[Music] before everything fell apart my life followed a comfortable routine I never imagined my world would turn upside down work was steady relationships were stable and I believed that hard work honesty and diligence would naturally make things fall into place but I soon realized how little control I actually had over the important things looking back I wonder if there were signs I missed in hindsight I can spot the small inconsistencies the moments of unease I ignored because I trusted those around me at the time I brushed them off focused on keeping the peace my loyalty
was my blind spot when my therapist suggested I write down my experiences she said my unresolved anger was a heavy burden she believed that until I confronted the pain of betrayal I wouldn't be able to heal even now I struggle to find closure seeking answers that seem unreachable my life is stuck unable to move forward she encourages me to view things differently hoping i'll ReDiscover who I am beneath the hurt whoever he is I don't know him she says that's my problem my name is Robert Benson 34 years old I was a middle manager at
an engineering firm designing machines it was a family-owned business so I knew I wouldn't move up since I wasn't family the events I'm about to share led to my leaving the firm I've been told I'm one of the good guys hardworking with a sense of humor I took my respons responsibility seriously especially my marriage but it seemed I was the only one in high school I did slightly above average through hard work I wasn't a genius but I passed my exams I had close friends who supported me I wasn't a ladies man but I treated
women well and took no for an answer I dropped out of high school and began working for the firm as an apprentice while studying engineering at Community College I always enjoyed building things from Duplo to Lego to meano and now computer design machines my friends joked about my love for gadgets I even wore one a camera badge at a party which turned out to be more useful than I anticipated at the end of my freshman year my friend Bill convinced me to go to a party where nursing students hung out I wasn't expecting much but
went for the live music Bill's friend introduced us to the girls and I was surprised when one of them Carol started talking to me we danced laughed and she asked to see me again I agreed not knowing it would later show how naive I was we started dating and I felt emotions I'd rarely experienced Carol took my breath away and I missed her when she wasn't around my parents teased me about it but they were happy to see how much joy she brought me I worked harder to show Carol that I could be someone she'd
respect and maybe even love we often talked about the future she wanted to become a registered nurse and worried that having kids would interfere with her career I told her having children could actually help giving her valuable experience we discussed it endlessly but she was firm in her decision my parents especially my mom who adored Carol advised me to follow my heart Carol was close to her sister Carrie and after her night shifts she'd often spend several days at car's house two hours away she'd tell me I was too busy to miss her but I
always did I eventually gave into Carol's no kids condition and we married 3 years after meeting on June 16th 2009 bill was my best man and Stephanie no longer with Bill was Carol's maid of honor Carol looked stunning in her Ivory satin dress smiling ing at me as she walked down the aisle I couldn't stop grinning after the wedding Carol moved into my house which I had bought from my grandparents and fixed up myself however we had a disagreement over finances Carol wanted to keep her own bank account so we opened a joint account for
shared expenses like bills and vacations I lost that argument too the first few years were good though not perfect we attended Carol's nursing class reunions and while I was sometimes away for work I felt out of place at these Gatherings Carol danced with a few doctors but I didn't mind I became friends with some of the husbands and we bonded over golf occasionally I went on golf trips that overlapped with Carol's reunions or her visits to her sister which bothered me Carol didn't talk much about her career saying she was content as a regular nurse
and didn't want the extra responsibility of a promotion we planned most of our social life around her friends but I still spent time with Bill and others for drinks Carol sometimes joined us and we enjoyed dancing eating out and weekend trips to Glasgow or Edinburgh we also took vacations to beautiful beach destinations though Carol preferred conservative swimsuits we rarely argued when we disagreed we'd talk it through and sometimes I'd win sometimes she would it never affected our relationship in private Carol could be adventurous and bold and we tried new things together every day I found
myself loving her more as our 10th anniversary approached I wanted to plan something special I talked to Stephanie about booking a hotel dinner and dancing she agreed and promised to keep it a secret from Carol a few days before the event I told Carol and she was thrilled the next thing I knew we were on our way with friends at the hotel Carol and Stephanie were deep in conversation while Brian and I talked golf later at the hotel nightclub Carol spent most of the night dancing with me but at one point while we were dancing
a man tapped my shoulder and when I turned around Carol was in his arms I was stunned she looked at him with a happiness I'd never seen before I walked back to the table shocked and Stephanie clearly pleased said Robert it's great you let Carol dance with her first love he was supposed to claim her at your wedding but he didn't show I was Furious and demanded to know what was going on no one would look at me except Stephanie who smiled with contempt I yelled at her for setting this up and ruining my evening
Carol heard me and pulled me into the hotel lobby what she said next shattered me Robert the man I danced with is Bruce Benning my first and only love she confessed she explained they dated before we met and though he was becoming a neurosurgeon they stayed in touch she loved him not me and said that's why she didn't want children with me she knew she would eventually leave me for Bruce now she was leaving to be with him she said she had loved being with me but if Bruce hadn't returned she would have stayed with
me forever my world crumbled I felt sick and before I knew it I threw up as I saw Bruce walking toward us I snapped I screamed at Carol calling her names and demanded she'd give me her wedding and engagement Rings the others were shocked by my anger when Bruce approached I warned him to stay away or he'd never use his hands again I turned on everyone accusing them of enjoying watching my humiliation then I looked at Carol again filled with rage I demanded the Rings again and she seeing how dangerous the situation had become handed
them over I stormed off to our room grabbed my things threw her clothes in the trash and urinated on them before leaving I gave my key card to the receptionist telling her Carol would pay the bill looking back I regret not apologizing for throwing up in the lobby but I doubt I'll ever return I drove home in a days not remembering the trip once there I calmed down and felt the need to act I disabled the garage door opener grabbed trash bags and headed to the bedroom I emptied Carol's closets and drawers into the bags
finding two keys one for the vault the other for a safety deposit box I also went through her jewelry and papers but found nothing suspicious at that moment it was past 2 a.m. but I couldn't calm down I searched online and found the storage facility she used I went there wearing gloves to avoid leaving Prince what I found inside ripped me apart I photographed everything and picked the locks on two cabinets one contained Carol secret plans which shocked me and the other was full of files on Bruce Benning confirming my suspicions about him being a
selfish heartless narcissist I returned home bought new locks and changed them before heading to the bank in the safety deposit box I found Bonds in Carol's name I photographed them wondering where she got the money soon after Carol texted asking to pick up her car I replied reminding her the car was in my name and I'd use it until the lease expired I warned her not to bring Benning and I threatened to burn her clothes if she didn't want them her sister called shouting insults so I blocked her though I hadn't planned on it I
ended up burning Carol's wedding dress in the fireplace watching it turn to ashes like our marriage an hour later Carol arrived with Stephanie and Brian Brian quietly asked how I was I laughed bitterly and said what do you think I'm furious with all of you for covering for her and with myself for being fooled by her Carol looked irritated when I called her a promiscuous as if she expected me to act normal Robert I know you're hurting but this isn't like you you ruined the clothes I was going to wear for Bruce I'll get my
things and leave you alone I've always loved Bruce and you deserve someone who will love you and give you children I really enjoyed our time together if I hadn't met Bruce I would have been happy with you can I have my wedding ring back as a reminder of the good times I yelled no that ring has been in my family for Generations my mom cherished it and you were supposed to be the one I haven't even told them what a deceitful promiscuous you are Carol flinched at my anger as she loaded her bags with Brian
and Stephanie's help she asked about the wedding dress check the fire pit I said when she saw the ashes she cried and Stephanie called me a prick I snapped back she can't wear it for that a-hole now those are the ashes of my marriage who the hell do you think you are Brian stayed silent clearly uncomfortable Carol asked if she could check for anything I missed and I agreed while she did I told Brian we won't be defending any more titles he nodded Carol came back down speaking softly I'm sorry Robert but I've always loved
Bruce you'll find someone who truly loves you and will give you the family you want this is for the best even though it hurts they left and I went to bed exhausted later my mom called accusing me of striking Carol apparently Carol had shown her pictures of supposed injuries mom she's lying she's been having an affair with Bruce for years and now she's trying to take everything I've never raised a hand to her or any woman you can believe her or me but if you side with her you'll lose me forever I hung up the
battle had begun after dinner I returned home ready to organize all the information I had following the money Trail I checked our joint account and what I found was revealing Carol's password book proved invaluable I spent the rest of the evening and Sunday sorting through everything and changing all my passwords I've been played I muttered pacing every time she visited her sister I was away either competing or on vacation with my so-called friends the realization Hit me hard she had been cheating the whole time Monday morning I arrived at the office early to check my
leave balance Sandra from HR noticed something was wrong Robert are you okay she asked concerned my world exploded Friday was our anniversary but she set it up for her lover to take her away right in front of me I explained she's been seeing him for 13 years accusing me of misuse now to destroy me Sandra hugged me saying I know you'd never hurt anyone call me if you need anything there are people who know the truth as I returned to my desk my boss called me in Carol came to my house with pictures of you
abusing her her he said accusingly I replied do you really believe that lying strumpet over me fire me or I'll leave now I'm due 9 weeks of leave he was stunned but I didn't care I resigned on the spot sending my letter through internal mail later I found more evidence from Financial records showing Carol had been staying at a hotel 3 hours away claiming she was visiting her sister I packed up and drove there enjoying the car even more knowing it annoyed Carol at the hotel I asked to speak to the manager I knew it
was a long shot to get information but I explained that the man she was with was likely involved with another woman as well though they couldn't help without a court order I wasn't surprised after the manager left the receptionist leaned in and spoke quietly I know the couple you're talking about they've been here many times he's a real arrogant idiot I'm an old friend of the woman he's been stalking he forced her to sell everything to get his money I can put you in touch with her lawyer she's great and can help you get a
court order I nodded grateful thanks if Carol had just left with a prenup I wouldn't have done anything but now they're trying to ruin my life they picked the wrong person 15 minutes later I met with Heather Morrison a tough lawyer who listened as I explained everything she asked do you have the evidence I replied yes it's all documented on my phone and camera and more organized on my laptop Heather smiled meet me tomorrow at 7:30 and we'll go over it all before heading to the courthouse at 8:30 I think we can get a warrant
for the Hotel videotapes feeling hopeful I added he usually uses this hotel group he scammed three other women Heather's eyes hardened I'll be your lawyer if you want that prick won't know what hit him the next morning I met Heather again along with Jim the father of one of benning's sufferers and a private investigator I handed them an SD card with all the evidence including files on another sufferer Betsy Jim visibly angry said the world would be better off without him at the courthouse Heather spoke with a clerk which seemed unusual but then a man
approached and ordered the clerk to stop Betsy from paying or selling her house he handed Heather a warrant for all the hotels in the group and warned the manager Marvin to cooperate or face jail when we arrived at the hotel Marvin hesitated but Heather scared him into compliance security input the dates Carol claimed to visit her sister and the names Mr and Mrs Benning appeared soon we had video evidence of Carol and Benning together having a meal and entering their room we also found 26 more reservations across different hotels in the group though footage older
than 18 months was unavailable Heather was pleased noting everything down and the manager promised to send all the videos and documentation back in Heather's office she laid out the plan we need them to initiate the divorce if you file for infidelity now they'll retaliate with charges using those pictures against you let them file first and we'll dismantle their case with the evidence we have Jim was still tracking down other sufferers while Heather prepared to use the videos to undermine Carol's case her team would handle the finances and legal details I need a break I sigh
I'm tired I want to fight but I'm exhausted Heather agreed take a few weeks off you deserve it but when you're ready you'll need to find a job someone will hire you even with these false accusations discovering that Benning had cheated on other women too oddly comforted me I wasn't the only fool finding proof helped me feel less worthless though I was still tired and angry whenever I thought about that night I took some time off heading south to ride roller coasters for stress relief then up to iness to explore the North Coast 500 the
scenery helped me forget the Betrayal for a while when I returned home I was surprised to see my lawn wellmaintained my neighbor Gordon came out smiling The Wanderer returns he joked Sandra called worried about you she and some S Help tidy your garden but officials have been looking for you so expect a visit soon I thanked him and promised to drop by for a beer after shopping over the next few weeks Sandra and I talked regularly but she never brought up Carol's lies she just listened when I needed to vent for which I was grateful
one evening while Gordon and I were chatting a court messenger arrived with divorce papers he smirked as he handed them over I smiled back saying I hope the sheriff hates Liars as much as I do I immediately called Heather and sent her the documents she reassured me don't worry Robert we've got this 7 weeks later I was waiting in court with Heather for the divorce hearing Jim was there too looking happy and hugging me as I arrived I sat next to Heather and Jim with Sandra Josie Michaela Gordon Bill and a few other supportive friends
behind me my brother Dan had offered support but couldn't come due to work in a falling out with our parents who believed Carol over me Carol's Co co-workers Stephanie and Amy sat behind her and Benning stood next to her grinning his confidence wavered when Heather and Jim arrived my parents were there supporting Carol I ignored their stares and Carol's glances Bill quietly called her a powerfully dressed promiscuous which I imagined earned some looks from Carol and Stephanie Carol's attorney Miss Johnston began confidently stating that Carol admitted to infidelity but only after enduring misuse during the
marriage she asked for 10% of the joint assets and a divorce based on spousal misuse aiming to have the Judgment in Carol's favor Heather could barely contain her laughter Heather stood and addressed the court explaining that there had been no mediation due to Carol's actions and agreeing to let Miss Johnston present her case first as long as she could cross-examine Witnesses the sheriff agreed Heather then outlined our case emphasizing that Carol's lies were deliberate and intended to destroy my reputation career and relationships she explained that Carol had caused me to lose my job and strain
my friendships and Family Ties Heather firmly stated there was no spousal misuse and they would prove it when Carol took the stand I kept my eyes forward Carol's lawyer asked her about our relationship and she claimed I became violent because I didn't like her working nights accusing her of cheating with doctors she tearfully described how I allegedly punched her and how she used makeup to hide the bruises seeking Refuge at her sister's house she said her sister took pictures for the divorce when asked if she was having having an affair Carol admitted it explaining how
she reconnected with Bruce who was kind and supportive helping her feel whole while she was being bullied by me the lawyer guided Carol through every detail of her affair with Benning right up to the anniversary dinner she claimed I had threatened to rip off her finger for the ring and to Break benning's Hands Carol insisted my anger and cruelty scared her she said she only wanted the engagement ring back and described her Devastation upon finding her clothes trashed and her wedding dress burned her lawyer looked smug as she recounted it all next her sister Carrie
Stephanie and Benning testified painting me as abusive Carrie confirmed she had taken photos of Carol's bruises which made Heather quietly Smile by the time Benning finished it was late and the judge called a recess as I left the courtroom Sandra loudly declared I've never heard such disgusting lies and hugged me along with my other supporters my parents siding with Carol glared at me the next morning Heather cross examined Carol calling her by her maiden name Rees she asked Carol about meeting betting and whether her Affair story was true Carol blushed and said yes Heather then
played a recording from our anniversary dinner where Carol had told me you've been the best husband anyone could wish for Heather asked are those the words of a misused wife Carol awkwardly claimed she was trying to show she cared but hated me for my bullying Heather pressed on pointing out that Carol had acted like a loving wife during our anniversary while while secretly plotting with Benning she played another recording where Carol admitted Robert the man I danced with is Bruce Benning he is my first and only love the courtroom gasped as Carol revealed that she
had always loved Bruce even while married to me she admitted he was the reason she didn't want children as she planned to leave with him Heather then presented surveillance footage of Carol outside our home and evidence of her hotel stays with Benning challenging Carol's claims that she had been at her sister's house on certain dates the video and reservation records proved she had been with Benning at hotels instead finally Heather confronted Carol with the lack of any visible bruises in all the footage she hammered home that Carol's claims of misuse were lies exposing her Affair
as a willing long-term deception with Benning not the result of any mistreatment Carol's face turned pale as Heather delivered the final blow you weren't saved by Benning you were his willing partner Carol shot a furious glare at Heather as muffled laughter spread through the gallery unfazed Heather grew more intimidating let's review that Financial story you brought to court according to your agreement with Mr Benson both of you were supposed to contribute part of your salary to a joint account but that's not the full truth is it you wanted to hide your income from Mr Benson
preparing for the day you might leave him you lied for years playing the devoted wife while secretly planning your exit Heather hit another button revealing Carol's bank statements on the screen they displayed substantial savings she had concealed and significant payments from her job that she had kept secret a poor nurse who didn't want a promotion Heather scoffed but in reality you're the third most senior nurse at the hospital earning almost four times what you told Mr Benson next Heather brought up the bonds how do you explain these being in your name found in your safety
deposit box these bonds belong to Mr Benson and you've been hoarding them visibly shaken Carol tried to defend herself I was protecting myself after his misuse she muttered Heather wasn't buying it these are verified facts Miss Reese and they prove you've been lying you want your wedding ring back an adulteress wouldn't expect to keep it would she is it sentimental a reminder of the good man you threw away in a rare moment of defiance Carol replied I love that ring it meant everything to me especially after he burned my wedding dress I want it back
Heather pressed another button showing a picture of Bruce Benning and car Carol at a hospital event 9 months before her marriage ended the image captured Carol proudly displaying a new engagement ring Heather's tone turned icy the newspaper beautifully described the event Mr benting proudly showed off the unique engagement ring he gave his fiance it's strikingly similar to the one Mr Benson mistakenly gave to a woman claiming to be his fiance isn't it it was all a performance wasn't it to make Benning seem committed securing a doctor's wife for his career Carol sat there speechless as
Heather continued Benning will keep you around as long as it benefits his professional Ambitions when he's done with you he'll discard you just like he planned still upset over your wedding dress did you plan to wear it if no when Benning marries you Carol's response was barely a whisper no she said but the tears followed the gallery murmured and it was clear to all that Carol's lies were unraveling Heather wasn't done she turned to Stephanie who had stood by Carol's side throughout Stephanie she began calmly how long have you known about Carol's Affair Stephanie turned
pale the affair was with Robert she stammered Carol has always been with Bruce Heather's smile was cutting why lie for her I didn't lie Stephanie shakily replied I just repeated what I was told Heather's questioning tore through Stephanie's defenses until there was nothing left to hide Carol's entire web of Deceit was collapsing The Truth Exposed for all to see Heather asked have you ever seen the bruises Carol claims she had Stephanie hesitated no she admitted she was just so upset and I believed her despite numerous questions Stephanie refused to admit she had been a fool
standing by her friend Heather was relentless Stephanie had no way out finally Heather asked do you know how to tell the truth how many boyfriends do you have do you plan to pull the same stunt with your husband when something better comes along Stephanie was stunned I love my husband I wouldn't do that Heather pressed another button displaying a video of Stephanie and her husband Amy Grant leaving the room and meeting Carol and Bruce Stephanie collapsed on the counter before fainting Amy yelled from the gallery you damn liar and stormed out it seemed Brian and
Grant were about to find out what had happened Heather turned to the sheriff may I call another witness before cross-examining Bruce Benning their testimony will clarify things for the court the sheriff agreed as I later learned from Bill benting appeared to have had a heart attack when Heather called Samantha Wiseman a woman I'd never seen stepped up to the podium she looked Flawless like she walked straight out of a Cosmetics ad Heather smiled Miss wisman what's your profession Samantha answered cautiously I'm a creative working in theater film and TV I create textural effects or use
makeup to enhance events think of Street artists who create Illusions like Giant holes in the road or trains bursting through walls I can make people look like that Heather continued do you know Bruce Benning Samantha responded carefully yes I met him in Bristol my son Allan had a benign brain tumor and Mr Benning performed the surgery it was a success that was 8 years ago Heather asked how did Mr Benning learn about your skills Samantha explained after the surgery Allen's motor skills were impaired I helped him regain control of his arm and hand by sculpting
monsters with plasticine Mr Benning walked in and was fascinated by what I was doing Heather pressed on did things go beyond that Samantha replied yes it was around Halloween and he asked me to do his makeup for a party he wanted to look like an abusive spouse because his friends always said he was too serious and never got a joke he said his reputation was unfair he claimed he wouldn't stand for a woman telling him no or showing superiority over him it would prove to everyone they were wrong I did his makeup for three parties
that year and each time the bruises were a different shade I've done it three more times since then spaced a few years apart Heather asked besides Mr Benning do you know anyone else in this courtroom Samantha glanced around and replied Carol and Samantha I did their makeup for some parties in Liverpool last year they said their husbands would never touch them but they were curious to see how their friends would react Heather pressed a button and images of Carol and Samantha appeared on the screen screen they must have been Samantha's work showing the entire process
neither woman had a mark before she started by the time she finished it was believable enough that I thought I had strike Carol she's incredibly talented I almost laughed when I realized the photos Carol showed in court were the same ones Heather stammered so all those photos are of your work and none of the bruises are real Samantha answered when they arrived they were spotless when they left they looked knocking Heather asked did you know what your work would be used for Samantha was shocked no I'd never be part of that if I had known
I would have told the truth Heather simply replied thank you Miss Johnston had no questions she looked shocked and defeated the sheriff hummed as if signaling his satisfaction with the case being near its end but Heather wasn't finished as Benning was testifying two men entered the courtroom looking only at him benning's expression darkened I kept my G fixed on him eager to watch Heather break him down my smile rehearsed for this moment betrayed how much I looked forward to it Heather began Mr Benning you had an affair with Miss Reese before she married Mr Benson
didn't you Benning replied arrogantly no I only stepped in to help her Heather dismantled his lies bit by bit his arrogance made me shudder he only loved himself constantly flaunting his achievements when Heather finally cornered him the metaphorical trap door opened Heather grinned yesterday you claimed you became physical engaged with Miss ree only after her husband attacked her but today I've shown the court years of evidence of your secret meetings in hotels some lasting for days she laughed at your attempts to seduce her Benning Furious retorted no we only became physical engaged recently Heather continued
Hotel staff often complained about the noise coming from your room those moose screams during your physical engaged moments are the hotel staff lying Benning stared at her as she listed the many complaints Heather smiled and added there's more about your behavior Heather started to conclude you've lied to cover up your affair with a married woman you've lied to your employers claiming all of this is a fabrication are you truly a surgeon or is that another lie Benning growing angrier shouted I am a surgeon one of the best Heather laughed you may be skilled with a
scalpel but as a human being you're deplorable she pressed a button displaying pictures of bening's past abusive relationships the accompanying letters showed how he had manipulated four different courts into granting him Financial settlements from women like Betsy whom he had pretended to befriend Heather scrolled through more damning images and letters the courtroom watched as benning's pattern of manipulation and deceit became evident she pressed further these records suggest that you orchestrated these schemes as revenge against women who rejected you isn't that true Benning sat visibly uncomfortable Heather continued court documents show that all these women denied
attacking you yet you convinced the sheriff with fabricated evidence you lied didn't you Benning fidgeted but said nothing Heather leaned in sensing her Advantage your colleagues were right about you you can't handle women standing up to you you pursued them for their property and persecuted them when they said no you lied in court didn't you benning's face turned red but he remained tight lipped Heather's voice sharpened you're nothing but a small man in every sense Mr Benning his Outburst didn't escape the sheriff's notice and Heather almost laughed when he snapped calling her a bloody witch
unfazed Heather pressed on you've lied your way through this entire case and now the truth is out your arrogance is crumbling and you know what's coming next she gestured to the two men in the courtroom do you know who they are benning's eyes widened as he glanced at them Heather smirked they're here to arrest you she wasn't finished you didn't just lie about your relationships you plotted to destroy people's lives let's talk about Carol now she displayed records of benning's meetings with Carol their correspondant and their plans you denied communicating with her during this time
didn't you Benning stammered we weren't Heather cut him off but here's a detailed plan where you conspired to accuse Mr Benson of attacking Carol you created this to ruin an innocent man's life at this sobs echoed through the gallery Carol's lies were fully exposed and the tension in the room was thick with emotion Heather pressed on Relentless you were planning to destroy him weren't you his career his marriage everything you thought there'd be no consequences Benning clearly shaken tried to downplay it it was just talk we weren't really going to go through with it Heather
incredulous fired back but you did you said it all in motion you manipulated ated Miss Johnston into bringing this case to court thinking you'd walk away untouched she paused for effect before continuing and you weren't stopping there were you you were already plotting your next scheme to steal more money weren't you Benning denied it but his unease grew he glanced nervously at the Two Men and at Carol who was visibly distraught Heather sensing the final blow was near addressed the gallery now letun turn to the final piece of evidence she pressed a few buttons and
the courtroom collectively gasped as a new document appeared on the screen it was benning's plan to sue Carol for all her money a loud SOB burst from Carol as she saw her name in the details of benning's betrayal her crying intensified as the plan to marry her only to discard her later was revealed Benning had been planning to use her as a pawn to secure his position as Chief neurosurgeon only to ruin her life once he got what he wanted Heather addressed the court this so-called surgeon has lied in court after court manipulating others to
secure Financial gains and now Sheriff Griffith in Hamilton has issued a warrant for his arrest she motioned toward the two officers these officers are here to execute that warrant on behalf of his sufferers as the officers approached Benning paled his defeat obvious Heather added this morning I secured a court order freezing all of your assets it's already in effect she stared directly at him I'm sure miss Reese now understands the difference between what she threw away and the con artist standing before us the officer handcuffed Benning leading him out of the courtroom the gallery sat
in stunned silence as Heather turned to the sheriff signaling her work was complete Heather then turned to me Mr Benson I believe it's time for your testimony I stood up and took the stand still reeling from all the revelations Heather gently guided me through the details of my marriage the Betrayal and the lies that had upended my life I explained the shock I felt upon learning what had been happening behind my back how my world collapsed because of their lies I lost my job my parents distanced themselves and many of my friends cut me off
I explained my voice heavy with emotion they all believed I was in misuser I haven't been able to find work since despite being a damn good engineer Heather nodded giving me space to share my story and how has this impacted your life it's taken everything from me I said quietly everything I cared about the sheriff visibly moved gave his closing remarks Mr Benson you have been fully Vindicated and spared a gross mishap of Justice you are as your attorney said from the beginning a decent honest and caring person you deserve a good future with someone
who shares those qualities with that the case was closed and the courtroom erupted in tears and Embraces Jim hugged Heather then me Bill Sandra and others came over to offer their support I saw my mother in The Gallery crying she had lost her daughter because of these lies and her time with her grandchildren had been cut short short but at least now the truth was out the next day the sheriff dissolved my marriage and awarded me my rightful share of our joint assets he ordered my ex-wife to repay the money she had used on her
Affair and car as well as contribute to our joint account the settlement amounted to £22,500 and she was ordered to pay me £675 a month until I found a job with a salary comparable to what I had lost Heather's team had every detail meticulously documented and the court received the evidence Carol looked like a shell of her former self and even Samantha's makeupup couldn't hide the toll her tears had taken the sheriff sternly warned Carol that he was considering jail time for her courtroom lies if the truth hadn't come out you would be facing a
much longer sentence he said Carol was fine £5,000 and her 3-month suspended sentence would become active if she failed to pay within a month Carrie and Samantha were each fined 1,000 also due within 30 days Heather's next steps were clear she would pursue benning's removal from the medical register through the General Medical Council while we spoke Jim got a call from Hamilton Court Benning had been taken into custody Sheriff Griffiths made it clear to benning's defense that the next time he appeared in court he would need to deposit all the money he had stolen from
those four women into the court account or face a long prison sentence additionally he would be responsible for covering all court fees and any other Justified expenses incurred due to his false claims even with those payments he was still looking at prison time Heather also planned to appeal to the nursing board about Carol's Behavior though she knew it would likely fail since Carol hadn't misused her position like Benning still it would raise a red flag for potential employers as I moved forward Heather advised me to endure the child support payments until I found a new
job Jim startled me when he quietly said stay with Sandra for a bit she seems to like you whenever I talk to her she's always kind and thoughtful maybe you two can help each other out even though she said she can't be what you want whatever that means I'll say this once with everything you've been through you should see a counselor despite your cheerful attitude you're hurting a lot you're not fooling us a counselor can help you find yourself live your life and find happiness you deserve that Heather and I have seen so much over
the years but your story is one for books and movies you're a good decent honorable man help me get that man back and make a damn good life that'll prove them wrong as we parted Heather's final words made me chuckle if you think the sheriff let her off easy by not throwing her in jail he didn't my bill will be around £24,000 yours would be lower since you were so helpful to Betsy but she'll never know it Dan came by after work looking happy for me but exhausted from sleepless nights with the new baby they
decided to have a third child because he wanted a son and now he had one our parents hadn't met him yet he offered me a night shift job but I declined I didn't have much experience in that field he put his arm around around me and said you'll find the right person you'll have the family you want at least until you get hit with that first dirty diaper he laughed as he left later Sandra Josie Michaela Gordon Bill and a few others came over to celebrate with drinks it felt great to have some fun Josie
surprised me by asking me to dance she smiled pulling me closer take a chance with Sandra she's always had feelings for you you two would be a good match and if not Michaela or I will scoop you up she laughed pretending I'd stepped on her foot as she waddled away Sandra was the last to leave Robert she said I told you before that if you ever needed anything I'd be there for you I still mean that I wish I could be the woman you need if I had been maybe Michaela Josie and the others would
have been great friends or more you're too good a man to be alone I've seen how you are with other people's kids you'll make a great dad do what you need to find that love maybe we can help each other I was too young and didn't know myself well enough to help you back then you meant a lot to me you were my first love not just a crush Jim suggested I see a counselor to find myself maybe we should both go and see what happens I have a void I don't know who I am
Sandra smiled Robert if we do this it's only because I want to be with you as a partner and maybe someday as a mother you deserve that she sighed let's try seeing a counselor two days later the local newspaper came out and I was on the front page the article was detailed explaining how they had tried to set me up no one was left doubting that I was the good guy the comments section online showed no support for her and some of the things people said about her fate were unsettling about 8 weeks later Heather
emailed me with copies of her letters to the General Medical Council the general Board of Nursing and the leadership of Carrie Evangelical Church she didn't spare Benning detailing his public disclosures lies in court and demanding his medical registration be suspended immediately at his third hearing despite repaying over £250,000 he had swindled from those women Sheriff Griffith sentenced him to 5 years in prison Heather handed Samantha weisman's photographs and testimony to the prosecutor who made sure benning's defense had the evidence before they even left the courtroom Benning pleaded guilty on the first day of his plea
hearing earning a 33% reduction on his sentence Sheriff Griffith cited an earlier ruling upheld by the court of appeal saying that while the maximum term was 5 years he believed the high court would have given Benning 7 and a half he considered sending him to the high court but decided against it due to the backlog caused by covid appeal at your own risk he said benning's disgrace made national headlines and Sunday papers tore him apart I was approached for comment but declined stating I was still too emotionally raw from her betrayal to speak publicly Heather's
letter to the Evangelical Church leadership raised questions about car's suitability for her role in potential promotions she pointed out that Carrie had lied under oath violating the very commandment she swore on the Bible to uphold I doubted her marriage would survive given how zealous her husband was about their faith at the golf club I found out Brian and Stephanie had split and Amy and Grant had broken up too even Sarah and Mark were having issues because of her closeness to the others leading to Mark's growing suspicions at least my golf shots went 15 yards farther
when I imagined the ball belonged to one of the Bings as for Carol I couldn't care less about her karma's a witch Sandra and I have been seeing two psychologists for over three months now it's been tough but we've been there for each other well at least she's been there for me Sharon helps Sandra and I go along but only stay for the big stuff Sandra told me her mom was pretty terrible to her really bad actually I had dated Sarah and Sandra would hug me when I cried when we talked about my feelings regarding
Carol and our marriage I was a mess Sarah helped me break down the emotional wall I had built to cope I hated her for easing the pain because she made me confront the real issue Carol's betrayal wasn't the worst part it was how far she was willing to go to destroy me that broke me I didn't recognize this version of Carol and I didn't recognize myself anymore Sarah told me I hadn't done anything wrong I was just turning my anger inward because I couldn't find answers she said if I could write it all down and
see it clearly like an engineering problem I'd realize it was two deceitful people who did this to me it wasn't my fault I didn't play any part in what they did I was the good guy everyone saw Sandra backed Sharon up on this and because of her I wrote this article she was very convincing even offering me a reward if I did it I've read the articles several times and I can finally see that none of this was my fault none of us had any reason to suspect what Carol was doing we had a perfect
marriage hardly any arguments maybe I was gullible for believing she loved me but there was nothing I could have done to stop what they planned now I just need to come to terms with that I know I ruined their plans more than they ruined mine I called Sandra to tell her I was finished with the article she said she'd be over soon I'm not sure what the reward will be but she's an amazing Baker and she teased me with the idea of scones I love scones we've been spending a lot of time together cuddling at
the movies or at her house fitting in time whenever we can we have great conversations we share so many interests though some don't really interest each other and that's fine with us for instance she doesn't get why I like golf a good walk ruined she calls it a few weeks ago Sandra talked to Sharon about her love for kids and her hope of having some close by Sharon's helping her with that as our last session showed so maybe she sees a future there there was a knock at the door and it was Sandra she looked
nervous so I took her coat she gave me the strangest look her lips tight like she does when she's stressed and she looked terrified she sighed Shrugged and slowly took off her coat I've been doing what Sharon suggested to prepare but I'm scared she said I led her into the living room and sat down beside her Sandra you don't have to do this Robert I want to this is the first step toward being more for you what else could I do we moved forward two weeks later everything changed again I was in a great mood
because I got a job with a competitor of du paying me more than they did Neil Davidson seemed like a solid guy during the interview every I'd heard about him was confirmed he'd been through his own struggles so he understood what I was going through but that didn't stop him from thoroughly testing my engineering skills Sandra and I spent most evenings together last weekend I took her to a roller coaster park in Staffordshire it was her first time and she screamed the whole ride but loved it I booked a room with twin beds and when
Sandra came in she seemed deep in thought after her two sessions with Sharon that week I picked her up and danced with her thrilled about my new job and more importantly about having her in my life I kept telling her how happy I was as we danced that same day I proposed to her we toasted to the Future she said we'll have time to talk about what we want but is there anything you think we should discuss now I glanced around where are we going to live you might not want to stay here because of
its history Sandra laughed I'll live anywhere with you I don't see any reason to move the new houses feel like rabbit holes I used to come here with you when you visited your grandparents and the love in this place made it special we'll make our own memories here there's plenty of space four bedrooms and room for another bathroom I'd change some of the colors but that's about it the garden's big enough for kids to play safely we could even plant some vegetables herbs and maybe fruit I nodded what about the wedding are you planning the
perfect one Sandra seem surprised I've never dreamed of having a big wedding it'll be small I only have my mom sister and her family I've got four or five close friends two of them will pretend to be mad I stole you from them you've got your friends like Bill and Gordon and your brother and his family I understand you don't talk much about your parents and that you feel betrayed by them I just worry that our kids won't have grandparents to spoil them my dad died young and my mom's not in the best health but
she was a great mom and will be a wonderful grandmother it's your choice and I'll support it either way I said quietly
