VIOLENT REAL LIFE
Leonie Waldock, 24, from Chatham, thought she’d met the man of her dreams. Little did she know it would all change in aflash...
Walking into my local cafe, the man stood behind the counter had caught my eye.
Meeting Nuno, 28, in the summer of 2021, Ithought he seemed lovely.
We already knew each other through friends, and he was cheeky and charming.
Bumping into each other a few more times, we started talking more on social media.
And by November, we had progressed from afew flirty messages to meeting in person.
While our relationship was not official, he introduced me to his family, and I felt myself falling head over heels.
At first, Nuno was so caring and kind
‘I think I’ve met the right person,’ I’d told my mum Ali, 49. Nuno was so caring. He would wake up early to make me breakfast and start my car before Iwent to work.
In February 2022, we flew to Madeira for aweek on holiday and had an amazing time.
Only getting home, things seemed to fizzle out.
Nuno was becoming more distant –Ithought he didn’t want to be with me anymore.
Texting me less and less, I got the impression that he didn’t like me anymore.
Choosing to work on myself, I got my teeth done and spent time with Mum and my mates.
‘I want us to try again,’ Nuno came back to me after afew weeks in March. ‘I’m sorry.’
Only, receiving amessage from Nuno’s ex, Ifound out he’d been unfaithful.
Iwas devastated –it was such ahuge betrayal.
‘How could you do this to 6 me?’ I asked, tearfully. ‘It was my turn,’ he said, justifying his behaviour. The night he’d been unfaithful, I’d chosen to go for adrink with Mum rather than staying in with him, which he didn’t like. He made me feel guilty. We agreed to give things another go, making it official this time. Ihoped this was just abump in the road.
But in July, Nuno’s behaviour changed again.
We’d been saving for a mortgage when Ifound out he had gambled the money and cheated again.
‘I don’t want to make up this time,’ I told him.
It was like aswitch flipped –Nuno became aggressive.
‘I’ll burn your dad’s house down,’ he threatened me.
He even said he’d post intimate pictures of me on social media.
I couldn’t believe it –Iwasn’t sure he was even being serious.
I didn’t tell my friends and family what he said –for the past six months I’d had no inclination he could hurt me.
And Nuno always made me feel at fault. So, I forgave him, moving in with his family.
Just acouple days after getting back together, Imet up with friends to go for a meal and some drinks.
And all night Nuno wouldn’t stop texting me, asking where Iwas and when Iwas coming home.
