I'm sorry for barging in here
There is no need to be sorry. The comment section is designed for this very purpose. To present and debate on our perspectives.
So comming to your question
If you need a tool to gauge the truthfulness, is that really love?
This is exactly what I am saying. How do you know that I truly love. I may claim to love and behave like loving but not being truthful in my claim. Isn’t that a possibility practically? (I am not talking about an idealistic situation)