In a relationship and happy but talking to an ex

so im in a relationship have been for 4 years and have a child together im happy most of the time he can make me feel like utter shit and tell me to kill myself ect 🙄 I have this ex we talk on and off he stopped talking to me for awhile and I didn’t know why we started talking again and I asked him why he stopped talking to me and he said it was because he was falling in love with me and it would be easier for him if we didn’t talk i had no idea and was so shocked but it really makes me think I’ve always liked him but don’t know how to feel about it opinions lady’s 🤔

EDIT// my SO knows that i’ve spoken to my ex during our relationship so if yall gunna be bitchy you can f**k off

EDIT 2// my ex knows im in a relationship but he’s told me that I deserve better, he two also has a child but is single

EDIT 3// its not cheating, in no such way are we being flirty or planning to have sex ect it’s just normal conversations about everyday life and him admitting that he was falling for me