Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson were engaged for nine months before paternity scandal

Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's relationship has had a series of ups and downs over the years, with the latest scandal currently being played out on the new series of The Kardashians.

But now, new reports have revealed that prior to the paternity scandal that rocked - and ended - their relationship back in December, Khloé, 38 and Tristan, 31 were actually engaged for around nine months.

According to E! Online, the pair had secretly got engaged in February 2021, around one month before Tristan conceived a child with fitness model Maralee Nichols.

Maralee announced that she had given birth to Tristan's child in December 2021, alleging they had got together during his birthday celebrations back in March.

One month later, the basketball player confessed he was the father, issuing a public apology to Khloé for his infidelity.

"Khloé, you don't deserve this," he wrote at the time. "You don't deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you.

"You don't deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you."

@khloekardashian/Instagram

The engagement news comes after Khloe was spotted wearing a huge ring back in February 2021.

While it's not confirmed that this was an engagement ring, many fans were quick to speculate, with one writing: "This HAS to be an engagement ring."

While the couple never announced the news at the time, it's believed they were engaged until news of Tristan's infidelity broke in December 2021.

And just a month prior, the couple's baby boy was conceived via surrogate. A rep for Khloé had previously said: "We can confirm True will have a sibling who was conceived in November.

"Khloé is incredibly grateful to the extraordinary surrogate for such a beautiful blessing. We'd like to ask for kindness and privacy so that Khloé can focus on her family."

@khloekardashian/Instagram.

The little one was born earlier this year. In a recent episode of The Kardashians, Khloé explains: "I am so grateful. It’s such a beautiful gift that we’re able to have. 

"Ever since December, it’s been this dark cloud looming over me. Every single day, I’ve been feeling depressed and sad, and now that my son is here, I get to move on, and I get to enjoy. It’s almost like I get to close that chapter and be done with this trauma and put it behind me.

"Now I finally get to start the healing process. Now I get to start enjoying my life with two kids in it and figuring this out. This is gonna be day one, and this is gonna be the start of something positive, and happy and beautiful."

Tyla has reached out to reps for both Khloé and Tristan for comment.