Page 142 of A Better Place

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Carly

I stare into the eyes of my nightmare. The man who from the day we returned from our honeymoon told me I was worthless. Told me I was damaged, a slut. Told me he couldn’t look me in the eye after he knew the things I would do sexually. The eyes of the man who wouldn’t allow me to have friendships, who controlled every aspect of my life, dictated every piece of clothing I put on my body, every brush of makeup I swiped on my face.

These are the eyes of a man who once told me I was beautiful then within days turned around and made me feel like I was filthy. This man. This man once made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. Like I was wanted. Needed.

This man lied.

“Vince…” A name I never expected to say again, at least to his face.

“Miss me?”

“Wha — what are you doing here?”

“I missed you. Haven’t seen you in… well, let’s see. How long has it been? When was it again, that you decided to leave with my son? Kidnap him and, I’m sure, spread all sorts of lies.”

“I think you were the one who made that decision for me, Vince. The moment you put your hands on me in anger, with no sign of love to be found. The moment our son had to save me from your hands, when he was only thirteen years old.”

His eyes flash in anger, probably wondering where my voice was coming from. Little does he know, what he did to me that day didn’t make me weaker. It gave me strength. He actually did me a favor when he threw me through the house in front of Jack. He did us both a favor. His actions provided what I needed to move forward. To get out.

“I see you’re still the same nagging bitch you always were,” he sneers, pushing me aside with his shoulder and taking a step into my home.

“You’re not welcome here, Vince.”

“Like hell I’m not. I’m here to get my kid. You know, I may have signed the divorce papers, finally being rid of you. But I didn’t abandon my son. You took away that choice for me.”

Is he out of his mind?

“I took away that choice?!” I scoffed. “Me?”

“Am I fucking stuttering, woman?”

“Oh no. You’re plenty clear. You’re just speaking like a delusional asshole.”

“What the hell did you just call me?” he asks, voice loud and booming in my small home.

Before I can react, he advances toward me and grabs me by the arms, pinching so tightly I know I’ll have bruises in the morning. I try in vain to yank free, my butt bumping into the end table, knocking off the lamp. It lands on the floor with a crash.

His grip is unrelenting. His eyes are glazed over, the anger coming off him in waves.

“Let me go,” I demand, my voice coming out as a cry.

“No, I think I’ll hang on. See, the last time I let go of my wife, she disappeared on me for three years, took my son with her. So no. I’ll not let go again any time soon.”

I wrench my arm away and shove him. “Vince, you weren’t the one who let go. I left. Remember that? Your true nature shined through and rather than sticking around to let it come down on me or turn on Jack, I left.”

He barks out a sinister laugh as he advances toward me again. “You think you can take a few classes at some gym and suddenly…”

Before he realizes what is about to happen, I reach out and swing, hitting him square in the nose. I stand back, arms still up, ready to fight, ready to dish out all that I’ve learned in the last few years. I resist the urge to hold my hand against my chest because damn it all, that hurt way more than I expected it to. It felt amazing, though. “What? Fight back? Hit you like you did me? Strangle you? Throw you across the room?”

“You bitch!” he roars, holding his bloody nose.

“What? You don’t want someone who can defend herself? Let me remind you again. I left you, Vince. Now I suggest you do the same.”

“Or what?” He advances as if he’s about to attack me, but I don’t flinch. I may once have been weak, but the years away from him built up my confidence, made me realize that I am more than what he tried to make me.

“Or you’ll have to deal with me.” I hear Jack’s deep voice cut in.

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