...and Now I'm Struggling with My Ethics Class Homework

I started my first year at law school this fall and married just before classes began. My wife knows everything about me, or so I thought. Recently, during a particularly lonely weekend away from home for studies, I found myself engaging in an online kink community. The thrill of connecting with like-minded adults was exhilarating but also troubling. I met someone, a woman around my age, on one of these sites. We started talking about our fantasies and sharing stories. It's strange how easily conversations turned into more...personal exchanges. There were roleplays, chats, and even a couple of video calls where we explored our desires without physical contact but with intense emotional and verbal connection. The problem is not just the affair I'm having, though it is, but that I'm unsure if it's ethical in this context. What if the person on the other end isn't who they claim to be? How do you respect boundaries when everything seems so limitless online? Here’s my dilemma: Is there a difference between emotional and physical infidelity in this scenario, or are they equally problematic? My ethics classes discuss consent but not much about the grey areas of digital connections. I find myself questioning every move, every word... I need guidance from people who might understand. What would you do if you were me? Am I being too judgmental for indulging in something consensual yet ethereal and detached? ...