Chapter 1

Catalina’s POV

A crashing sound comes from behind me, and I whirl around to see my husband forcefully yanking the drawer open. My makeup box is thrown open, and its contents are scattered everywhere. A look of shock crosses my face.

"What is this about, Todd? Why would you throw out my makeup box?" I asked, wondering if this was one of his tantrums. Why a grown-up man his age would still be throwing tantrums is utterly baffling.

"All you do is sit uselessly at home. You bring absolutely no value to this home—I might as well throw you out too," Todd snorts in disdain as he steps on the scattered items, unconcerned about whether they’re damaged.

“Home? You call this a home?” I know my tone was getting higher but I couldn't help yelling. “This stopped being a home from the moment you decided to make it your life mission to humiliate and make my life miserable each time you walk through that door.” I retorted, fed up by his constantly making me feel worthless.

For the past four years, I have been feeling suffocated in this marriage. I am stuck in a cocoon glorified in the name of love.

“Maybe if you actually contributed to the running of this house or were useful, I wouldn't keep humiliating you.” He sneered.

I can't believe the nerve of this man. Could this really be the man that took a vow to cherish me five years ago? The same man who told me I was his greatest treasure? Has he forgotten how he badly used to beg me to sacrifice my career for this family?. 

“You told me to quit my job a year after we got married! Stop making it sound like I was the one who chose not to support this family financially.” I glared furiously at him. 

“Yes I did. But that is because you were earning twice my income. There is no way I will allow my wife to earn more than I do.”

I shook my head at him in disbelief. I can't believe that in this 21st century a man could be this shallow in his thinking. 

At this moment, it suddenly occurs to me that this is his true self. All those late-night talks and whispered promises were just delusions meant to snare me into this trap of a marriage.

“That doesn't make sense, Todd. If you weren't comfortable with me being successful, you shouldn't have married me,” I cry out in anger. He laughs at my outburst.

“You are worthless, and no man will ever love you. You should be grateful I even stopped to marry you. I did you a favor!” he snaps, his gaze burning with hatred.

I turn away from him, not wanting to see the man I've called my husband for the past five years looking at me like that.

I suck in a breath, trying not to let him see how much his words hurt, as I take a step toward the door to escape him and his cruelty. Just as my fingers curl around the doorknob to pull it open and storm out, his words stop me.

“Try to be ready before 5 p.m. I don’t want to be late for the party.”

My hand falls away from the doorknob as I turn to him with a look of confusion. “What party are you talking about? Are we going out?”

He doesn’t bother to turn around as he continues flipping through his suits. “I’m not surprised you forgot—the party my office is throwing in honor of my boss, for the new acquisition of Royal Styles Industries.”

I blink, vaguely recalling him mentioning something like that about a week ago. It had completely slipped my mind. Ugh, how could I have forgotten? I don’t even have anything fancy to wear to the event.

Todd stopped giving me money for basic needs a long time ago, and buying me clothes certainly isn’t on his list of priorities. Still, I have to try—maybe he’ll decide to get me something this once.

“I don’t have anything to wear,” I say, hoping he’ll take the hint and offer to get me a dress. After all, it’s his office event, and I’m sure a lot of dignitaries will be in attendance. He wouldn’t want me to stand out, right?

“Go ransack your wardrobe. I’m sure you can find one or two outfits that still fit—despite the fact that you’ve added some pounds,” he remarks offhandedly.

I shake my head, wondering why I even bothered to ask, then step out of his room to search for something presentable to wear.

Todd and I stopped sharing a room two years ago, when he moved my belongings from our shared bedroom to the spare room. When I confronted him, he said he needed privacy. I had shrugged it off—until he stopped making love to me too.

As I search for something to wear and prepare for the party, I can’t help but think how far downhill my life has gone since I made the biggest mistake of my life—marrying Todd.

I know I should probably have filed for divorce when he first changed toward me, but I kept hoping he’d come around, that we could still make the marriage work.

Trying for a baby during the first three years of our marriage, only for every effort to fail, had also added to the strain.

Now that I’ve accepted this marriage is a disaster, I know the best thing to do is leave. But the fear of starting over has its grip on me.

If I walk out of this marriage jobless and broke, how will I face my family—especially when they warned me about Todd? Will I find a place to stay? A job? Can I afford to take the risk? what if Todd changes and love me again?

I am so confused