ave someo

t room. Three years of perfec

n made by a man who reeks

nt of humiliation, coalesced

he herself was unaware

his cheek was sharp and crisp

soft heap of fabric on the floor. She didn't flinch, nor did she try

bas

stared at her, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. This quiet, submissive woman

nto fists. Just as violence was about to erupt, th

spell. He instinctively reached into

The murderous rage on his face d

ll from Ash

I'm so

icked cries c

e again. He turned and str

ets out of here, we'r

rful voice came from be

lian did no

send you the d

ord. He just walked out, and behind him, the

lent room, driving the fin

limbs trembling. He didn't care that she had hit him. He didn't care th

s not

ened a social media app. Ashley Burris's profile popped

y lay pale and vulnera

ting up again. I'm so scared. Tha

age. The same old trick.

eep, nauseating revulsion washed over her. She hugged her

trained, but in the form of loud, ugly sob

she was comple

d stiffly back to the bathroom and calm

't brea

esigner clothes. She only packed what was truly hers: a few pairs of jeans, s

ransfer. She calculated the total amount of every single penny Juli

h only what she had when she

t this place she had once called home, yet which felt a

e front door with