Chapter 2
The next morning,
Alice woke up with a clear mind.
The bruise on her face had darkened.
It was an ugly shade of purple,
blue,
and yellow.
She did not cover it with makeup.
She wanted to see it.
She wanted to remember exactly what she was fighting against.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
It was Kevin.
He was calling again.
He had called fourteen times during the night.
He had left six voicemails.
She ignored the call.
She opened her messages.
There were dozens of texts from him.
"Alice,
please come home."
"We need to talk about this."
"My parents are very upset."
"You are embarrassing me,
Alice."
She scoffed at the last one.
Embarrassing him.
That was all he cared about.
His image.
His comfort.
His perfect little world.
She took a screenshot of every single message.
Every desperate plea,
every manipulative whine,
every subtle attempt to blame her.
It all went into a secure folder.
Marcus had given her strict instructions.
Do not answer his calls.
Do not agree to meet him alone.
Do not return to the townhouse.
The townhouse.
That was the biggest issue.
Alice’s parents had gifted them three hundred thousand dollars for the down payment.
It was supposed to be their safety net.
Their future.
Kevin had contributed nothing to the down payment.
He spent his money on cars,
watches,
and expensive dinners.
Alice was the one with the savings.
Alice was the one with the financial sense.
And now,
Kevin's name was on the deed.
She had to fix that.
She got dressed in a sharp,
black suit.
She tied her hair back tight.
She looked like a woman going to a funeral.
Or a corporate takeover.
She walked downstairs.
Her parents were sitting at the kitchen table.
They looked worried.
They had seen the bruise last night.
Her father had wanted to drive over and break Frank’s jaw.
Alice had to stop him.
"Dad,
mom,"
she said,
pouring a cup of black coffee.
"I am filing for divorce today."
Her mother gasped.
Her father nodded slowly.
"Whatever you need,
sweetheart,"
he said.
"We are with you."
"I need you to call the bank,"
Alice said smoothly.
"The transfer for the townhouse was conditional.
Marcus is drafting a notice.
We are freezing the escrow."
Her father smiled grimly.
"Done."
Alice took a sip of her coffee.
It was bitter.
It tasted like victory.
She checked her phone one more time.
Patricia had posted a new status on Facebook.
"Family is everything.
Sometimes,
outsiders try to tear us apart.
But true love and respect will always prevail.
Praying for peace in our home."
Alice almost laughed out loud.
Patricia was playing the victim.
She was setting the stage for a tragic story.
A story where Alice was the villain.
Alice locked her phone.
"Keep praying,
Patricia,"
May you like
she whispered to herself.
"You are going to need it."
