That must have been such a difficult experience, especially looking back and realizing how much of a red flag that moment was. It’s tough when we trust someone and don’t want to believe the worst, but sometimes those early signs can be a warning that we overlook because we’re focused on the good.
It’s natural to want to trust our partners, especially in the early stages, and you clearly wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
What really stands out in your story is how that one moment at the hotel stuck with you, even when the situation seemed small at the time. That feeling of embarrassment and discomfort that you didn’t act on then makes sense now, looking back on everything that followed.
It’s understandable that you’d feel like you should’ve trusted that warning, but ultimately, you learned and grew from that experience, and it helped you see what was really going on.
Your decision to walk away from the relationship after he tried to scam you was definitely a powerful one, and it shows that you’re strong enough to protect yourself, even when it’s hard to let go. Trusting your instincts now is probably one of the best lessons you’ve learned from this situation.