She loved she thought in the only way she knew loved to be. She had married whom she thought was the love of of her life. So what the relationship was always turbulent? She was a volatile person and so was he. So what if it hurt most times than not, when it was good it was good. So what if she cried herself to sleep, hoping that peace finally made a home where she is.

It was how she always knew her life to be. Peace was not something that was meant to be hers.

Love was meant to hurt and she loved her husband. No matter how reckless he was. No matter how volatile. No matter how much it hurt. He had traumas and so did he. She had made peace with the way he was.

Until she met Rylan.

They had gotten close over the months of working together as the heads of the medical team. He was charming and smooth talking and had a way with words except....he was kind. Sweet. He listened to her. Paid attention.

It felt odd, like she was being seen in a way she had never been seen before.

Before she knew it he was a comfort place. A safe haven. Someone she labelled her best friend, someone she could breathe around when her husband was giving her a hard time.

So when one night another one of their fights broke loose she found herself at Rylan's place at the dead of the night on his couch with angry tears streaming down her face.

His jaw was set tight as he disappeared into the kitchen to get her a glass of water and when he came back and sat down beside her handing her the glass he was practically clenching so hard it felt as if his teeth would crush under the force.

All he was starting to understand was that her husband did not deserve her.

"What happened?" he asked, forcing his voice to remain calm. Neutral. He scanned her for injuries and to his relief there was nothing. "You're going to have to start telling me before I loose my mind."

She never truly told him the full extent of what was happening at home and if he had to keep guessing he'd truly loose his mind.