his voice greasy with insinuation, "if you get tired of h

I felt sick, viola

. She' s my property. Even when I' m m

was about ownership. I was an object, a

s life so completely it would be like I never existed. I tiptoed away from his o

rds from that day echoed in my ears, o

stress?" I repeat

f course. A smart girl like you kno

looked at him, and saw nothing of the man I thought I loved. Only a monster

out a small, velvet box. "And here' s a li

ited, to rush over like

ealing a custom-made collar, studded with diam

n on the engrave

made me dizzy washed over me. A co

ice laced with a sick sort of pride. "We can t

in a vise. I must have looked pale, becau

, Chloe? Don' t

ringtone, a soft, melodic tune I had never

eam in his eyes softened into something resembling affection. He immediat

self on the arm of the sofa.

nt, listening to hi

... No, I' m just finishing up some wo

se with me in the beginning. Each sweet word he spoke

, his expression once again cool

id, not even a hint of

ish urge to make him sta

d, a bitter, sarcastic edge to m

on his lips. "Jealous, Chloe? Don' t

Why was I still trying to get a re

, my voice cold and

of anger. He strode back to me, grabbi

with me," he snarled. "You see

ainst my lips, a gesture

pain, the humiliation, the

said, my voice clear and

th genuine shock. For a a split s

did you

from his grasp. "I' m not going to be your wife,

rage. He laughed, a harsh, ug

t' s over? Chloe, you have nothing with

What else could he do to me that was

rtment," I said, p

mming the door so h

tears I had been holding back for a week finally came, hot and bitter. I wasn' t crying for the love I