Can you tell if someone ever really cared about you?

My ex broke up with me last week saying that he had a lot going on but not really going into full details. I felt him becoming distant the last week or two of our relationship. The last week I kept asking him what was wrong, and he would say nothing. We broke up last year then got back together. He said we should be friends and I feel he thinks that I’ll eventually contact him (when he becomes distant I always contact him and apologize and try to make things right even when I didn’t do anything wrong). I don’t want to be weak so I haven’t contacted him. I kinda feel like the whole “I’m going through a lot” is a cop out. I can’t stop thinking about him and I’m wondering if he ever really cared about me, he said he did but idk. I know it doesn’t matter at this point but I can’t stop wondering. Have you ever found out someone that you loved never cared about you?