My husband s:la:pped me over a trivial mistake—I stayed silent, but by morning I had already made a decision that changed everything between us.

soft crack of pastry under Bell’s knife.

“Elena,” Victor said carefully, “what is this?”

I sat at the far end of the table.

“Breakfast.”

Chief Bell turned the tablet toward him.

On the screen, Victor’s hand struck my face again and again in clean, merciless frames.

Look what you made me do.

His mouth opened. Closed.

Lydia stepped back. “Victor, what did you continue reading …