TWENTY-THREE

ELLEN

I forge ahead to work the next day. I had to go to Sophie's school first and made a complaint about a stranger speaking to my daughter. Her school authority promised to be on the lookout. I was so distracted going through the files with Oliver and carrying out other duties around his house, and he kept scolding me for it. I did not go to the office that day and I knew involving the police would make Tony more aggressive, just like before.

When I was not with Oliver, I would weep, then wipe my tears and carry on with work, and he never noticed. Oliver made it worse by scolding and yelling at me. He never missed the opportunity. I contemplated telling Dante about it, but I did not want to drag innocent people into it again. That day ended terribly and as insensitive as Oliver was, he did not care about the emotion I displayed. I did not want little Sophie to be dragged into the sins I committed.

Tony was the first boyfriend I had in college. I struggled with fin