~Chapter Five ~

“Hmm, just like that? You’re not going to beg anymore?”

I wanted to look away, but his gaze held mine captive—that look he always used to reduce me to pieces. Tears filled my eyes, and I bit down on my lip as they spilled. I stared helplessly at the ceiling while he continued to torture me; each word felt like an anchor pressing on my chest.

“You’ve finally grown some guts,” he sneered and leaned in close until his face was just inches from mine. I felt the heat of his anger through every sentence he made.

“Tell me, where’d you find this newfound confidence, Anna? Or maybe someone helped with that, hmm?”

I could feel my body tremble, but I was too broken to move. I wanted to cover, shrink away, or maybe even disappear—but the pain that pulsed through me was unbearable—my head, my arms, my ribs.

But nothing ached as much as my heart that he was hell bent on shattering over and over again. He laughed softly, a menacing sound, as he watched me cry.

“I really thought you’d grovel and beg.” He scoffed.

“Trust me, I enjoyed every single moment of it, watching you embarrass yourself. Not that I’d take you back anyway." He leaned back from my face and paced around slowly.

“But saying you’ll leave me, like you’re doing me a favor? No, no, that’s not how this works; that’s not how you would talk to me. So, tell me.” He walked back to my side of the bed and leaned in my face; his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

“Who’s been filling your head with confidence, Anna?”

He gritted his teeth, his face twisted in anger. I looked up at him, and all I could see was pure, natural hatred staring right back at me.

“I’ve always known you were a slut,” he said. “Maybe all your begging was just a trick, so you could run back to whoever’s been keeping you company. such a whore! You think I don’t see it? that I don’t see you for who you really are?”

My body shuddered uncontrollably, and my sobs became more loud and uncontrollable. I had never felt this exposed, this vulnerable, completely shattered, not even in my worst moments with him.

Wasn’t this what he wanted? For me to leave him, and yet again, I was still the problem all because I agreed with him. What do you want, Ethan?

“Fucking answer me!” He screamed in my face; his voice bounced across the room. “You’ve been seeing someone, haven’t you? You didn’t want people to see you for the hypocrite you are, so you begged me and pleaded with me, like the liar you are! But I see through you, Anna. I always have.”

He leaned down further until his face was right in front of mine, our noses touched, and his lips twisted into a sneer. “Trust me, whoever it is will dump your unlucky, pathetic self soon enough, and then you’ll come crawling back to me.”

"Ethan, stop,” I whispered, barely able to even get the words out of my mouth through my sobs. I felt like a small child again, afraid and helpless. I was warned, but I didn’t listen. She warned me; she did.

I shook my head slowly, too weak from the pain to do much else, but the tears wouldn’t stop falling.

He just laughed and leaned back, obviously satisfied with the damage he had done. Our eyes met, and his smile only widened as he took in the tear-filled mess I had become.

“You have forty-eight hours to get your things out of my house,” he said coldly. "Or I’ll burn them. Tara needs enough space for her outfits.”

I held down the scream that clawed at my throat and felt the stab of betrayal as he mentioned her name. Tara, I hated her so much now. She was the beginning of my problems; she was the reason I was this way.

He chuckled and ran his fingers along his sleeve as if bored.

“Come to think of it, you really don’t have anything, do you? I’m everything you’ve ever had, Anna. Everything you own, everything you are, I gave to you.”

He stepped back and folded his arms.

“Consider yourself lucky that I’m giving you enough time; I’d be heartless if I kicked you out with nothing.”

I could barely move, barely respond, and all I could do was stare at him with bloodshot teary eyes. What else could I do? He was right; I signed almost everything away like a fool.

“I hope you can get a good lawyer for the divorce process, because I’m not giving you a dime of my money. Sleep your way for it, slut.” He teased.

I felt this sudden surge of anger in my chest, a resistance that made me barely recognize myself. As I gathered all the strength I had left, I reached out with trembling hands and gripped his suit pants weakly.

“I... won’t let this slide, Ethan,” I managed. My voice was a mere whisper, but the threat was real, even if I didn’t know how to make good on it.

His expression turned deadly as he looked down at my hand on his pants. He leaned down; his face was cold, with a mocking smile.

“Says the one who might not be around to ‘let this slide’ for much longer.”

He shoved my hand off him aggressively; my arm dropped back down to the bed, weak and defeated, along with a crazy pain that surged through me.

He moved to the door, and for a moment, his gaze lingered on my bruised face; the twisted feeling of satisfaction in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. This was the man I had loved, the man I had given away everything for, even my family.

I struggled to breathe; it was like everything was rushing to me at once. How would I make sense of everything? Where would I start from? My hand went up to my chest as I hyperventilated; the other hand motioned for Ethan, for him to help.

Maybe call the doctor at least. More tears poured from me as I watched him with blurry eyes; he didn’t say another word. He just turned and walked out, leaving me fighting for my life.

That was when I knew. I knew that when I got out of here.

I had to ruin Ethan, my ex-husband.