He slapped me hard across the face. “I saw you. You tart. Preening and giggling with that prick. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“I was just being friendly.”

“Friendly? Friendly? You were practically dry-humping him in front of my parents.”

“It wasn’t like that.” He had started to really frighten me, his eyes on fire and a twist to his mouth like a furious sneer.

“No? Do you think I’m blind, hmm? Blind and stupid and happy to be a cuck?”

“Chris, I—”

“Don’t you dare try and tell me that I’m wrong and you’re just some innocent little thing. You’re a whore, Megan. A nasty whore who can’t keep her legs shut.” He was pressed up against me now, breath warm and rancid in my ear. How much had he drunk? He’d been knocking back the vodka, seeming on edge, the whole day. “Just a slut who can’t get enough.”

I was shaking by now, terrified by the change in him; normally he was so kind and gentle. I had no idea what this new version of my husband was capable of.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Chris,” I mumbled.

“So, you admit it?”

I didn’t know how to respond. “I wasn’t trying to make you angry,” I said in the end.

“Well, you did.”

“I know.” My contrition seemed to placate him.

“You know what I would do if I ever found you cheating on me, don’t you?” All trace of the anger gone. But what was left, soft and gentle, sent a chill deep into my bones. He moved a strand of hair away from my face and looked at me for a few moments. “I would hurt you, Megan. Hurt you really bad. You understand?”

Tears streamed down my face as I nodded. He put one hand on my shoulder and pushed me down on to my knees, the ground beneath me damp and mossy. His other hand was undoing his fly. “Show me it’s only ever me you want, Meggie.”

Ten minutes later we were back at the party, having stumbled from the bushes to a cheer from a few of the younger cousins. Chris had responded by high-fiving a few and then slapping my bottom. “Young love!” he exclaimed. “Can’t keep our hands off each other.” I spent the rest of the evening trying to avoid eye contact with Kivi and wondering why no one had noticed the red handprint on my cheek and the mess of my makeup from my tears. I guess sometimes it’s easier just to pretend everything is OK and normal.

Did I think then that he was serious about hurting me? You didn’t see the look in his eyes. That was the night I realized my wedding vows really had been the truth. Till death us do part was not a promise of everlasting love, but a threat. The only way he’d ever let me leave him was if I were dead.

I doubt he would be so possessive of Leah. She wouldn’t have put up with that kind of shit from him.