Hi Newgirl
You are right, you don’t need to defend yourself. Firstly you haven’t done anything that needs defending, and secondly no matter what you do he will find fault with so there is no point.
I think it is common in the sense that they will always find a reason to tell us we are in the wrong, or liars, so that they can stay and feel in control.
Well done for taking some time to build yourself up and get stronger. It is good that you have recognised that there is no point in engaging with his mind games over this x