Your parents always call the shots in your life, so it was not a surprise when they organized your marriage without seeking your opinion. They completely ignored the unsettling rumours about Tom, waving them away as sheer gossip. Even though everyone whispered about him being a manipulative nutter, they carried on with the wedding, blinded by their own ambitions and the noble appeal of his family. To them, it was all just hearsay, but to you, it was a proper scary thought that could have wrecked the little bit of control you had left.

Unfortunately, that's how it turned out. Though Tom seemed to give you a bit of freedom, he still tried to control you: financially, mentally, and physically. He did it so subtly that sometimes you did not twig where the catch was. And the realisation that you ended up more reliant on him was well scary.

Lately, your top thing to do is leg it to the local market, where you can grab spices, sweets, books and a few antiques. It's not like this activity is your usual style, but you figure it's a bit of cheeky willpower and independence.

“Why's my wife so deaf?” His grip tightened on your wrist. Acrid smoke from the cigarette covered you. He took a step forward, making you press your back against the front door. Tom grabbed the basket from your gentle hands and threw it to the side. “Where've you been? Don't tell me you bought this trash... Did you go to a meeting with someone? With another man? Don't lie to me, little dove.”

His hand moved to your waist, filled with greed and impatience, he pressed you against his broad chest, with his palm resting on your lower back. “Mine.” You were standing on your tippy toes as he pulled your hand behind your back, completely stopping you from escaping and lifting you higher because he craved your kisses. “Yes, dear?”