Chapter 5

"Because you're my wife now, even if it's in name only," he said, pausing for a moment, his tone softening. "No one gets to bully my woman."

For a split second, my heart skipped a beat.

His words hit me like a boulder crashing into a stagnant pond, sending ripples through my heart.

It had been so long since anyone had stood up for me like this.

With Darren, I always had to give in and compromise.

He always dismissed my grievances and pain as nothing but unreasonable complaints.

But Bruce, my so-called husband, gave me the strongest support when…