“Not to your benefit. Even when I finally offered you a settlement, about a tenth of what you should have gotten, you gave it all away to Gabe.”

“It was your money. I figured that’s what you would want.”

“Terry, I was already supporting him. We were married. You were entitled to something.” He shook his head. “I used to think, God, this woman must really hate my guts if she won’t even take my money.”

“I didn’t hate you. I just thought it was best to cut ties.”

“You certainly did do that.”

I didn’t say anything.

He looked at me for what felt like the longest time. “Probably a good thing. If you would have taken the money, Devek would have just gambled it away.”

“That is true.” I paused. “Christopher, I promise I won’t ghost you again. I swear I’m committed.”

He ran his tongue in his cheek. “I can’t stand to lose control. I especially can’t stand to lose control of you. And when you’re here with me, I’m always in control of everything.”

“Nobody is in control one hundred percent of the time.”

“I’ll take ninety-nine-point-nine, then.” Another glance at his watch. “One thing I learned about myself while you were gone is how truly warped I’ve become. I can’t live in the real world, Teresa. Things that annoy normal people make me homicidal. Which was why I shot heroin. It numbed me enough so I didn’t go around murdering people, which I wanted to do all the time. When I built this place—this physical construct where I am king—I didn’t need drugs anymore. I rarely, rarely, hear the word no. You leaving me for the purpose of properly raising your children—even under my terms—is a big, fat NO to my face. And I don’t like it.”

His eyes studied my face. It was an expression I had seen long ago, right before he was about to tie me up to sketch me in the nude. Oh, those carefree teenage years.

“But I do deeply love you and I want you to be happy,” he said. “So … I’ll take a big breath and let you leave when the time comes. And now I really do have to go attend to my affairs.” He walked over to me and kissed me gently. “I know this has been hell for you, but it’s been great for me. Just like in high school. I was walking around in a fog until I met you. Now, like back then, the fog has been lifted and I can see again.” He slowly backed away and then turned and closed the door behind him, locking me in my tomb.