My husband slammed my hand onto the burning stove because the steak was “overcooked.” As I collapsed in agony, my mother-in-law stepped over me, laughing, “She needs to learn her place.” My father-in-law just turned up the TV. They thought I was reaching for a bandage. I smiled through the tears and whispered, “enjoy your last few minutes of peace.” then, the siren lights flashed outside…
Beatrice chuckled softly from her perch at the island, taking another sip of her wine. “You see, Julian? She is capable of absorbing instruction. It just requires the proper… reinforcement.”
Only then did the tension leave Julian’s shoulders. He smiled, a terrifying, triumphant expression that chilled me to the continue reading …