Phoebe broke into tears several times during a recent interview as she recounted the abuse.
She said Christopher would resort to verbal insults and emotional abuse during their fights.
This would later escalate into physical violence such as slapping, striking, and even strangling her.
“He would behave as though he was playing ice hockey and charge towards me, striking me with his elbow,” she recalled.
Phoebe grappled with feelings of guilt and self-blame, believing that she was somehow at fault for the abuse she endured.
It was only after seeing a psychiatrist and reading up on abusive behaviour that she realised she wasn’t to blame, and learnt how to stand up to Christopher.
Despite the abuse, Phoebe hesitated to call the authorities as she feared the public scrutiny that would come with exposing her private struggles.
She was also afraid that she would be separated from her family as she is not a Canadian citizen.
It was only later when she approached her friend, Taiwanese actress Lang Tsu Yun, for help, that the latter introduced her to a lawyer to pursue legal action.
After filing a police report, Phoebe was put under protective care in 2021.
She later learned that Christopher had already filed for divorce.