able to maintain them, that I’m not “normal enough” that other men have much more to offer than me without the “baggage” I carry internally. I always had it in the back of my mind that while I’m working on myself, progressing my business/money, my fitness and mental health, I’ll eventually move on and go for what I really want.
The thing is, this girl stuck around, she has accepted me for me and I realise I am actually capable of maintaining a relationship, I am good enough, I can do it. We endured lockdown nesting together, so now I have genuine strong feelings for her, and she ticks a lot of the boxes of what I want in a woman. Men stare at her on the street, chat her up when she’s out and want to take her on dates etc. She’s just not my typical tanned latina idealised happily ever after. She’s blonde and blue eyed, never been my thing. I am attracted to her, she gets me hard just kissing, hugging or smelling her, the sex is great maybe the most fulfilling I've had, my friends and family love her, no complaints about her personality that I read from men posting on here about BPD, entitled, ungrateful or sneaky chicks.
The reasons learning about her past bothers me so much is because my ego is hurt and I feel duped, I never really cared about her past enough before because long-term commitment was never on the cards (still 90% on the NO side, due to her not being a 9 or 10 looks-wise and her body count). I'm caring like I want to marry her because my emotions and feelings are getting drawn into that frame, I never wanted that with her.
I raised my issues regarding her past, she knows it isn’t great, she cried and said she was sorry, that she was lost and seeking relationships/dating with purpose but “men don’t want to commit” – yeah commit to YOU I thought, but really I've been that non-committing guy my whole life regardless how hot the girl is. I’ll never know the ins and outs, she explained a lot of things that made sense, it made me feel better, but not totally fine.
I’ve decided to keep her around, for now, to not mention any insecurities I have, and continue to improve myself. It’s helping me to understand my own thoughts and behaviours, like practising sprints before the real race. Yeah it’s kinda weak, but I’m thinking end goal, and this relationship is giving me things I need to help progress.
Recently this has been an unnecessary distraction that has already cost me weeks of productivity when I really need to stay on my “purpose”. I do appreciate all your views and picking me apart, honestly it helps.