I have a step Daughter, who's truly the sweetest person I have ever met. She could never stand to hurt or disappoint anyone. Person, or animal. When she was 20 yrs old, she was working at an inn. There was a work crew, from out of state staying there, and a 35 yr old man had begun to pursue her. He flattered her relentlessly.
When she would talk about him, it was as if she was euphoric, I had never seen her quite so. One night, she and I were at my place, and I asked her if she had a picture of him. She pulled a Polaroid out of her bag, she said he had just given it to her, that day. It showed him, crouched in the middle of a van, the sliding door open. As I was scrutinizing, I noticed he was wearing wedding ring. (?!!!??!)
"He's married?"
"No."
"He was married when this picture was taken?"
"No. He's never been married."
"He's wearing a wedding band in this picture."
"No, I thought that too at first, but he explained; that it's just a bit of sunlight, falling across his finger there."
"Hun, there's NO sunlight falling on his hand. he's wearing a ring."
We got in the car and drove to the local 24 Hour Store, (it was 1am.), My intention was to buy a magnifying glass hahaha! I wanted her to see, larger than life, this guy was wearing a ring. There were no magnifying glasses to be had, so I put the pic on the counter and said to the clerk; "what's that you see on his hand, in this pic?" She goes; "a wedding ring.
Still my Daughter would not *see* it. She saw what she wanted to see, not what we all could plainly see.
One night, while she was visiting him in his room, at the inn, he left to pick up a food order, and the phone rang. It was his WIFE.
And honestly that was a convo my daughter was NOT prepared to have, because she had truly convinced herself, that he was what he portrayed himself to be. She called me right after, sounding shaky and traumatized. He came back, and she hung up.
Now here's the thing of it; HE traumatized her, and then, HE was there to console her. Told her the usual BS about his horrible wife, and how the marriage was sexless, and over. How he only lied because she was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he knew a GOOD person like her would want nothing to do with a loser like him. He cried, and begged her to forgive him, and she did. He was a PREDATOR. They can spot good people," like a lion spots a limp"!
He divorced his wife, and married my daughter. He alternately abused her, and then made it up to her. Intermittent Reinforcement. It's the strongest form of condition there is. She came to feel like he was the only one who could keep her from feeling so much pain, (by being "nice" to her again) when the reality is HE was the cause of her misery. She could not bring herself to leave him, and NOTHING family or friends said, or did, could break his complete control over her.
They did divorce, after a year. She had a very astute college therapist, but it was still a long road for her to recover.
My Daughter is not a "*advertiser censored*", or a terrible person, nor any of the things that are said about someone who has been with a married man.
She was the VICTIM of a PREDATOR... I am most grateful to God, that she has a loving husband, (going on 9 yrs now), meaning full work, ( she is a Vet tech), and a wonderful life to enjoy. We are so blessed to have her. It could have ended tragically, it could for anyone in an abusive relationship . There's just that human tendency to think it will not happen to us. But there is just NOTHING anyone can do, until the person being abused is ready to break free. When the Pain of staying the same, outweighs the fear of change. We change. Sadly Melinda was not allowed to quite reach that point.