This 35-year-old American was coming out of a sordid relationship. But she lived a story worthy of Bodyguard, the famous film bringing together Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner!
The story seems straight out of a Hollywood romantic comedy. And yet, it took place in a small town in Oregon, without stars in the cast. It’s 2008, and for several years, Elise Stevens, a simple resident of Union, has been going through hell with a man who shows almost limitless violence towards her. “I was beaten and sexually abused. I was considered his thing,” says the young woman. The arrival of Gracie, a little girl born in September 2008, does not help matters, quite the contrary. So in November To ensure her safety and that of her baby, Elise decides to flee.
“I packed everything I had in a duffel bag and went to the train station while he was at work. I left to settle hundreds of miles away, but he managed to locate me and he broke into my house. I only owed my salvation to the intervention of the neighbours,” she recalls. After this terrible day, her friends urge her to hire someone to ensure her safety and that of her daughter.
“As soon as I saw it, I felt comfortable despite everything I was going through”
So, for $100 (around €92) a night, she enlists the services of Derek Stevens, a particularly burly construction worker. And, on December 15, 2008, when Derek walked through Elise’s door to move in, Love at first sight is immediate. “As soon as I saw him, I thought there was something different about him. I felt comfortable despite everything I was going through,” recalls the young woman.
After just a few weeks, she is already completely in love with the colossus. “After an abusive relationship, you are convinced that you will never find love again. I did not expect to go through that again. But I felt so safe and in osmosis with him… It was crazy!” , she smiles. After two months, Elise goes ahead and reveals her feelings to Derek. The 35-year-old worker is on the same wavelength and no longer wants to live without the mother and her daughter.
“I hired him thirteen years ago and now we have three children”
Without waiting any longer, the couple married on March 15, 2009, just three months after meeting! Since then, the two lovebirds spin the perfect love and had two children, born in 2011 and 2013: a girl named Rhilynn and a boy named Trask. “I hired him thirteen years ago as a bodyguard for $100 a night and, now we have three children, two dogs and a house. With Derek, I never thought about the past, I always felt protected and loved. As soon as I laid eyes on him, I immediately knew he was the one. We were made for each other”, simply concludes Elise who, radiant, has regained confidence in the future!