"Did you think I'd just let you go?" Suzanne's grip on her son tightened as Charles took a slow step forward, his smirk curling like smoke in the air. "I sent you the damn divorce papers, Charles. Sign them and leave." He chuckled. "Oh, I got them." Another step. "But I don't sign away what's mine." She backed up. "I am not yours. I stopped being yours the night you betrayed me." His jaw clenched. The silence stretched-thick, suffocating-before he lunged. Suzanne barely had time to gasp before his hands were on her, ripping their son from her arms. The boy hit the couch with a soft thud and let out a startled cry. "You son of a-!" She shoved at him, clawing, struggling, but he was stronger. His hands dug into her waist, yanking her against him, his breath hot and reeking of alcohol. "You're mine, Suzanne," he growled, fingers digging into her skin. "And if I can't have you-" his grip tightened, his lips brushing her ear, "no one will." Then-CRACK! Charles gone-ripped off her, sent flying across the room. Suzanne gasped, chest heaving, scrambling back just as her attacker crashed into a table. A voice, dark and furious, sliced through the chaos. "Touch her again, and I'll kill you." Her heart stopped. She knew that voice. Liam Carter. --- Trapped in a loveless marriage to a ruthless CEO, Suzanne Smith thought she had no way out-until Liam Carter, her high school sweetheart, walked back into her life. He's everything her husband isn't-kind, passionate, and willing to fight for her. But leaving Charles Langford won't be easy. His Lies. Betrayal. Violence. Suzanne is done playing the perfect wife. This time, she's fighting back. Will she escape his grip, or will her past consume her? How far will she go for freedom?
Chapter 1 Fractured vows
The servants moved like shadows. Their footsteps were silent as they placed dish after dish of delicacies before the family.
Suzanne Smith sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap. Her heart was heavy with an all-too-familiar tension.
At the head of the table, Beatrice Langford perched like a queen. Her hawk-like eyes scanned Suzanne with barely concealed disdain. Every detail of her appearance, from her perfectly coiffed hair to her pristine pearl necklace, added to her air of superiority.
"And how long has it been now?"
Her voice cut through the air like a blade. Cold. Sharp. Deliberate. She didn't even look at Suzanne as she spoke, slicing into her roast lamb with clinical precision.
Suzanne stiffened. She knew exactly where this was going.
"Three years," she said softly. Her voice was steady, but inside, a storm was brewing.
Beatrice's lips curled into a smirk. She set her knife and fork down with deliberate elegance.
"Three years of marriage and not even a whisper of a child."
The words hung in the air like a noose.
"Do you know how ridiculous this looks for the Langford family, Suzanne? People are beginning to talk."
Heat rose to Suzanne's cheeks, but she kept her gaze on her plate. Across the table, her husband, Charles Langford, remained silent. He scrolled through his phone like this wasn't his problem.
"I'm doing everything I can," she said quietly, forcing herself to meet Beatrice's piercing gaze.
Beatrice scoffed and leaned back in her chair. "Everything you can?"
She shook her head, almost amused.
"You've been to the finest doctors money can buy, and yet here we are. Still waiting." She paused. Then, with a pointed look, she added, "Perhaps the problem isn't just physical, Suzanne. Perhaps you lack the determination necessary to fulfill your role as a wife in this family."
The words hit like a slap.
Suzanne's grip on her fork tightened. She wanted to lash out, to tell Beatrice exactly what she thought of her and her outdated expectations.
But she didn't.
She had learned long ago that arguing would only make things worse.
"Mother, that's enough," Charles finally muttered. His tone was more annoyed than protective. He didn't even glance up from his phone.
Beatrice waved a dismissive hand. "Don't interrupt me, Charles."
Her eyes remained locked on Suzanne. "If she isn't going to take her duties seriously, then someone needs to hold her accountable."
Suzanne clenched her jaw. Duties. That was all she was to them. A means to produce an heir and secure the Langford legacy.
The door to the dining room opened. A servant entered with a bottle of wine.
Suzanne seized the moment, pushing her chair back and standing abruptly. "Excuse me," she said. Her voice trembled despite her best efforts to sound composed.
"Sit down, Suzanne," Beatrice commanded. Her tone was icy.
Suzanne hesitated. Her chest tightened as her instincts screamed for her to leave. But years of conditioning forced her to obey.
She sank back into her chair, her head bowed.
Beatrice leaned forward. Her expression softened into something that resembled pity, though Suzanne knew it was anything but.
"Suzanne, dear, I know this isn't easy for you. But you must understand how important this is for our family. The Langfords have a legacy to uphold. Charles deserves an heir, and you're running out of time."
The words echoed in Suzanne's mind, each one a weight dragging her deeper into despair.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to tell Beatrice that she wasn't some broodmare whose sole purpose was to bear a child.
But she couldn't.
Not here. Not now.
Charles finally put his phone down. He rubbed his temples as if the entire conversation was an inconvenience.
"Mother, can we please just drop this for tonight? I've had a long day."
Beatrice sighed, clearly annoyed. "Fine. But this discussion isn't over."
She picked up her fork and knife, resuming her meal as if nothing had happened.
Suzanne's appetite was long gone. She stared at her untouched plate, her mind racing.
How had her life come to this?
Three years ago, she had been so sure of her decision to marry Charles. She had believed in their love, believed that they could build a life together.
Now, sitting in this cold, oppressive dining room, she felt like a stranger in her own life.
Dinner dragged on. The conversation shifted to business and social events, topics that Suzanne had no interest in. She nodded along when necessary, pretending to listen while her thoughts spiraled.
When the meal finally ended, she excused herself.
She retreated to the sanctuary of her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Leaning against it, she let out a shaky breath.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to hold back tears.
The door slammed open.
Suzanne's heart pounded as Charles stormed into the room. His expression was twisted with anger.
"Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was for me?" he growled. His voice was low but cutting. "Walking out of dinner like that? Mother was furious."
She blinked. Her head was still spinning from the evening's events.
"Embarrassing for you?" Her voice rose with disbelief. "Charles, she humiliated me. She treats me like-"
"Like what?" he interrupted, stepping closer.
His towering frame felt suffocating. She instinctively backed away.
"Like a disappointment?" His voice dripped with mockery. "Because that's exactly what you're proving to be."
Her breath caught in her throat. Anger flared in her chest. "How dare you-"
Before she could finish, his hand lashed out.
The slap rang through the room.
She froze.
Her face stung from the force. Slowly, she turned back to him, her eyes blazing.
"Don't you ever lay a hand on me again," she warned.
She tried to leave.
He grabbed her wrist.
His grip was like iron as he dragged her toward him.
Charles smirked, his face void of regret. "Or what?" he sneered.
His voice was laced with cruel amusement.
"What are you going to do, Suzanne? Run away? You've got nowhere to go. No one would take you in."
Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "Let me go."
His grip tightened.
Without another word, he yanked her forward.
Suzanne's chest constricted as he dragged her toward the bed.
Her body was drained. Too exhausted to fight.
He shoved her onto the mattress.
"You're going to stop acting like a spoiled child and start doing what's expected of you," he hissed. His breath was hot against her skin. "Do you understand?"
She pushed herself up. Her chest heaved with fury.
There was no anger left. Only exhaustion.
She looked at him. Her voice was low, trembling.
"Get out."
His jaw clenched. His gaze burned with contempt.
"Don't push me, Suzanne. You won't like where that leads."
She spat back at him. "You will do nothing."
Regret hit her the moment the words left her lips.
A tense silence fell between them.
Then, slowly, he unbuckled his belt.
The sound was deafening in the room.
"Then I shall teach you a lesson," he said coldly.
His movements were slow. Deliberate.
A chill ran down Suzanne's spine.
Chapter 1 Fractured vows
21/02/2025
Chapter 2 Under her thumb
21/02/2025
Chapter 3 Silent struggles
21/02/2025
Chapter 4 Memories of the past
21/02/2025
Chapter 5 Unexpected encounter
21/02/2025
Chapter 6 Strength of a child
21/02/2025
Chapter 7 Shifting alliances
21/02/2025
Chapter 8 Masks and manipulations
21/02/2025
Chapter 9 Tangled loyalties
21/02/2025
Chapter 10 Shattered trust
21/02/2025
Chapter 11 Cracks in thd facade
07/03/2025
Chapter 12 Breaking point
07/03/2025
Chapter 13 Edge of resolve
07/03/2025
Chapter 14 Breaking the chains
07/03/2025
Chapter 15 Phoenix rises
07/03/2025
Chapter 16 Return of power
07/03/2025
Chapter 17 Burden of truth
07/03/2025
Chapter 18 Moment of respite
07/03/2025
Chapter 19 Cold confrontation
07/03/2025
Chapter 20 Line drawn
07/03/2025
Chapter 21 Too little, too late
07/03/2025
Chapter 22 Fractured trust
07/03/2025
Chapter 23 Media firestorm
07/03/2025
Chapter 24 Unfinished business
07/03/2025
Chapter 25 Public facade
07/03/2025
Chapter 26 Crossed signals
07/03/2025
Chapter 27 His perfect plan
07/03/2025
Chapter 28 Captured in the inn
07/03/2025
Chapter 29 Fragile hope
07/03/2025
Chapter 30 Painful truth
07/03/2025
Chapter 31 The Act
07/03/2025
Chapter 32 Unraveling ties
07/03/2025
Chapter 33 Search for suzanne
07/03/2025
Chapter 34 Bitter game
07/03/2025
Chapter 35 Unraveling truth
07/03/2025
Chapter 36 Escape in the flames
07/03/2025
Chapter 37 Silent revelation
07/03/2025
Chapter 38 Unspoken truth
07/03/2025
Chapter 39 The oath
07/03/2025
Chapter 40 Shattered marriage
07/03/2025
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