“Maybe now you’ll learn your place,” my mother-in-law sneered after my husband attacked me while I held our sick baby post-surgery. Weak and trembling, I locked us in the room and dialed one number. Minutes later, heavy boots kicked down the front door, and my husband’s face went pale as my father walked in wearing his general’s uniform and said…

in tears, only to make me dry my eyes and start again. I had to be unbreakable on the stand. Any display of excessive emotion would be painted as instability; any hesitation would be framed as a lie.

A week before the trial, Margaret called.

“Troy’s attorney just floated a plea deal,” she said, her voice tight. “He’s offering to plead guilty to simple continue reading …