Chapter 4Black Friday Bruises

I never imagined it. This wasn't just control. This was a calculated, premeditated campaign of revenge. He didn't want to build a life with me; he wanted to destroy mine to make himself feel superior.

I picked myself up off the floor and smoothed my hair, forcing a placating tone. "I've never looked down on you, Trevor. I love you. I believe you'll be a great success one day."

He looked at me as if I were an idiot. I knew in that moment, he was gloating, proud that he could abuse me like this and still have me worship him.

"You just wait here," I said. "I'll go to my mom's, get the money, and I'll bring back some ribs for you."

That finally satisfied him. As I was leaving, he called out, "Tell your mom you need thirty thousand. I want to buy an LV belt."

I nodded obediently and quickly shut the door behind me. I looked back at the cage that had imprisoned me for three years, then turned without hesitation and sprinted for the elevator. It was on the ground floor. I lived on the nineteenth.

"Come on, come on, faster," I whispered.

The elevator reached the fifth floor and stopped.

I glanced back at our apartment door. A wave of anxiety washed over me. I decided to take the stairs. I couldn't risk another accident, another chance for him to kill me.

Just then, our front door flew open. Trevor stood there, holding the package, his face purple with rage.

"Lina! You eat my food, you live in my house, you don't earn a single cent, and you have the audacity to shop on Black Friday? What is this trash you bought?!"

The elevator started moving again, rising quickly. Tears of desperation welled in my eyes. Please, please, hurry. I couldn’t go through the torture of my last life again.

But a second later, he was on me, just like before, grabbing a fistful of my hair.