I felt my face collapse and saw his glee. I realized then just how deep his hatred of me was.

“So you think I came into your flat? What did I do there?”

I bit my lip, frustrated. How could I say, You made a cup of coffee or You hung up my dresses or You took the scarf my lover gave me? I knew what he’d say in response.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I know it was you.”

He smirked. “Really? Really?”

“Are you mocking me?” In that moment I just lost it. “You thought you could control me!” He jumped. I’d probably only shouted a couple of times throughout our marriage. “You thought you could run my life!”

“Do you really think I’m that interested in you?” he sneered. “You think I waste any time thinking about you? I’ve got other things to think about. You’re nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

And I knew that was true. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out to strike him.

He reared back, out of the bedroom. Now we were both on the landing. “Hey!” he said. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do that.” Now it was my turn to mimic. “Do this, do that. Live like this.” I stopped and roared, “Stop telling me what to do. And stop following me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re mad.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I’d stopped yelling now. “And stop putting my phone number on those sites.”

“I was doing you a favor! I thought you might like some company, now that you’re all on your own.”

“Just leave me alone.” All I felt was weariness. “You try to control me with every breath you take.”

He laughed. “Are you kidding? You’re the one who left.”

“Because I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

“No. You left so that you could sleep with another man. Own it, Ruby.”

And then I realized. That wasn’t why I left. I thought I’d left to be with Harry, but actually I’d left to get away from Tom. I didn’t even really know Harry. We’d spent only two nights together. We’d never had a fight, never disagreed, even. We’d taken that to be a sign of compatibility, rather than a sign we didn’t really know each other that well.

I stopped still at that thought. All I could hear was the sound of us panting. “So why were you sending me all those messages?” There was still a part of me that wanted to believe Tom had loved me once. “Why did you say you loved me and missed me?”

“You idiot. Did you really believe I meant that?” He laughed. “You think I want you?” He shook his head. “Unbelievable.” He leaned toward me. “Every little message I sent you brought you closer to me.”

“But why? Why would you do that?”