chapter two

**2 Years Later...**

Pov Emily

The first six months unfolded like a sweet illusion, a charming lie that Tyler skillfully wove around me. During that time, he won my heart, making me believe in a love that seemed real, only to then shatter it into a thousand pieces. However, Tyler Mitchell's true face emerged, cruel and relentless: betrayals, alcohol-fueled nights, and endless parties in decadent nightclubs with extremely vulgar low-class prostitutes.

Last night, after returning home at three in the morning, drunk, the violence between us erupted like a volcano about to erupt, and Tyler unleashed his fury on me, kicking and punching me, turning me into his punching bag. Over a year of my life was dedicated to enduring this cruelty, but today, something inside me changed, and I was determined to change this reality.

I faced myself once again in the mirror, seeing my face marked by bruises and cuts scattered across my body. The memory of the torture with a knife by Tyler the previous night still echoed in my mind, and I was determined to put an end to this situation. I took a deep breath, repeating to myself the words: "Point, pull the trigger, and shoot!" I swallowed hard, feeling the nausea again. My tense body reflected the discomfort that had haunted me for days, barely able to eat.

I picked up the gun thrown on the bed and walked slowly to the kitchen, where Tyler was likely with Justin and his men, deciding which nightclub to visit or which bank to rob. As soon as I entered, the conversation ceased. I put my hands behind my back, hiding the gun, and stood in front of them.

"Good morning, Emily!" Justin, Josh, and the other men, whose names I hadn't memorized, greeted me as I approached the table. Everyone in this house was kind and polite to me, except Tyler, who treated me like a caged animal.

Tyler just cast me a contemptuous look and continued drinking his coffee. His disdain only fueled my anger, feeding my determination.

"Is everything alright, Miss Parker?" Emma, the housekeeper, looked at me with concern. She had been with Tyler since he was little. It would be a pity to see her cry for him. It would be a pity if I cried for him after all the pain he had caused me during our time together.

"I'm fine, Emma!" I replied sternly.

"What happened to your face?" Justin asked, confused.

"Him!" I pointed the gun at Tyler, who was in front of me having coffee.

Everyone in the kitchen stopped instantly. Suddenly, everything started spinning, and the thought of giving up infiltrated my mind. I quickly pushed that idea away and focused on what I was about to do.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Tyler yelled angrily, getting up to take the gun from my hands.

"Don't take another step without my permission!" I growled, teeth clenched.

Justin and the others drew their guns, pointing them at my head, but I was faster. I pulled the trigger without a second thought. I heard screams and gunfire around me; everything seemed to move, and despite my vision darkening, I managed to hit Tyler Miller directly in the chest. Even with a bullet in his left arm, he came at me, landing a strong punch on my face. Everything around me darkened, and I completely lost consciousness as he beat me to death.