Chapter 3 - The Golden Son-in-Law
The pieces slowly clicked together in Claire’s dizzy, throbbing head. It was never about protecting her. It was always about protecting the lifestyle Mark provided for them.
Mark wasn't just a husband; he was a human bank account. Since the day Claire married him, her parents had leached off his extreme wealth. Mark paid the mortgage on this massive estate. Mark funded her father’s exclusive country club memberships. Mark bought the cream silk blouse her mother was wearing and the expensive scotch her father was currently sipping.
"He hit me," Claire repeated, her voice dropping to a low, guttural rasp. "He beat me to the floor while my daughter watched."
"And he apologized," her father interrupted sharply, setting his glass down with a heavy thud. "He called us ten minutes after you left. He was very emotional, Claire. He said he was under a lot of stress with the merger. He said you pushed him. You always had a sharp tongue."
Claire felt the air leave her lungs. Her own father was blaming her for the bruises on her face.
May you like
"If he gets arrested, his assets get frozen," her mother chimed in, pacing nervously. "If his assets freeze, the bank takes this house, Claire. Do you want your parents to be homeless for Christmas? Is that what you want? Because you couldn't keep your mouth shut during an argument?"
👉 Will Claire cave to their emotional blackmail and sign the papers to protect her abuser?
