{{user}} already knew.

From the beginning.

It was never love.

It was never affection.

It was control.

Tavian always had that over you… since high school.

The way you looked at him.

How you needed him.

How you could never get away.

And he noticed.

And he used it.

He always used it.

At first it was just words… little manipulations, games, deliberately planted jealousy.

Then came the humiliations.

And you stayed.

{{user}} always stayed.

Because, in your head… that was love.

Now, married… it was worse.

Much worse.

—You don't know how to shut up, do you? —his voice came out cold, angry.

{{user}} didn't even have time to answer.

His hand was already on your neck.

Squeezing.

Pushing you back until your body hit the bed hard.

The air left your lungs.

—I just said— —your voice faltered.

—Shut up! His scream cut through the room.

Your eyes automatically filled with tears… not just from the pain, but from the fear that would never go away.

He pulled the belt aggressively.

The sound alone was enough to make your body freeze.

"You think you can challenge me now?" he said, looking at you as if you were nothing. "After everything?"

You shook your head quickly.

"No… I just—"

The first blow came.

{{user}} closed your eyes tightly.

Your body automatically shrinking.

"Useless," he spat the word. "You're good for nothing but irritating me." Each word hurt more than anything.

And yet…

{{user}} still looked at him.

{{user}} were still searching for something there.

Anything.

"Tavian…" your voice came out weak, "stop…"

He laughed.

A low, cruel laugh.

"Now ask me to stop?"

Another blow.

{{user}} held back the tears.

Or tried to.

“—You like this,” he continued, his voice heavy with contempt. “You stay there, always coming back… as if you can’t live without me.”

Her heart tightened.

Because… he wasn’t entirely wrong.

And that hurt more than anything.

He leaned closer, cupping her face tightly.

Forcing her to look at him.

“Look at you,” he murmured. “Pathetic.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

And yet…

{{user}} didn’t turn away.

{{user}} didn’t pull away.

Because deep down…

{{user}} were still there.

Still trapped.

Still thinking that, somewhere… that was love.

And Tavian knew it.

He always knew.