to be Sophia White' s dream home, but it was my personal hell. I was Olivia Reed,

side me, hi

ready by next month? Sophia is v

. "The subcontractors are on

he had chiseled away at me, piece by piece. He married me because his mother' s w

el driveway. She stepped out, all smiles and designer sunglass

ht to Ethan, igno

his neck. "I was just looking at the swatches for the

he said, his voice softening

d her gaze to me. It

You moved the walk-in closet. I told you specifica

professionalism kicking in despite myself.

istens to me. It's my house, but she acts like it's her

ating the plans to accommodate her ridiculous demands, working late into t

ned to me, his eyes filled wit

x i

all supports the entire second floor

ophia wants the closet there. Make it happen.

wing. They were all on Ethan' s payroll. They had seen this before. Th

weight. It happened at company dinners, at cha

structure," I said, my voice shaking

closer, his shad

ns your paychecks. I own this land. I own that house yo

ing into my skin. It was a sudden,

do as yo

le playing on her lips. She then

she just doesn't know how. It' s okay, Oli

sing into my flesh through my jacket. It was a

se if it's too much for

ment. Ethan, with his brute force and cold disdain

ed back, catching myself on a stack of dry

e just looked at Sophia, his

handle her." He said it li

The first time was a month after our wedding, after he told me my presence in his house was

his mother's inheritance, the one that would not only leave me with nothing but would also allow him to blacklist me from

stand it. I thought my dedication, my unwavering love that I still foolis

a block of ice, and Sophia w

oreman. "Get back

men glanced at me with a mix of pity and contempt before turning back to their tasks. They sa

o Sophia' s triumphant face. The pain in my shoulder

cycle of abuse, humiliation, and

ion workers. "Make sure she understands the new plan

der to his men to intimidate me,

grim. They wouldn't hurt me, but the

just left my body. The noise, the dust, the cold eyes on me-it all s