A woman has recounted the devastating story of how she discovered her fiancé had been lying about his entire life just weeks before their wedding.
Most of us are guilty of telling the odd white lie when dating, but how far would you go in order to impress a potential significant other?
For Megan Clarke, 27, she thought she’d found her happy ever after when she begun a relationship with Lord Bertie Underwood, a charming horologist (someone who makes and repairs watches).
Although she wasn’t looking to settle down, Megan – who was 20 years old at the time and working as a bar manager on the Isle of Wright – was soon swept off her feet by the dashing Lord, who treated her to luxurious date nights and invited her to live in his lavish seafront home.
“He was charming, kind, thoughtful, loving. A real gentleman,” Megan recounted of their relationship during an interview with Metro.
The relationship moved quickly. Within a month the pair had said ‘I love you’ and Bertie would pop the question six months later, surprising Megan with a Cartier diamond ring.
However if things sound almost too good to be true, there’s a chance that something more sinister is lurking beneath the surface.
Bertie would request that Megan didn’t post his face on social media, claiming it was because of his dad’s high-ranking career in the navy (which in hindsight should be the second red flag after the name ‘Lord Bertie Underwood’).
However the fairytale would begin to unravel when Megan noticed letters arriving at their home under various different names. Bertie claimed they were for previous tenants, but the former bar manager was not convinced and decided to investigate further.
What Megan then discovered would bring her world crashing down entirely.
However not everything was as it seemed.
Megan later discovered that Bertie had multiple bank cards under various aliases and after googling the names, she uncovered that her Lord actually had a long track record for fraud, using names such as Robert Doughty and Robert Soanes-Madejski to get away with his crimes.
The truth devastated Megan, who would be dealt another crushing blow once the pair split – with ‘Bertie’ having racked up around £30,000 of debt in her name.
“We went to the police and action fraud,” she recalled to The Sun. “[But] unfortunately there wasn’t a great deal they could do.”
Megan has since worked to pay off the debts and rebuild her life while ‘Bertie’ has since been arrested on fraud charges and sentenced to five years in prison. However he escaped in 2022 and currently remains on the run.
The fact that ‘Bertie’ is now on the run is something which has left Megan unsettled, as she added to Metro that she would ‘freeze’ if she encountered him on the street.
Megan’s story appears as part of the series Love Cheats, which is available to watch on Channel 4.
After three years of trying and failing to get pregnant, we finally bought our first house and decided to adopt a fur baby
The worn, wooden rocking chair creaked rhythmically as I swayed, the rhythmic motion a comforting counterpoint to the storm raging outside. Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest of emotions swirling within me. Three years. Three long, heartbreaking years of trying. Three years of doctor’s appointments, of whispered hopes and crushing disappointments. Three years of yearning for the pitter-patter of tiny feet and the sound of childish laughter filling our home.
Then, there was Teddy. Our goofy, clumsy Labrador Retriever, a whirlwind of fur and affection that had crashed into our lives like a playful puppy tornado. We had brought him home on a whim, a spur-of-the-moment decision after months of soul-searching. The emptiness in our home felt unbearable, and Teddy, with his boundless energy and unwavering love, had filled it with a joy we hadn’t known existed.
He was a whirlwind of activity, his tail a blur as he chased squirrels, his bark echoing through the neighborhood. He loved nothing more than a good belly rub and a game of fetch, his floppy ears flapping in the wind as he sprinted across the yard. And then, there were the cuddles. Teddy loved to snuggle, especially on cold winter evenings, his massive head resting on my lap, his warm breath a comforting presence.
But it was recently that Teddy’s behavior had taken on a new dimension. He’d become increasingly protective of me, his golden eyes following my every move with an almost uncanny intensity. He’d started spending more time by my side, his head resting on my lap for longer periods, his gentle nudges more frequent. And then, there were the kisses.
It started subtly. A gentle lick on my hand, a playful nudge against my arm. But then, it evolved. He’d seek me out, his tail wagging with a newfound purpose, and carefully, delicately, he’d nudge my belly with his nose, then lick it with a soft, wet tongue. It was the most unexpected, and yet, the most heartwarming gesture. It was as if he knew, somehow, that something magical was happening within me.
And then, it happened. The two blue lines appeared on the pregnancy test, stark against the white background. Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and salty. I was pregnant. After three years of longing, hope had finally returned.
I turned to see Teddy watching me, his head cocked to the side, his golden eyes filled with an unusual intensity. He whined softly, then nudged my belly again, his tongue gently licking the skin. It was as if he was congratulating me, celebrating with me. In that moment, I knew. Teddy wasn’t just our dog; he was our protector, our confidante, our furry guardian angel. He knew before I did, and his joy was palpable.
The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of emotions. Morning sickness, fatigue, and the constant worry about the tiny life growing inside me. But Teddy was always there, a constant source of comfort and companionship. He’d lie beside me, his head on my lap, his presence a soothing balm to my anxieties. He’d follow me everywhere, his eyes glued to my every move, as if anticipating my every need. And every evening, without fail, he’d gently nudge my belly with his nose, as if checking on the progress of the little miracle growing within me.
As the months passed, my belly grew, and so did Teddy’s protective instincts. He’d bark at any sudden noise, his eyes scanning the room with a newfound alertness. He’d nudge anyone who came too close, his low growls a gentle warning. He was already preparing for his role as protector, his love for the unborn child radiating from him like a warm glow.
Finally, the day arrived. The day I met my little miracle. As I held my newborn daughter in my arms, tears streamed down my face. She was perfect, tiny and fragile, yet so strong. I glanced at Teddy, who was watching us with wide, curious eyes. He whined softly, then cautiously approached, sniffing the air with his wet nose.
He hesitated for a moment, then gently nudged my daughter’s hand with his nose. She startled, her tiny fingers twitching. Teddy, sensing her surprise, whined again, then licked her hand gently. My daughter, seemingly sensing his affection, reached out a tiny hand and touched his nose.
In that moment, I knew that Teddy was already smitten. He was no longer just our dog; he was a brother, a protector, a friend. He had welcomed our daughter into our lives with open arms, and his love for her was already overflowing.
As I watched my daughter and Teddy interact, a wave of gratitude washed over me. Teddy, our furry companion, had not only filled our home with joy but had also prepared our hearts for the greatest love of all. He had shown us the meaning of unconditional love, and now, he was sharing that love with the newest member of our family.
Teddy, our goofy, clumsy Labrador, had truly brought magic into our lives. And I knew, with a certainty that settled deep within my soul, that our little family was complete.
Leave a Reply