Seduced by a sociopath

Editor's note: Lovefraud received the following story from a reader whom we'll call "Gale." I was a widow for 5 years. After being married for 43 years, my husband died of cancer. I did not like being alone and therefore I was vulnerable, to say the least. I enjoyed being a wife & mother, and sharing, loving & caring for my family. I met my psycho on the internet, thru a dating web site. Had I trusted my intuition, I would have run. There were many red flags. I did not ignore, but was charmingly convinced I was not being fair, but judgmental. I considered myself to be the 3rd wife, but after several years of marriage, one of his daughters convinced me I was more like number …

I thought I was the 3rd wife, but I was more like No. 8Read More

Editor's Note: This SPATH Tale was submitted by the Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Trina." Names have been changed in this tale. I dated "Samuel" for three and one half years. I knew he had a criminal past and supported him changing and turning his life around. We were penpals and he wrote me beautiful letters and poems declaring his love. He was amazing at first and so perfect for me, we clicked on every level and I had never met someone more right for me so I moved to the United States. At first he was still very loving although a little dull if I'm honest. After a while we began arguing. One argument was on New Year's eve. A woman from his work called him before midnight. I go …

I couldn’t believe he was so harsh and cruelRead More

Editor's note: Part 2 of a series submitted by a Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Laura-Marie." Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Names have been changed.  My birthday, one year and one day after he moved in. I asked if we could go out to celebrate, but he said we had no money. No money? That had never stopped us for the entire year he had been there. I told him we did not need money to go out, we went out all the time with no money. The day of my birthday, he asked if we were going out that night, but I said it didn't sound like he wanted to, as when I tried to make plans earlier, he had no interest. He told me he loved me and wouldn't miss it for the world. I begged him to make his …

Why am I not trusting the love of my life? Part 4 of 4Read More

Editor's note: Part 2 of a series submitted by a Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Laura-Marie." Read Part 1 and Part 2. Names have been changed.  He said he his parents were coming to California with another couple who were long-time friends. His brother was going too. He would be gone for three days. He took the Jaguar, but said he was parking it at the family's home, as I didn't it want it driven up the mountain. I asked how his trip was when he got home, but he didn't say much. I took the car out and found blush in the car. Cover Girl. It wasn't mine. I was shaking. He lied. How could he??? I got out of the car, went in the house and asked if he had another woman in my car. …

Why am I not trusting the love of my life? Part 3 of 4Read More

Editor's note: Part 2 of a series submitted by a Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Laura-Marie." Read Part 1. Names have been changed.  Hewas calling and texting a lot all day long. He said he was dealing with brokers to close these deals and some of them were overseas, so he had to be available, especially when the Asian markets opened. He did a lot of the work in front of me with his laptop open as we sat on the couch and watched TV. He used Skype to speak to people. The email. It changed my life. “Hi Sexy. I miss you gorgeous. I love you!” Her name was the same as his name. Charlie Lipton. I asked who she was and he said she was some girl he dated three or four times. I asked w …

Why am I not trusting the love of my life? Part 2 of 4Read More

 Editor's note: A Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Laura-Marie" submitted the following story. Names have been changed. Smooth, smart, sexy. Everything a woman could want. Or so I thought. Why? Why did this happen? What did I do to deserve it? I wish I could wake up from this nightmare. It won't go away. The flashbacks, the words, the feelings. Over and over and over and over in my head. Make it go away. I can't. I try. I pray. And I cry. Each night when I lay my head down, I wish I could fall asleep and not wake up. There had to be someone out there for me. I wasn't meeting any quality men in person, so reluctantly, I placed a dating profile online on Plenty of Fish. And he …

Why am I not trusting the love of my life? Part 1 of 4Read More