be sure I'd heard Byron correctly. My gaze locked onto his, searching for

e cold, calculating smile

n with memories of all his betrayals. I didn't wa

me, spewing hurtful words, laughing as I desperat

"You're ugly, shapeless, and stupid. Your whole family sucks m

pushed me away in disgust. Now, he

armth in his offer. Byron never acted out of kindness. I wasn't naive enou

on his lips. "Isn't this what you've always wanted?

"But... you told your parents we were divorc

hing. "Maybe I've been too harsh. Perhaps I'm doing it

ting on my cheek was fresh in my memory. I ran to my parents with tears streaming down my face. My greedy mother had patted

orse it could be? He slapped you because you disobeyed him by entering his

it. Our daughter is in pain. She do

nd, they both urged me to return. After al

y cheek, but my stomac

ay from his touch as he reached for

n he narrowed his gaze and watc

y n

we were a normal couple, but we were far from normal. He hadn

es narrowing just

and hurried to my room, closing the door

was c

my thoughts raced. Why now? Why was By

-

o young to notice his mother's trauma. Byron was engrossed in his iPad. Sundays were always the sa

his food. My head throbbed with a dull a

get strong," I murmured, pushing the plate

asked, his innocent eyes wi

gh I wasn't in the mood to play. Byron looked up f

when I had convinced myself that maybe

eyes tightened briefly before r

ng up. "You'll be stronger and better t

nny would normally do it, I liked to help out. It gave me something to do.

use today?" I asked casually, hopi

look. "Why? Are you pl

o ask about your brothe

s if I had crossed a forbidden line. "Why are you asking

s

and the air in the room see

ean anything by

ng a fistful of my hair. Pain shot through my scalp

snarled, pulling harder until tears stung my eyes, "I wil

ching his wrist as the thro

sted in my hair. "This is your last warning. Never menti

ng out of the house without another word. My scalp ach

hoed from the living room, and I wiped m

et him see m

as I stepped away from the wall, determined to