Starved, beaten, dumped

Our latest fiction writing competition asked entrants to pen a love story, and we found find three romantic tales which we’re sure you’ll enjoy over the next few pages. Congratulations to Daniel Taylor with The Clockmaker’s Valentine , which you can read overleaf, along with two runners-up. Plus on page 58, find out details about our next themed short story competition...

WITH RAPPER SEAN COMBS AND AUTHOR NEIL GAIMAN AMONG HIGH-PROFILE MEN ACCUSED OF SEX CRIMES, WE LOOK AT WHY SO MANY MALE CELEBS ARE EMBROILED IN ASSAULT LAWSUITS

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‘He’s been a poppet, as always,’ Anne said when I arrived at her house to collect my son. On the days that I worked, my ex-mother-in-law picked Ezra up from school for me. She smiled indulgently. ‘He

Maggie smoothes down the front of her frock – the same dyed black dress she wore for Pa’s funeral ten years before. As she touches the fabric, she glances down at her hands, now decorated with liver s

Sally Cutts, 45, from Fleet, Hampshire Aftertaste ...