Warning: This story deals with domestic abuse Domestic abuse lessons should be taught in schools, says one victim, whose life became unrecognisable after her toxic relationship. Adam* first walked into my target="_blank">workplace in 2016, all intense, macho energy and charm. In reality, he was a master manipulator who wormed his way into my life before systematically destroying it.
If only I had known then to keep him at bay. It was 2016, and I was a separated mum in my mid-40s with a successful career in skills training. Adam brought clients into the office.
Over coffee, with his big brown puppy dog eyes, he told me his brother had been killed but was uncomfortable saying how. I really felt for him, he seemed to need a friend. I wasn’t looking for a partner.
I’d recently come out of my long-term relationship , but for three months Adam lavished me with attention, it was a huge ego boost, I suppose..
