After learning Tristan Thompson reportedly welcomed his third child with a woman he cheated on Khloe Kardashian with, the KUWTK star “believed that he would change,” a close source told People magazine.

According to court documents obtained by People magazine, Maralee Nichols filed a paternity lawsuit in June against Thompson for child support and pregnancy-related fees, stating they conceived the child together in March. According to her rep, she recently gave birth to a baby boy last week. 

The documents also specified that the Sacramento Kings player admitted to having sex with Nichols during one encounter.

Kardashian, 37, reportedly “knows about the baby” and confirmed that she and Thompson, 30, were together in March. The former couple share daughter True, 3, and Thompson also has a son Prince, 4, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig, the source said. 

Though this isn’t the first time Kardashian faced past cheating scandals with Thompson, her close friends encouraged her “over and over again” not to take him back. Ultimately, the 37-year-old remained in a relationship with him “because she always believed that he would change” and wanted to keep the family intact for True, per People Magazine. 

“She is just a really great person and wants to see the positive in people,” the source says, adding, “It’s just a sad situation to her.” 

While Kardashian was recovering from COVID-19, the source said she and Thompson were “doing great” as they quarantined together during the COVID-19 lockdown, but the Good American mogul “knew things would change” as soon as he returned to the NBA. 

“She was just hopeful that he would stay faithful and loyal to her,” says the source.

“Khloe’s family always tried to support her,” the insider adds. “They always treated Tristan well even after he broke Khloe’s heart multiple times.”

The former couple has been on and off for several years. They briefly reconciled for a short time in June while more cheating rumors surfaced. However, another source previously told People magazine that the exes continue to “keep things friendly” for True’s sake.

It’s important to note that Thompson’s philandering ways aren’t a secret, and Kardashian’s entrance into her relationship with the baller has been shrouded in mystery.

In 2019, Thompson’s ex-girlfriend and son’s mother, Jordan Craig, claimed the reality star hooked up with Thompson while she was pregnant with his son in 2016. Kardashian has always denied the accusation. Craig revealed that her world turned upside down after rumors of Thompson’s new relationship with Kardashian surfaced. She would go on bed rest during her pregnancy due to “stress.”

“Every day, several articles were published worldwide mocking my new unfortunate reality, and my pregnancy would now become one of the most popular gossip headlines due to the woman Tristan was now publicly dating during my pregnancy,” she said.

Kardashian did catch heat after Craig had their son, Prince, but she doesn’t feel that she took him from the woman.

Ok.

There’s an old saying, “How you get him will be how you lose him.”