lo

nt a

across my cheek befo

ng against the floor as I fell. My head pounded, my vision blurred, an

rs fall. I pressed my forehead against the co

" a voice barked,

command was not a suggestion. Slowly, I lif

his face twisted in disgust. His sharp feat

rdered, his voice quiet now, but

ore. I had known what I was walking into when I came her

where el

a housewife, a puppet they had stripped of independence and tied down with invisible str

sure to chain

a fucking que

abbing his golf club from where it rested. Without a sec

, and I scrambled back

voice rising again, "I ask

y throat felt dry, my lips tremblin

at me like I'd just spoken a fo

at you said? I thought I misheard. But no, it's true. You..." He point

hard

vase on it. I flinched, my back pressed against the cold marble floor as Richard loomed over me, his face twisted in rage. "You've rea

ised the golf club high, his knuckles w

instinctively, br

oug

g voice made the ai

rd. The rage on his face faltered

hand resting on the banis

y second. A deep, primal instinct stirred in me-something that m

couldn

oom. He crossed his legs as if he had all the time in the world. The maids entered quickly, their heads bo

he look

nt a di

t tight, and my vision blurred, but

Wh

ith Logan." I said, my voice barely a

. He took another sip of his

etting the teacup down. "That can

r agreeing with me? Just lik

im, my mind r

rce him." He said, then paused. "Of course, that also means

felt like the ground had o

the weather. "Your mother. The woman I've kept alive all these years

tly, "Please," I choke

off. His voice never rose, but his words struck me like a whip. "O

ut I refused to let them fa

legs. "You're the one asking for a divorce. So go ahead, Chloe. Divorce your husb

it since we were younger. Since the first time my mother had brought me to this mansion, the maids and Richard had always bullied me. And while my father didn't do anything to me physically, he destroyed me emotionall

g her against me, j

acked as I bowed m

ak u

.. I'll never bring it up again. I won'

ing in the background, but

ued, my voice breaking. "I'll.

cup again. "Good girl," he said, taking

tears falling freely now. The weight

er could. Not when my mothe

e kne

*

he blaring music as I slammed my empty glass down

d, and the next, I was behind the wheel of my car, driving aimlessly through the city. The neon lights of this

pushed my glass toward him, my hand trembling

o humor me. Then he sighed and reached for the bot

re abou

tting the liquid burn its way down my throat. The pain felt good.

n the counter, his gaze scrutinizing me. "D

I turned my head, letting my eyes adjust to the flashing

ghts. The women, on the other hand, wore barely anything at all. Just bras, panties, and heels, their bodies swaying

ggish as the realizati

o the bartender. "Strip..." I whispe

like you are going to the church across the street." He gestured to my outfit-a simple, modest

s slicing through me like a knife. Someo

u're not the type for that. Alwa

at everyone

o tired

ing tir

ce pulled me back.

back, draining the whiskey in one gulp. The burn in my thr

ut I cut him off by slamming the

felt his eyes on me as I turn

the obedient doll

someone. I was going to have

me, I would do the same with someone sexier and more attrac