Today’s story is personal — and powerful.
Hui shares the true account of a long-time friend who entered a high-value business deal based on 20 years of friendship — and ended up trapped in a contract that nearly broke him. What started as a trusted partnership turned into a legal and emotional disaster, forcing him to question not just the other person’s motives, but his own lifelong patterns of trust, people-pleasing, and self-sacrifice.
This episode explores:
How good values (like loyalty and honesty) can become blind spots
Why replacing contracts with “trust” can be dangerous — even with close friends
The practical steps needed to regain control: legal strategy, evidence, better boundaries
The emotional recovery process: rebuilding self-trust, resetting inner wiring, and learning to protect your values without losing your heart
How to recognise repeating relationship patterns — and finally break the cycle
You’ll hear about two parallel recovery tracks: the practical lane (legal first aid, organising facts, setting limits) and the emotional lane (grieving the betrayal, reclaiming agency, and learning to trust again — with clarity and strength).
We’ll also explore the cultural and psychological roots behind why we stay too long in one-sided dynamics — and how to begin rewriting that script.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever said:
“I thought I could trust them.”“I should’ve seen it coming.“Why does this keep happening to me?”
If you’ve been let down — in business, friendship, or love — I hope this story helps you find clarity, courage, and a new path forward.
💬 Mandarin version available — search “跨界心桥”
The Chinese version of this episode :
当商业合作变成陷阱：从法律到心理的复原之路。 - 跨界心桥 | Podcast on Spotify
📩 Contact: info@relationshipcounselor.de
🌐 More: www.relationshipcounselor.de