Todd Grimshaw thought that after many years of ups and downs, he had met the right person.

Theo Silverton entered his life like a breath of fresh air: gentle, delicate, understanding.

But the closer Todd got, the more he realized that everything around Theo was not as simple as it seemed.

The story began when Todd discovered that Theo still had a wife – Danielle – and two young children, Miles and Millie.

“We’re just separated, I still love you,” Theo said, but his eyes were averted. From there, a series of events made Todd unable to distinguish what was real and what was fake.

One evening, Todd went to Theo’s house and found Danielle there, with the two young children. The atmosphere was awkward, but what shocked Todd the most was the way Theo looked at him – cold, completely different from the person he used to love. Then, rumors appeared: that Theo had been accused of psychological abuse, had used “orientation change therapy” with his ex. Todd initially doesn’t believe it, but as time goes on, he finds himself being controlled: messages are read, friends are cut off, every move is under Theo’s watchful eye.

In a tense scene, Todd says: “You’re scaring me.” Theo replies softly: “I just want you not to leave.” But that “love” turns into chains. Todd – who once thought he was being saved – turns out to be trapped in a toxic relationship.

Coronation Street viewers rate this as one of the most psychological storylines this season. The Todd – Theo love affair is not just a simple drama, but also reflects the dark side of love: when a person thinks they are loved, but in fact they are being controlled.