"I don't owe you anything."
"You owe me everything!I took care of you, provided for you, gave you a life most women would kill for.And you're pissing it all away because you think you're in love."
"I don't think anything.I know."
The admission slips out before I can stop it, raw and honest and absolutely final.I'm in love with Hades.Not just attracted, not just grateful for his help, but completely, hopelessly, irrevocably in love.
Ethan's face goes white with shock, then red with fury."You stupid, naive bitch."
Before I can react, his hand closes around my wrist, fingers digging in hard enough to make me gasp.The grip is brutal, possessive, designed to hurt.
"Let go of me."
"Not until you listen to me.Really listen."His grip tightens, and I can feel bones grinding together."You think this is love?This is infatuation.Lust.A fantasy you're too immature to recognize as temporary."
"You're hurting me."
"Good.Maybe pain will get through to you when reason won't."
The casual admission that he's deliberately causing me pain makes something cold settle in my stomach.This is who he really is underneath the charm and polish—someone who hurts people when he doesn't get his way.
"Let me go."
"Promise me you'll end this ridiculous charade.Promise me you'll send him away and come home where you belong."
"No."
"Promise me!"
"No!"
The word explodes out of me with all the frustration and anger I've been suppressing for days.All the times he's tried to control me, manipulate me, make me smaller to fit his vision of what I should be.
I wrench my wrist free and slap him as hard as I can.
The sound echoes through the living room like a gunshot.Ethan staggers back, his hand going to his cheek, his eyes wide with shock.
For a moment, we just stare at each other.I've never hit anyone in my life, never fought back against anything.But standing here with my hand stinging and my wrist throbbing, I feel something I haven't felt in years.
Powerful.
"You hit me," Ethan says, his voice flat with disbelief.
"You were hurting me."
"You fucking hit me."
"And I'll do it again if you touch me."
That's when his control snaps completely.
The backhand comes so fast I don't see it coming.Pain explodes across my cheek, and I stumble backward, my vision blurring.The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth, and I realize he's split my lip.
"You want to act like a child?"Ethan's voice is cold, calculating."Then I'll treat you like one.You need discipline, structure, someone to make decisions for you because you clearly can't handle adult responsibilities."
I touch my lip, fingers coming away bloody.The shock of being hit, of having violence turned against me for the first time in my life, makes everything feel surreal.
"Look what you made me do," he continues, straightening his tie like nothing happened."I didn't want to hurt you, but you forced my hand.This is what happens when you don't listen to reason."
