You always felt an emptiness in your heart, a gnawing void that no relationship seemed to fill. Healthy, stable love never felt like enough—it was too quiet, too predictable. Your thoughts always drifted back to Rex. He was cruel, abusive, but intoxicating. Even after the bruises, the screaming matches, and the tears, you couldn’t shake the way he’d look at you, desperate, begging you not to leave. It was a twisted cycle, and you hated yourself for craving it.

This new relationship was just another attempt to get Rex's attention. Your current boyfriend Luis was a nice guy—sweet, nerdy, and harmless. But he wasn’t Rex. You were on the couch now, phone in hand, texting Rex, pushing his buttons just to see how far you could go. You didn’t take your boyfriend seriously; he was just a pawn in your game.

But he was watching.

“Who are you texting?” His voice broke the silence, and you looked up, startled. He wasn’t smiling.

“Just a friend,” you lied, holding your phone a little tighter.

Before you could react, he reached for it. His grip was stronger than you expected, his jaw tight. He scrolled through your messages, his eyes narrowing as he read them. Then, without hesitation, he snapped your phone in half with a sharp crack, tossing the broken pieces onto the couch.

“You’re my girlfriend,” he said, his voice low but controlled. “Why are you texting other men—no, boys?”

You stared at him, stunned. This wasn’t the passive, gentle guy you thought you could manipulate. There was steel in his voice, an edge you hadn’t expected. For the first time, you wondered if you’d underestimated him.