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Chapter_47
Enduring Humiliation
I was startled, my pulse quickening as I clutched the note in my hand. His name. His phone number. Written down just for me.
I watched him walk away, his presence leaving a trace of something I couldn’t shake off. My heart raced as I carefully tucked the note into my clutch, making sure no one saw. Especially not Matthew.
The evening dragged on, and Matthew, ever the critic, continued discussing and belittling the people at the event. His voice seemed distant to me, his words slipping past my consciousness as my thoughts turned inward. His tirade didn’t interest me. What did was the note hidden safely in my purse.
I’d never expected this kind of interaction with him. Atlas. ATL Empire. There was something there, something I needed to understand. And for the first time in what felt like ages, the thought of redirecting my business—reclaiming the power I had once built—began to burn inside me. Tanum Corporation was mine. It always had been. I’d walked away for too long, and now Matthew had left his mark.
But I could take it back. I could start again.
The drive home felt longer than usual, my mind racing, preparing for the next steps. I knew I couldn’t allow myself to stay trapped in this suffocating life, not for much longer. I would endure, but only for Ava—for the future I could still build.
When we arrived home, I quickly kicked off my heels, the cold air hitting my tired feet as I headed to the bathroom. I needed a break, something to wash away the tension and the weight of the evening.
But as soon as I turned on the shower, the door flung open, and Matthew stepped inside—naked, his eyes glassy with alcohol.
“Hey! What are you doing? Get out—I’m not finished!” I protested, scrambling to cover myself.
He ignored my words, stepping closer, his grin smug and predatory. “How long has it been, huh? Why so shy now?”
I felt a wave of disgust rising in me, but I couldn’t fight him. He pushed me up against the wall, his touch rough, insistent. My body felt foreign to me in that moment—slippery, vulnerable, and unwilling. I resisted, but it didn’t matter.
Tears burned my eyes, and nausea twisted in my stomach. He didn’t care. He never did. I hated myself for feeling so powerless, for letting him do this to me.
I couldn’t even tell how much time had passed. His words alternated between empty promises and crude commands. Eventually, he fell asleep, his weight still pressing down on me, like a suffocating force.
I stared at the ceiling, my body trembling. This wasn’t the man I had once known, and I wasn’t sure I could recognize him anymore.
If not for Ava… I might have done something I’d regret.
I stumbled to the mirror later, eyes wide with shock as I looked at my reflection. I could see the marks, the signs of his dominance. I felt hollow, my self-worth eroding with each second that passed.
I scrubbed my skin, trying to wash away the feeling, trying to erase him from my body and my mind. I needed to leave. I needed to escape. But for now, I had to endure.
I spent hours in the bathroom, crying silently, before I finally managed to calm down. That night, I slept beside Ava, trying to find solace in her innocence, her warmth.
The next morning, I woke up to find Matthew beside me, his gaze heavy, predatory. “Honey,” he murmured with a wicked grin. “Was I too rough last night? I missed you.”
I felt his hands on me again before I even had the chance to speak. He was relentless, a force I couldn’t escape. I wanted to shut him out, but the words came from my mouth before I could stop them.
“Whatever. If you want it so badly… let’s have another child.”
I hated myself for saying it. I hated him for making me feel this way. But I needed to play along, to keep him satisfied long enough to put my plans into motion.
His expression shifted—surprise, confusion—and for a moment, he froze. “Are you serious?” he asked, his voice faltering.
“Yeah,” I said, not sure who I was anymore. “I’ve been thinking about it… and now seems like the right time.”
His gaze softened, and he rolled off me, pulling me close. He buried his face in my neck, holding me tightly. I could feel the warmth of his body, the wetness against my skin, and for a brief moment, I wished I could escape my own body.
But I didn’t. Not yet.
I would endure for Ava. For my future.
And one day, Matthew would pay for every second of this.