Chapter 3

Diana let out a soft cry and rushed into his arms. "Oh, Arthur. You didn't have to do that."

"I did," he said, his voice thick with pain and something else... satisfaction. He held her tight, smearing his blood onto her expensive gown. "Anything for you."

I watched, frozen, as he comforted her. The man who had once promised to protect me was now mutilating himself to erase me, all for her. The tattoo had been my eighteenth-birthday gift to him, a symbol of our young, pure love. He'd sworn it was more permanent than any ring.

He wasn't the man I loved anymore. He was a monster.

My own heart felt like it was being carved out, just like the 'E' on his chest.

I turned and fled, stumbling through the glittering ballroom, ignoring the curious stares. I ran back to our apartment, my mind a blank canvas of horror.

My stomach was cramping violently. I fumbled in the medicine cabinet for my ulcer medication, my hands shaking so hard I could barely open the bottle.

I dry-swallowed two pills and collapsed onto the bed in the guest room, the room that had become my sanctuary, my prison cell.

A little while later, the door opened. It was Diana. She was wearing my silk bathrobe, the one Arthur had bought me for our anniversary.

"It's so soft," she said, running her hands over the fabric. She was smiling, a smug, victorious smile. "Arthur has such good taste."

I just stared at her, too numb to feel anything.

My silence seemed to annoy her. The smile vanished. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or are you finally realizing your place?"

"Get out," I whispered.

"Oh, I will," she sneered. "But not before I enjoy the life that should have been mine. He doesn't love you, you know. He never did. He's just with you out of pity."

Suddenly, her expression changed. Her eyes widened in fake fear as she heard footsteps approaching.

"Please, Ella, don't be mad," she cried, her voice suddenly high and panicked. "I'll take the robe off, I promise! Don't hit me!"

Arthur burst into the room. He saw Diana cowering, my robe clutched around her, and his face filled with rage.

"What did you do to her?" he snarled at me.

"Nothing," I said, my voice flat. "She's lying."

"Don't lie to my face, Ella!" he shouted. "Apologize to her. Now."

Diana sobbed, playing her part perfectly. "It's my fault, Arthur. I shouldn't have worn her things. She's just upset. It's okay."

Her fake magnanimity only fueled his anger. "It is not okay! Look at you, you're trembling." He turned to me, his eyes burning with a cold fire. "I have been too lenient with you."

"I didn't do anything," I repeated, my voice rising. "She's manipulating you!"

"I'm tired of your excuses," he said, grabbing my arm. His grip was like iron. "You're going to learn some respect."

He started dragging me out of the room. I struggled, trying to pull away, but he was too strong.

"Arthur, stop! Do you really believe I would hurt her? After everything?"

He hesitated for a split second. I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes, a ghost of the man he used to be.

"Arthur, darling, my wrist hurts," Diana cried from the bedroom.

The ghost vanished. The monster was back.

"You're out of control," he hissed, his face inches from mine. He dragged me through the apartment, down the hall, to the front door.

He threw the door open and shoved me out into the cold, sterile hallway of the apartment building. I stumbled, my bare feet hitting the cold marble floor.

"Stay out here and think about what you've done," he commanded.

He slammed the door in my face. The click of the lock was the sound of my world ending.

I was in my pajamas, barefoot, locked out of my own home. I banged on the door, screaming his name, but there was no answer. I tried the handle, but it was useless.

The cramping in my stomach intensified, a sharp, stabbing pain that made me double over. The hallway started to spin. Black spots danced in my vision.

As I slid down the wall to the floor, my last conscious thought was of his promise at the Met. "I will never let anything hurt you, Ella. I swear it."

Was that promise dead now, too? Carved out of his heart along with my initial?