"Leigh, be careful—she might call the cops." His sister-in-law's voice cut through the chaos.
Leigh smacked his forehead. "Right. Almost forgot about that."
He started toward me.
I'd heard every word. His voice had been loud enough.
Leigh James. My husband. Leo's father. And he'd planned this from the start—all to keep me from running with our son.
I watched him coming and grabbed my phone, hurling it at his face with everything I had.
It caught him across the cheek, splitting the skin. Blood welled up instantly.
He froze. "Are you insane?"
I didn't answer. I was already running for the kitchen.
Yes. Maybe I was insane.
But touch my son? Then none of us walk away from this.
It was the only option I had left.
"Seriously, Leigh? You're a man and you let a woman hit you?" His sister-in-law's mocking voice dripped with contempt.
His eyes went red. He charged.
I didn't even reach the knife drawer before his foot connected with my back, sending me sprawling. Then the blows came—fists, kicks, an endless rain of violence.
He grabbed my head and slammed it against the floor. Once. Twice. Again.
Pain everywhere. I tried to fight back, but the difference in strength made it pointless.
Soon I could only lie there, every breath agony, every twitch sending fresh waves of pain through my body.
"Selfish little orphan." Ruby stood in the doorway, watching like it was entertainment. "If your parents were alive, they'd be the first ones beating you."
"Your father-in-law is the one who's sick. You should be grateful your son can help. Instead you throw a tantrum."
"This is what happens when Leigh doesn't discipline you enough."
Her words earned me several more kicks. I couldn't fight back. I couldn't even dodge.
"Leigh... Leo is your son."
"Oh, now you remember he's my son?" He loomed over me, not a shred of sympathy in his eyes. Only ice. "He's my son. That means when I tell him to do something, he does it."
"You don't get a say."
"Alright, that's enough." Ruby flicked sunflower seed shells onto my body. "She's still your wife. Break her too badly and you'll have to find a new one."
"Karen, dear. Know your place. No parents, no family—Leigh's the one keeping you fed. What he says, you do."
"Can't figure that out? Then you deserve every hit."
"You want to stay married? Then behave."
"You want a divorce? Wait until after the surgery. You're welcome to leave with your kidney-missing waste of a son. No one will stop you."
I looked at Leigh, desperate, searching for something—anything.
Nothing.
He actually believed he was supporting me. After Leo was born, I'd asked Ruby to help with childcare. She refused. I suggested hiring a nanny. Leigh insisted on breastfeeding, insisted only a mother could raise a child properly, said he didn't trust anyone else.
I had no degree—but neither did he.
Back then, I made three times his salary. I gave up my career for our son.
Now suddenly he was supporting me.
And when his mother called Leo a "kidney-missing waste"? He hadn't even flinched.
I tore my gaze from his face and looked at the others. Every single one stared back with the same cold indifference.
Despair closed around me like a fist.
Then it got worse.
To keep me from escaping, they tied me up and threw me into the cellar.
Dark. Cold. Hopeless.
Slowly, my eyes adjusted. I fixed my stare on the entrance, watching, waiting.
When I heard soft footsteps above, my heart seized.
Who?
Rescue?
I'd managed to send a text before they caught me. Smashing the phone had been deliberate—I couldn't let them find out.
"Karen? Are you in there? I'm here to save you."
