"Get out."
"This isn't over, Evangeline.You think you can just walk away from me, from everything we built together?You think you can embarrass me, make me look like a fool, and there won't be consequences?"
"Get out of my house."
"This tantrum of yours ends now.You're going to call him, tell him you made a mistake, and then you're going to come home with me where you belong."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Yes, you are.Because if you don't, I'll make sure those children you're so attached to find out exactly what kind of man you're in love with.What kind of crimes he's committed, what kind of violence he's capable of."
The threat against the kids makes my blood boil."You leave them out of this."
"Then end it.Choose me, choose the life you're supposed to have, and I'll leave your little criminal boyfriend alone."
"And if I don't?"
His smile is cold, predatory."Then everyone you care about pays the price for your selfishness."
He straightens his jacket and runs a hand through his hair, transforming back into the polished businessman.But I can see the monster underneath now, the rage and control and casual cruelty.
"You have twenty-four hours to make the right choice," he says, heading for the door."After that, things get ugly."
The front door slams behind him, leaving me alone in the sudden silence.
Blood blooms on my lip.My wrist pulses, hot and purple.I sit down before I collapse.
Then the rest hits.Not just pain.Realization.I let this man into my life for years and never saw the monster beneath the smile.
How did I not see it before?How did I spend years with someone capable of this and never realize the danger I was in?
I make it to the bathroom before I start shaking.The face in the mirror looks like a stranger's.Swollen lip, red handprint across my cheek, eyes wide with shock and something that might be relief.
Relief because it's finally over.Because I've seen behind the mask and can never pretend again that what we had was love.
My hands are still shaking when I hear the front door open again.For a moment, panic floods through me.Ethan's back.He's going to finish what he started.
"Angel?"Hades' voice cuts through the fear like sunlight through clouds."Everything okay?Your car's here but the house feels..."
He doesn't finish the sentence, but I know what he means.The house feels wrong.Violated.Dangerous.
"In here," I call, my voice barely above a whisper.
His footsteps are quick, purposeful, and then he's standing in the bathroom doorway.I watch his face in the mirror as he takes in my appearance, and I see the exact moment he realizes what happened.
"Where are the kids?"I ask quickly.
"Tempest took them for ice cream.Said they needed some brother time."His voice is carefully controlled, but I can see the rage building in his dark eyes."Who did this to you?"
"Ethan."
"When?"
"Just now.Maybe ten minutes ago."
He's across the bathroom in two steps, his hands hovering just shy of touching my face, like he's afraid he might hurt me.
"Let me see," he says gently.
