My ex-boyfriend ends our relationship to marry a woman who supports his mother in business

We met through a matchmaking service. He was in Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, and I was in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite the distance, our feelings flourished. Eventually, he relocated to Phu Quoc Island, and I visited him frequently on my days off.

He started a restaurant in Phu Quoc and brought his mother on board to help manage it. His mother disapproved of me because of my lack of culinary skills. Despite this, I endeavored to win her affection and understanding.

Suddenly, he vanished. I couldn’t reach him by phone or text, which left me confused and anxious. Six days later, he reappeared with a message explaining he had returned to Can Tho for medical treatment and was on medication to manage his health. I flew to see him immediately.

Our meeting was outwardly normal, but he had booked a room with twin beds, though we had previously been intimate with each other. Initially reticent, he only shared the bed after I expressed disappointment. That night, he embraced me tightly—more intensely than ever before—and cried, insisting on silence and avoiding eye contact. The following morning, he escorted me to the airport, leaving me bewildered and heartbroken.

That evening, I received a cryptic message from him: "I have contracted an infectious disease and must atone for my mistakes. You deserve someone better. Live well."

"I’ve changed and can no longer be the man you once knew," he added. "I must marry a woman who can assist my mother. Please understand and don’t fret. I regret not being your source of happiness."

Stunned and hurt by his words, I was left to grapple with his sudden disappearance. When I finally located him, he reiterated that he could no longer maintain our relationship, confessing that his feelings had irreversibly changed.

Later, a friend of my ex-boyfriend, who is gay and was in love with him, approached me. He admitted to infecting my ex-boyfriend with the disease and had been blackmailing him with threats of exposing their secret relationship and scandalous photos. Witnessing my ex-boyfriend being manipulated and coerced was excruciating.

Ultimately, my ex-boyfriend married the woman who had been aiding his mother in the restaurant. He expressed a wish for my happiness and understanding as he moved on with his life. Despite his intentions, the ordeal left me deeply wounded.

Should I respect his wishes and let him marry while I cope with my torment?