An Endless Lie: Domestic abuse, a survivor's story

by Su Clark

This is my story. I was brought up in Thailand in the old-fashioned way. My father was strict, my sisters and I were not allowed out after 18:00. We were not allowed to have a boyfriend until we finished university. My father was abusive to my mother, and on a lesser scale, to my sisters and me.Because of this, not long after finishing University, I moved to Bangkok for work and stayed with my eldest sister. While working in a Bangkok hotel, I met a wealthy Scottish businessman. He persuaded me to visit him in Scotland. We married, I had a wonderful, successful husband, a lovely home, it seemed I had all I could wish for. But, after our first child, he became secretive, controlling me and the children. He subjected me to physical and sexual violence. I was trapped in an abusive marriage for twenty years.At first, I thought I had no choice other than to suffer it, because I had seen my father abuse my mother. She tolerated it because there is little recourse for abused women in Thailand. Our culture and religion mean that you marry for life, unless your husband wishes to divorce you, in which case, women often end up homeless. With help from my friends and support organisations, I came to understand that I did not have to put up with violence and abuse. However, leaving was not easy, my ex-husband refused to divorce me, threatened to kill me, alienated me from my children, and employed people to follow me and record my telephone conversations. I ended up suicidal and homeless.During the divorce process, he concealed his assets, used extortion against me, and constantly submitted false allegations to delay family court action.I did not let this break me, I let go and moved on. My story is one of hope, there is always help out there.

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2020

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story could have been told in 2 chapters

I thought this story was very long winded and repetitive. Lots of spelling mistakes too and very poorly written. Kept hoping it would improve but sadly not.

[Pauline White · Rating 2 out of 5]

?????

Wth where is the rest???? Please don't buy this as its only half of a story, its maddening that she gave up

[celene irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocked

I am unsure about how to feel about the story. There are a lot of questions as to why this lady didn't speak to a friend more about what was going on. Why she dropped the case in the end end why she didn't wait to find out about her husband's medical condition. If her husband was ill and dying and the divorce was not final she would have been automatically entitled to everything through his death. Why did her solicitor not inform her of this. the book came to an abrupt end and which left many questions hanging in the air. Did her husband die? Did she gain anything from the divorce? Did her children ever speak to her again? Martin was brought back into the book at a later stage but then he disappeared again how come she didn't stay in touch with him? It's a very sad story but in the beginning I thought I read that she went somewhere to learn about law but she ended up not learning anything. I still feel the book is well worth a read and it is an eye opener for people in similar situations. I gave the book 5 Stars because I thought it took a lot of courage to put her Story out there. The book ended in a way that it looks like there will be a second one but I don't think so

[jennifer foulkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abuse

Didn't like ending she went through all them years fighting for a settlement from her husband and let him get away with it no way I don't think I will be reading anything from this author again

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyable read, similar situation, glad it's made her stronger person abuse comes in many shapes or forms hopefully her children
Realise she did what she did for their safety and protection

[joanne heeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abrupt disappointing ending

After detailed accounts of life with the abuser and the continuing story after separation, the ending was such an anti climax and finished abruptly.
I was left feeling disapointed.

[Kay Alti]

A differen

Could not put it down showing what's it like to come from a different culture and not understanding the legal system and how a mother's love was pushed to the limits

[angela mcmaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inner strenth

A very heartbreaking story well written she is a very strong woman who has a good heart could not put book down

[Jan Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very rd to follow a

A very hard to follow book. The author seems to lose track of her daughter's ages and repeats herself constantly. Do no recommend!!

[Jayne sheppard]

I thought it was good but there were a lot of spelling mistakes it just finished abruptly sad that she didn’t carry on fighting.