It wasn’t immediately obvious – a quick glance across the bookshelf and you’d miss it completely. That’s how he had managed to get away with it. My ex knew I never really looked closely at the books on the shelf, so he thought it was the perfect hiding spot. But one day in late 2019, I found it. Sitting on the bookshelf, tucked slightly behind a book, was a camera – and it was recording my every move.
It’s strange what you put up with when you think you are in love. The things you convince yourself are normal, the telling yourself that no relationship is perfect, all couples have their ups and downs. I made countless excuses during my last relationship, and I just wish I’d wised up to all of the red flags sooner.
I met David Malone, then 46, in June 2018, when he came to the pub I worked in. I was 36, single and living alone, working two jobs – as a cleaner, and behind a bar – which I juggled alongside the law degree I was studying for through The Open University.
My life was busy and I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but David seemed sweet and was very easygoing and confident.
I agreed to go on a date with him and a few weeks later, over dinner, I told him about my ambition to be a solicitor. David was very charming and over the next few weeks, as we continued dating, he showered me with compliments.
Then, two months later, in August 2018, David asked me to move in with him, telling me it would help me to save money and would mean I could quit my early-morning cleaning job.
It was very fast, but I agreed that David had a point. Yet, when we moved in together, I noticed a different side to him.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 17, 2023 من WOMAN - UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 17, 2023 من WOMAN - UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
NEVER too late
Catriona had regrets about the past - but perhaps it was time to embrace her future
How many calories are YOU eating at Christmas?
Lynsey Hope tracked what she ate over the festive period, with shocking results.
Cut festive spending
The average Brit expects to spend almost £600 on core Christmas-related products and activities this year, including food, gifts, decorations, socialising and travelling*.
My little MIRACLE
After a horrific blaze, Amanda Stephenson will never forget how lucky she is to still have her son
Why it's not too late to get a flu jab
WOMAN'S GP DR HELEN WALL ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK
Stop the season AGEING YOU
Take our youth-boosting quiz to find out how you can keep looking and feeling fabulous.
LOSE AN INCH by Christmas
Stride into shape with our simple walking plan
How to lower your cholesterol
ANNIE DEADMAN IS HERE TO HELP YOU, THE EASY WAY!
Why are we so obsessed with MOVING HOUSE?
With more homes on the market than last year, we investigate the nation's love of selling up
The ROYAL INSIDER
THE REASONS BEHIND THE SUSSEXES' NEW MOVE