1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, we have some exciting news to share. ABC 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: News Studios has turned Caroline Borega's story from Betrayal season 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: four into a docuseriies you'll get to meet the people involved, 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: You'll hear from people who have never spoken before, and 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: you get to see where this story took place. We 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: are so proud and excited to share it with you all. 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: You can stream Betrayal Dirty Secrets on Hulu and Hulu 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: for Disney Plus starting on August fourth. 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: I don't know this person. What I had in my 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 2: mind is not true. He's not the person I thought 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: he was. I have no idea what he was capable 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: of doing. 13 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: I'm Andrea Gunning and this is Betrayal, a show about 14 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: the people we trust the most and the deceptions that 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: change every thing. Really quick, before we get into the episode, 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 1: I have a small favor to ask you. If you're 17 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: enjoying listening to the trial, please take a second to 18 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: hit the follow button on your podcast app and please 19 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: rate and review. We read all the comments, and your 20 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: voices help our show improve and evolve. I really mean 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: it when I say thank you for listening and helping 22 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: us grow. Also, if you went behind the scenes content 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,279 Speaker 1: or resources. Follow at Betrayal Pod on Instagram or follow 24 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: me at It's Andrea Gutting. All right, onto the show. Today, 25 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: we're sharing the story of a woman we're going to 26 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: call Lucy. She grew up in Puerto Rico with her 27 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: parents and siblings. 28 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: Puerto Rico is an amazing place. People are super friendly, 29 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: ads like everybody's family, and you feel absolutely welcomed. 30 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: Lucy grew up with three brothers and they were really close. 31 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: I really tried to be up to their standards in 32 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: terms of sports, so I had to run and play 33 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: basketball and baseball and things like that. 34 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: Lucy is tall and strikingly beautiful. When she was fifteen 35 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: years old, she started modeling. 36 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: Runways, commercials TV. But you know, I always kept this 37 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,399 Speaker 2: part of my life as secondary thing. 38 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: School was her top priority. 39 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 2: I always had very high standards and I accomplished them. 40 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: I graduated almost four point average in high school. 41 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: She excelled in college as well. After graduating, she built 42 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: a successful career in the media industry. Her twenties and 43 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: thirties were full of adventure. 44 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: I met a lot of very interesting people. I used 45 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: to travel a lot and be lucky. One of the 46 00:02:59,360 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: Lucky Ones. 47 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: In her mid thirties, Lucy was in a long term relationship. 48 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: She and her boyfriend had been dating for eight years. 49 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: One night, Lucy was out at a party when a 50 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: friend of hers came over and told her that a 51 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: guy at the party kept asking about her. His name 52 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: was Ellie. 53 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: I was going out with somebody else, so it was 54 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 2: not in my raider to look at other people, but 55 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 2: evidently he asked about me, and he told my friend, 56 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: I'm going to end up with this girl. 57 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: Ellie was bold to be announcing his crush on her. 58 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: After all, Lucy was dating someone and Ellie was too. 59 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: He was the boyfriend of my girlfriend that I always 60 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 2: thought they were going to get married. 61 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: But she kept seeing Ellie around, and over time he 62 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: became a friendly face in the crowd. She always had 63 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: fun talking to him. She learned that he had moved. 64 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: To Puerto Rico for work Puerto Rico's so we would 65 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: see each other like in a restaurant or in a party, 66 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: but nothing so intimate. 67 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: Eventually, Lucy and her long term boyfriend broke up, and 68 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: at the age of thirty five, she was single again 69 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: for the first time in nearly a decade. One night, 70 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: she went out to dinner with some friends at a 71 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: Mediterranean restaurant. 72 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 2: And when I got in, the first person I see 73 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: is Ellie and he stopped me and he said hi. 74 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: He asked about her boyfriend and she told him that 75 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: they had just broken up. 76 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,799 Speaker 2: And I asked him on how is you were a girlfriend? 77 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: And he told me that they broke up and I said, 78 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 2: oh my god, I can't believe this. We have to 79 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 2: cry in each other's shoulder and he said yes, and 80 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: he asked me for my phone number. 81 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: After that night, Ellie called Lucy. Talking to him was 82 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: fun and refreshing. He started calling her more often, and 83 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: soon he couldn't hide his feelings for her anymore, and 84 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: he asked her on a date. 85 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 2: And since it was recent that I have split with 86 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: my boyfriend of eight years, I told him listen, I'm 87 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: not ready now, it's too soon. 88 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: After her breakup, she was focused on herself, so they 89 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: stayed friends. But over time, Lucy's feelings for Ellie grew. 90 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: He was so smart as they really attracted me to 91 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: him a lot. I could listen to him talk for 92 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: hours and I was fascinated. 93 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: And Ellie kept pursuing her, asking her out to dinner. 94 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: He would call me and call me and call me. 95 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: Eventually, she agreed and they went out on their first date. 96 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: I couldn't believe how amazing this guy was. I really 97 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: liked him, and it was like I started looking at 98 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: him in another way. 99 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: Eli was a romantic. He pulled out all the stops 100 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: to show Lucy how much he liked her. And it 101 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: didn't hurt that he made a lot of money. He 102 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: had a lucrative job in the oil and gas industry 103 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: and could afford to spoil Lucy. 104 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: He would send me flowers constantly. He would call me 105 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 2: all the time. He would pick me up and he 106 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: would be dressed super nice and smelled super good. 107 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: She was having so much fun. 108 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: He would take me to this wonderful restaurant and I 109 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: would go to the hotel and I would have flowers 110 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: waiting for me and a bottle of champagne. 111 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: They made their relationship official. 112 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: At the beginning, I just let everything flow and you know, 113 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: enjoy myself. But then I realized I admire him so much. 114 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: This man is so smart, so well versed. He was fascinating. 115 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: He spoke four languages, he was well read. He was 116 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: really a very special guy for me. 117 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: The feeling was mutual. Ellie admired Lucy's intelligence, ambition and 118 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: told her all the time how beautiful she was. 119 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: He would call all his friends to tell him, no, 120 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: I'm with this girl, and I love her. He was really, 121 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: really in love. 122 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: They made a great pair. Over time, their relationship became 123 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: more serious. They were both hoping to start a family soon, 124 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: and they talked about their future together often. Then, when 125 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: winter came around they'd been dating for a year, Ellie 126 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: took a trip to New York for work and invited 127 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: Lucy to come. 128 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: We went out to dinner to this beautiful restaurant and 129 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: he said, Okay, let's just go around the carriage in 130 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: Central Park. 131 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: So they booked a carriage tour and rode through Central 132 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: Park together. 133 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 2: It was beautiful. It was a beautiful night. 134 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: Lucy looked out at the city lights, taking it all in. 135 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: When she turned back to Ellie, he was down on one. 136 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: Knee asking me to marry him. Oh my god, it 137 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: was so perfect. It was really charming and so unexpected 138 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: and really magical. 139 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: Back in Puerto Rico, Lucy and Ellie moved in together, 140 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: and seven months later they got married. 141 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: In this beautiful hotel in Puerto Rico. We really had 142 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,559 Speaker 2: a good time. 143 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: After two years of marriage, they were ready to have kids. 144 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 2: I got pregnant when I was thirty nine. It was 145 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: so wanted and it turned out a beautiful experience. 146 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: Lucy decided to put her career on hold and spend 147 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: as much time as possible with her son. 148 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 2: I never imagined I was going to be a housewife, 149 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 2: and I loved it. At that stage in my life, 150 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: I have a ready travel that have I have had fun, 151 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 2: you know, I was ready. 152 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: Ellie worked hard to provide for their family. 153 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: He worked for a oil company and the company was 154 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 2: in Puerto Rico. He didn't like to live in Puerto Rico. 155 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 2: He never got too used to our culture. We are 156 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 2: a little relaxed. He's a little more a type. He 157 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 2: really wanted to move to the state. That's where he 158 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: felt comfortable. 159 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: As time went on, Ellie started having more and more 160 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 1: success at work. 161 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: He started buying properties with business partners, and he also 162 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: had a gas company, so he started being very successful. 163 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: They were happy, but Ellie dreamed of moving somewhere new. 164 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: When their first child was a year old, the timing 165 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: was finally right. Ellie could work remotely, and Lucy was 166 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 1: up for the adventure, so they moved their life from 167 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico to the continental United States. Lucy didn't know 168 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: what to expect when they got there, she found herself 169 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: immersed in a whole new world. 170 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 2: It was a kind of a high class community, which 171 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 2: I didn't know when I bought the house. How prestigious 172 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: was the place I was living. 173 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: They moved to a gated waterfront community. We're not naming 174 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: this community for Lucy's privacy, but it was an exclusive 175 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: island where every street was lined with beautiful mansions. Many 176 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,119 Speaker 1: of the estates had their own pool or yacht. Suddenly 177 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: they had attained another level of wealth and luxury, and 178 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: Lucy wouldn't have to work again. 179 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 2: We had a huge house, beautiful house. 180 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: After a few years in the States, they welcomed their 181 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: second child, a daughter, and. 182 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 2: It was a wonderful pregnancy at forty three years old. Remember, 183 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 2: I grew up with boys. Only having a girl was fantastic. 184 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: Ellie was still administrating the old company in Puerto Rico, 185 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: but he was investing in real estate and he kept 186 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: on doing very well. With time, he did better and 187 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 2: better and better. 188 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: Within their marriage, Lucy and Ellie each had their own domain. 189 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: Ellie handled work and money, and Lucy handled their kids, 190 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: the house, and their family's needs. They gave each other 191 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: full rain to handle their side of things, and their 192 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: system was a well oiled machine. 193 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 2: He would work, I would do rest everything else. Regarding 194 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: my children. Regarding the house, he just said how much 195 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 2: and he would pay for it. 196 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: They gave each other a lot of space and trusted 197 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: each other deeply. 198 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: I was so respectful of his space and his things. 199 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 2: I really never knew how much money he had. I 200 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 2: never knew all his businesses, just in general, but not details. 201 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: Lucy didn't need to know the details to see the 202 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: big picture. They were very lucky. They'd been happily married 203 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: for twenty years and their kids were teenagers now. They 204 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 1: traveled together often and gave their kids everything they could 205 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: dream of. 206 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: Our lifestyle was so wonderful when I was thinking, I 207 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 2: have so much more than what I need. We traveled 208 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: a lot. We ended up buying a beach house. We 209 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 2: decided for many years to spend Christmas in Paris with 210 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 2: the kids. We were happy, you know, we were happy. 211 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 2: There was no reason for me to think that things 212 00:12:48,160 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 2: were going to end up the way they did. 213 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: Lucy and her husband Ellie, built an impressive life together. 214 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: They lived in a beautiful house, had two kids, and 215 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: traveled often. They had everything they needed and more. 216 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 2: Our lifestyle was so wonderful and every time we travel 217 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 2: we had fun. We would laugh and he was good. 218 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: We were happy, you. 219 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: Know, we were happy for twenty years. Their marriage was 220 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: a dream. But when Ellie turned sixty, Lucy started noticing 221 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: some changes in him. He grew emotionally distant. 222 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: It was more touchy, freely than he was. He started 223 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 2: not having any intimacy with me. I was always very 224 00:13:56,080 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 2: much into looking good. I tried to keep being attractive 225 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: to him, but there was no reaction from him. 226 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: And on top of that, he started dressing differently. 227 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: My husband was a very, very classy man. He would 228 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: always be very well dressed, but very appropriate for his age. 229 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 2: When he turned sixty, I started noticing that he started 230 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: dressing like a young guy. He would wear like skinny jeans, 231 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: and he started wearing bracelets. And I was like, what 232 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 2: the hell, what's wrong with you? Do you look like 233 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: an old man in teenager's clothes? And I asked him, 234 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: are you seeing somebody else? Because this is too strange, 235 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 2: and he was saying, no, you're crazy. 236 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: She took his word for it. Their mutual trust was 237 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: an essential part of their relationship. 238 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 2: I had no reasons to doubt. I respected him so much. 239 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 2: I never went through his phone, I never went through 240 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: his wallet. 241 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: She talked all up to a midlife crisis, but over 242 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: time Ellie went from being distant to being cruel. One day, 243 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: Lucy and Ellie got into an argument. 244 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: And he said, you know something. You are not necessary, 245 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: you are convenient. I went to the room and I 246 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 2: started crying and didn't say anything. And he re realized 247 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: what stupid thing he said, and he started sending me 248 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: flowers and saying how important I am. 249 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: But Lucy couldn't get his words out of her head. 250 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: Every year Lucy and her friends went on a girl's trip. 251 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: We would go to Europe or New York or different 252 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 2: places just for a week or something like that. We 253 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 2: went to Spain and then we ended up in Turkey. 254 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: While on her girl's trip, she called Ellie to check in, 255 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: but when he picked up the phone, he was. 256 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: Crying, and I say, what happened. He used to have 257 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 2: a Bentley and he said, I went to the mall 258 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 2: to have the business lunch, and when I came back 259 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: to pick up my car, he was scratched from head 260 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 2: to toe, and I said what. 261 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: Lucy was confused, Why would that happen? And why was 262 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: he in tears over this? 263 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: Especially the mall that he went. It was a very 264 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 2: high end mall that had cameras and security all over. 265 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 2: He said, how could this happen? He said no, but 266 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 2: don't worry. I'm going to send it to be fixed. 267 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: Lucy wasn't ready to just accept this and move on. 268 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: It was too strange. King someone's car was personal. 269 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: Who did this? Who could have done this? And he said, 270 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: I don't know, this is just vandalism. 271 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: Even though he'd been so emotional on the phone, Alien 272 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: saysted that this was and targeted at them specifically. Lucy 273 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: wasn't convinced, but she tried to enjoy the rest of 274 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: her trip with her friends. 275 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 2: When I came back from my trip, I noticed he 276 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 2: was very nervous and the first night I received a 277 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 2: call at three o'clock in the. 278 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:23,959 Speaker 1: Morning, Lucy woke up in the darkness to her phone ringing. 279 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: When she picked up, there was silence. 280 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 2: And they hung up. 281 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: Lucy looked at Ellie sitting in bed next to her. 282 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: And he was very nervous. And I was like, what's 283 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 2: going on? And he said no, no, that must be 284 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 2: a wrong number. 285 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 1: Her normally calm and collected husband of twenty years seemed 286 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: a little rattled. The following day, one of their close 287 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: friends came over for dinner. They shared a nice meal, 288 00:17:55,760 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 1: good conversation, and everything felt normal. But then when their 289 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: friend was about to head home, Ellie stopped him. 290 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: He tells him, please don't leave. She's gonna need you, 291 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 2: and he tells me sit down. 292 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: Confused, Lucy sat down and her friend sat next to her. 293 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 1: They both looked at Ellie, waiting for an explanation. He 294 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: stood nervously in front of. 295 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 2: Them and he said, I have been kidnapped. And I 296 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 2: said what by who? What happened? 297 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, their living room became Ellie's confessional. 298 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 2: I have been dating women from sugar daddy dot com. 299 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 2: I have dated a few women. I would see them 300 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 2: at lunchtime two days a week, But for the last 301 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: six months I have been closer to these Russian women. 302 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 2: Anna and she's married, she has a three year old baby. 303 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: Her husband knows that she's an escort. He manages her. 304 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 1: Ellie would meet Anna in different places, sometimes in hotel rooms, 305 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: sometimes at one of his rental properties. But one day 306 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: things took a turn. 307 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: Anna told Ellie to meet her in an apartment that 308 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 2: Ellie owned. When Ellie goes to the apartment, he thought 309 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 2: he was going to be in the rendezvous with Anna. 310 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 2: When he goes there, who's in the apartment Anna's husband. 311 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: Ellie told Lucy how shocked he was in that moment, 312 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: but he said there was no time for him to react. 313 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:53,239 Speaker 1: Once Ellie was inside, Anna's husband closed the door and 314 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: took out a steel pipe, threatening to hurt Ellie. 315 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 2: He wanted Ellie to see that he was serious. He 316 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 2: told Elie, take off your clothes, so he got naked. 317 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: He sat him in the sofa, and he started breaking 318 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 2: things in the apartment. 319 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: Anna and her husband had been struggling financially, and they 320 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: knew how wealthy Ellie was, so they devised a plan 321 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: to extore him. They planted cameras in the hotel rooms 322 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 1: and rental properties where Ellie and Anna met, and they 323 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: filmed them having sex to use as blackmail. 324 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 2: Anna's husband would put the camera in front of the 325 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 2: bed and tell her this is where the camera is. 326 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,639 Speaker 2: This is where you have to concentrate, and then he 327 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 2: would record everything. 328 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: Now, Anna and her husband were threatening to release these tapes. 329 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: If Ellie did not comply with their demands. 330 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 2: You have to give me one million dollars cash and 331 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 2: you have to put on their my wife's name, two 332 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 2: apartments in a specific building. And if he didn't, I'm 333 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 2: going to tell your wife and everybody. I'm going to 334 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 2: ruin your reputation. And for Ellie, his reputation was everything. 335 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: If his reputation wasn't enough, Anna and her husband had 336 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:23,679 Speaker 1: more collateral. 337 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 2: Anna's husband showed Ellie pictures of my children, pictures of 338 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 2: my house, pictures of me, pictures of the cars, pictures 339 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: of the school my children went. They knew everything. They 340 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 2: implied there were going to be consequences. Something's going to 341 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 2: happen to your family. 342 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: Anna's husband held Ellie in the apartment for a few 343 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: hours to make it clear he was serious. Finally he 344 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: left and Ellie was free to go. Ellie explained all 345 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: of this in one go to Lucy. 346 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: I didn't know how to act. This was like from 347 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 2: a movie, but he was happening that day my life. 348 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: Collapsed, Lucy's husband, Ellie, sat her down and told her 349 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: he needed to confess something. She never could have predicted 350 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: what came out of his mouth next. 351 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: That day, my life collapsed. 352 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: She thought her husband of twenty years was an honest 353 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: and loyal man. She saw no indications otherwise until Ellie 354 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: was forced to tell her the truth. For years, he'd 355 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 1: been meeting women from a sugar Daddy website. For the 356 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: past few months, he'd been seeing one woman regularly. That 357 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: was until she and her husband devised a plan to 358 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: blackmail and extort Ellie, threatening Lucy and their children's safety 359 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: if Ellie didn't give them what they wanted, which was 360 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: a million dollars in cash and the deed to two 361 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: real estate properties. 362 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 2: It was such a shock. My world crashed, and but 363 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 2: I didn't know who to call. I didn't know who 364 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 2: to talk to. I didn't know what to do. 365 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: Her immediate reaction was to make sure the kids were safe. 366 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 2: There was a clear sign that we're watching us. We 367 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 2: don't know with whom we're telling with because we don't 368 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 2: know the associates they have. 369 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: Ellie came clean about the time someone keyed his Bentley. 370 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,719 Speaker 1: It wasn't a random act of vandalism, and he'd known it. 371 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 2: Evidently that was Anna's husband and his friends. 372 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: That call she'd gotten in the middle of the night 373 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: had also been from Anna's husband. They had all sorts 374 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: of information on Lucy and her family, their phone numbers, 375 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: license plates, their address. Anna and her husband had also 376 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: sent someone to take photos of Lucy's kids and her 377 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: It was terrifying. Anna and her husband were three steps ahead, 378 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: and Lucy was scared of what they might do next. 379 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 1: She had to think fast and went into solution mode. 380 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: All the while Ellie seemed to shrink. 381 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 2: He was super scared. He has always me in a coward. 382 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: Lucy wanted protection right away, so she hired a private 383 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 1: security detail. 384 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,239 Speaker 2: I had an armed guard for twenty four hours in 385 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 2: the front of my house, and this is very unusual 386 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 2: where I live. Just imagine the shock of my children. 387 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 1: What Anna and her husband were doing was a crime. 388 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: It was extortion. Despite how angry Lucy was, she worked 389 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: with Ellie as a team. She told Ellie he needed 390 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 1: to go to the police and report the crime. 391 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 2: And he contacted the FBI, so the FBI took the case. 392 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: The FBI needed proof of the extortion, so they planned 393 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 1: to record a phone call with Ellie Anna and her husband. 394 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 2: And the FBI told them, make him believe that you're 395 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: going to comply with what they want. We're going to 396 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: record this and then we're going to arrest them. 397 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 1: The call went off without a hitch. Anda's husband gave 398 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 1: the FBI exactly what they needed. 399 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,360 Speaker 2: He said, you know, I'm going to give you a break. 400 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 2: Just give me the million dollars and you don't have 401 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 2: to give me the two apartments because I want the 402 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 2: money right now. So they have that on tape. So 403 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,120 Speaker 2: they sent SWAT to their apartment and they got them, 404 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 2: both of them and their computers. They had all the evidence. 405 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: Authorities were able to charge Anna and her husband with 406 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: a federal crime. 407 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 2: They charged him with extortion. Both of them went to jail. 408 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 1: Since her husband confession, Lucy had been in fight or flight, 409 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: terrified for her children's safety. Finally it seemed like the 410 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: threat was neutralized. She thought that once Anna and her 411 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 1: husband were in jail, Ellie would apologize for what he'd 412 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 1: done and make amends with the family. But Ellie shut down. 413 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 2: I really tried, and he's like talking to a wall. 414 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 2: He would never ever explain himself, talk about feelings, talk 415 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 2: about anything. Zero. He never asked about me how I felt. 416 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 2: He never said I'm sorry. He portrayed himself as the victim. 417 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 2: He told me, I am the victim of extortion. I'm 418 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: the victim. He thought I was going to just ignore 419 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 2: the situation and keep on being married like nothing happened. 420 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: But the fact that he didn't seem to care about 421 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: what he'd put the family through through was what alarmed 422 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: Lucy the most. 423 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 2: How can you live with yourself knowing that you crushed 424 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 2: the people that love you the most and portray yourself 425 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 2: as a victim after you have caused so much damage. 426 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: As the shock of it all wore off, a new 427 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: feeling emerged in its place, betrayal. Who was this man 428 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: she built a life with? Was anything he told her true? 429 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 2: I started questioning many many things. I felt, I leave 430 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 2: the lie and I don't know who his true self 431 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 2: was when this happened. I think that was the most 432 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 2: difficult thing to deal with, the betrayal of knowing that 433 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 2: I don't know this person, that what I had in 434 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 2: my mind is not true. He's not the person I 435 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 2: thought he was. 436 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: Absolutely he's not Ellie had been meeting women from sugar 437 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: daddy dot Com. For years. After every meetup, he'd returned 438 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 1: to their home, sit down at dinner with their kids, 439 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: and lie about where he'd been. 440 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 2: It's not like I'm talking about five years. Twenty one 441 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 2: years of being fooled. He lived at facade. 442 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: Lucy realized that Anna and her husband weren't the only 443 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: threat to her safety. It was also Ellie. 444 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: I have no idea what he was capable of doing. 445 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 2: The betrayals too much, too deep. It was hell. I 446 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 2: went through the motions of living. That's it. I could 447 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 2: hardly survive. I was just an entity walking around. 448 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: She emotionally disconnected from Ellie for weeks. He tried to 449 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: win her back with grand gestures, the kind he'd made 450 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: at the beginning of their relationship. 451 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 2: He promised me, I'll buy you an apartment in Madrid. 452 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:00,120 Speaker 2: Let's move do He promised me the world. 453 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: But all the money in the world wouldn't fix it. 454 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: Lucy couldn't be bought. It was too late. There was 455 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: no coming back from this. 456 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: I kicked him out of the house. For him was 457 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 2: a shock that I left him. He never thought I 458 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: was going to leave. 459 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:28,239 Speaker 1: Then Lucy filed for divorce. When Ellie saw that she 460 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 1: was serious about leaving, it was like a switch flipped. 461 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: She saw it in his eyes and heard it in 462 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: his voice. 463 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: He thought, I'm going to destroy this woman because she 464 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 2: left me and losing her when I'm going to destroy 465 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 2: her in the process. 466 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: After she filed for divorce, Ellie became vicious. 467 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 2: He started being super mean to me, and he would 468 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 2: blame me on everything. He declared war. 469 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: The man who promised her the world just a few 470 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: weeks earlier, began barrated and insulting Lucy every chance he got. 471 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: He told her, I don't even love you. 472 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 2: If you were the last woman that insisted in the world, 473 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 2: I wouldn't even get close to you. That's how much 474 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 2: I dislike you. 475 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: Lucy thought his cruel remarks were as low as he 476 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: would go, but he was about to take his retaliation 477 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: a step further. One day, they got into an argument 478 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: on Lucy's front lawn. Ellie was escalating, becoming increasingly agitated 479 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: and getting in her personal space. 480 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 2: And he started talking to me with his finger in 481 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 2: my face, and I pushed him because he was on 482 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 2: my face. He said, you want to play with me? 483 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 2: You're going to see what suffering is. He called nine 484 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 2: one one, and nine one one came. They arrest me 485 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 2: for domestic violence. 486 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: Lucy remembers this moment vividly. Ellie watched, unfazed as she 487 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: was being handcuf. 488 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 2: They took me to jail. I was in jail for 489 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 2: three days, two nights. In jail. 490 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: It was unbelievable, surrounded by strangers. She was too anxious 491 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 1: to eat or even use the bathroom. She waited there 492 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: until a friend was able to bail her out. Lucy 493 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: has since gotten the domestic violence charge expunged. 494 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 2: Narcissists I think that they enjoy making you suffer because 495 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,320 Speaker 2: it makes them feel better. It makes them feel superior, 496 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 2: it makes them feel in control. 497 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: It was easy for him to pose as the victim 498 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: and paint her as the villain, and he made it 499 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: clear he was willing to do it again. A few 500 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: months later, it was time for Anna and her husband's 501 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: sentencing hearing. Lucy wanted to attend the hearing. She wrote 502 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 1: a victim impact statement. 503 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 2: I prepare a statement explaining everything that has happened and 504 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 2: how he had affected my children. 505 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 1: Ellie told her she wasn't allowed to go to the hearing. 506 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: If she showed up there, he said he'd have her 507 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: arrested again. 508 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 2: And since I was in jail not too long before, 509 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 2: I just believed him because he was so convincing. 510 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: Ellie was doing whatever he could to control the situation 511 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: and keep Lucy in the dark. Not only did he 512 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: intimidate Lucy out of attending the hearing, Ellie didn't attend either. 513 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 1: He never went to present his testimony and he was 514 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: the only witness. 515 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 2: He's a coward. He didn't want anything on record because 516 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 2: when you go to a court, everything is transcribed. So 517 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 2: johnsh never knew exactly what happened. They just said in general, 518 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 2: but nothing like the tragedy and all day implications, the threatening, 519 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 2: the impact on me and my kids. Did Josh never 520 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 2: heard it. He didn't advocate for his family for us. 521 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 2: His reputation was more important. He didn't want anybody to 522 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 2: hear what he did. 523 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: He couldn't face the shame of it because Ellie wasn't there. 524 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 1: The judge was very lenient with the sentencing. Anna's husband 525 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,600 Speaker 1: was sentenced to fifteen months in jail, and Anna was 526 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: only given five. As for Lucy, she endured a much 527 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: longer sentence, trying to put the pieces of her life 528 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 1: back together after Ellie's betrayal. 529 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 2: I was a mess. I barely could move for a 530 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:44,000 Speaker 2: year and a half. I was in bed, crying, crying, crying. 531 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 2: I would cry for days. I don't even remember many days. 532 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 2: This guy destroyed my life so much a way that 533 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 2: he destroyed my soul. 534 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: During their marriage, she and Ellie had cultivated a community 535 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: of close friends. After his betrayal, she needed someone to 536 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 1: turn to, but she'd stop getting replies or calls back 537 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 1: from friends. Then she found out that Ellie had been 538 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: telling everyone a very different story about their divorce, one 539 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: where Lucy was to blame. 540 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 2: I would receive calls from friends that would say, how 541 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 2: could you be uns faithful to your husband like that? 542 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 2: I say, what what are you talking about? He started 543 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,320 Speaker 2: saying that I wasn't faithful to him with a Russian 544 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 2: guy just changed the story, making me the one that 545 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 2: did everything he did. It was crazy. 546 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:43,840 Speaker 1: It was the definition of projection. But she couldn't stop 547 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: the rumors. Many of their friends took Ellie's side, and 548 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: she has a theory about. 549 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 2: Why Unfortunately money talks. People respect people with money, even 550 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 2: if they are the devil in disguise. People want to 551 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 2: be close to success, to successful people, not two people 552 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:06,760 Speaker 2: that are destroyed or a mess. I was a mess. 553 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:14,400 Speaker 2: I took a few pills because I want to numb myself, 554 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 2: not because I want to die. I wanted to numb myself. 555 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 2: But maybe I took too many. I ended up in 556 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:26,239 Speaker 2: the hospital in emergency, and they transferred me to a 557 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 2: psychiatric hospital. 558 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 1: The doctors asked Lucy what was going on at home? 559 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 2: When I told the psychiatric is my story, and she 560 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 2: thought I was making it up. She told me, your delusional, 561 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 2: what a story. 562 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: Lucy stayed in the psychiatric hospital for a few days. 563 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 1: Elie brought their kids to visit her. 564 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 2: He looked very calm and collected. He told my nineteen 565 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 2: year old son, listen, I think you should live alone 566 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 2: because mother is not well, so you shouldn't be with her. 567 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 2: And he gave him an apartment. That was devastating. He 568 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 2: took advantage of my vulnerability that he would talk about 569 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 2: me like I was the crazy one. He keeps the 570 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 2: financial control of everybody. 571 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 1: It took five months for their divorce to be finalized. 572 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 2: It cost him a fortune. It caused me my sanity 573 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 2: looking back. 574 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 1: Now, Lucy sees how wealth enabled Ellie. 575 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,360 Speaker 2: The more money you get, the more powerful you feel. 576 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:42,840 Speaker 2: He felt superior to everybody, and he's above everybody. He 577 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 2: thought he was untouchable. 578 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 1: It's been almost ten years since she discovered Ellie's betrayal. 579 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: Now a day goes by that she doesn't think about it. 580 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if I forgive him, But if I don't, 581 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 2: it's okay, because you don't have to forget everybody, especially 582 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 2: somebody that has been so perpously mean to you and 583 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:10,719 Speaker 2: your children. You know, he doesn't deserve forgiveness. 584 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 1: The person she has forgiven is herself. She knows now 585 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: that none of this was her fault. It took her 586 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: a while to trust again, but when she did, it 587 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:26,319 Speaker 1: was worth it. A few years ago, she met someone new. 588 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:31,720 Speaker 2: He made me be living life again. We got married 589 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:36,040 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three. We're happily married, and he's an 590 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 2: amazing man and he brings me joy every dingy. 591 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:43,520 Speaker 1: She's rebuilt a life that feels authentically hers. 592 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:47,440 Speaker 2: I just dedicate myself to what makes me happy. My 593 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:50,360 Speaker 2: two dogs are my life. My husband is my life, 594 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 2: my children. I live a very quiet life. I love 595 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 2: to read I love to watch my Netflix. I just 596 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 2: accept things for the way they are. I don't sweat 597 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:07,400 Speaker 2: little things. Finally, I'm at peace. 598 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 1: We end every weekly episode with the same question, why 599 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:16,279 Speaker 1: do you want to share your story? 600 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 2: What happened to me was minimized by many people around 601 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 2: me and the hurt. But I think that my story 602 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 2: was so extraordinary that it has to be heard. And 603 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:35,640 Speaker 2: you know something. In a way, I won validation because 604 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 2: I have been strong. I went through hell for years, 605 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 2: not months, years, and I discovered that I'm stronger than 606 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:45,520 Speaker 2: I think. 607 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:52,200 Speaker 1: On the next episode of Betrayal Weekly. 608 00:38:54,680 --> 00:39:00,040 Speaker 3: I remember everything that man, for so long had so 609 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 3: much control over me. I cannot just stand by and 610 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 3: do nothing. You will not get away with this. 611 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,000 Speaker 1: If you'd like to share your story on Betrayal, please 612 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: email betrayalpod at gmail dot com. That is betrayalpod at 613 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 1: gmail dot com. Please note that we are not a 614 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:35,360 Speaker 1: mental health organization. If you are in crisis or currently 615 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:39,720 Speaker 1: experiencing domestic violence, we encourage you to seek local help 616 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 1: or dial nine to one one. Please contact organizations that 617 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 1: offer immediate support. In our show notes, we've included a 618 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: list of US based resources you can follow us on 619 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:55,960 Speaker 1: Instagram at Betrayal pod or find me at It's Andrea Gunning. 620 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: To access our newsletter and additional content, and to connect 621 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 1: with the Betrayal community, join our substack at Betrayal dot 622 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 1: substack dot com. We're grateful for your support. 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Our associate producer 632 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:47,240 Speaker 1: is Leah Jablow. Production management by Kristin Melcurie, Booking support 633 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:50,719 Speaker 1: by Curry Richmond. Our iHeart team is Ali Perry and 634 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:55,360 Speaker 1: Tresica Crincheck. Audio editing by Tanner Robbins, with additional editing 635 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:59,240 Speaker 1: and mixing by Matt Delvecchio. Betrayal's theme composed by Oliver 636 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:03,919 Speaker 1: Bains music library provided by my Music. And for more 637 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:08,320 Speaker 1: podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 638 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:14,960 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.