Hello everyone. I (24M) have been in a relationship with my girlfriend (23F) for about 4 year.

Recently, I started thinking about a situation that makes me feel uneasy: a man approaching a woman who already has a boyfriend and offering her flowers or drinks, and the woman accepting them.

I’m not asking what flowers “symbolize,” and I’m not trying to accuse anyone of cheating. What I’m trying to understand is how people define appropriate boundaries in situations like this.

From my perspective, if a man approaches my girlfriend with romantic intent (flowers, drinks, clear flirting), I would expect her to make it clear that she has a boyfriend and shut it down. If the man apologizes and leaves, that’s fine. But if he continues offering gifts or attention after knowing she’s taken, and she accepts them, that’s where I start feeling uncomfortable.

I don’t think accepting flowers means she would cheat or sleep with him. However, it still feels like encouraging attention that crosses a boundary for me. I’m not saying she should be rude or throw the flowers away, but I struggle to understand why someone in a committed relationship would accept that kind of gift.

My question is:
How do couples usually handle situations where one partner receives romantic attention or gifts from someone else? What boundaries have worked for you, and how do you communicate them without sounding insecure or controlling?