Page 178

Story: As It Was

But then, all my sadness vanished, replaced with the white-hot fire of rage.
Trevor smirked. “We’ll just have to work on getting you back up to my standards.”
Yeah, that was it. I was Mollie fucking Wilson. I’d gone off on Cain for far less.
I wasn’t taking this from him. Not on the best day of my life. And definitely not on my worst.
“Howfuckingdare you!” I snapped, slowly rising from my chair. “Let’s get one thing straight. I willneverlet you talk to me like that again, no matter if I’m here or not. You willnevermake me feel small again. You will never be able to turn me into whatever fucking wife you wanted because I will fight you every step of the way. Do you understand me?”
“Mollie?” Mom’s voice sounded panicked. “What happened?”
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked.
“What’s wrong?” I laughed and looked at Trevor. “Repeat what you just said to me.”
“I said nothing,” Trevor hissed. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Oh, you’re scared the second they’re in the room? Funny.” I turned to my parents. “Because when you two are gone? He’s a completely different person.”
Mom’s eyes went wide. “Wh—Mollie, what do you mean?”
“I told you she would do this. She’s blaming it all on me.” Trevor laughed. “Don’t believe a word she says.”
I was too far gone to feel fear. I’d lost everything.
Except for myself.
“If you believehimover me, then that’s fine. But you should know the whole story. Like how he never cleaned and put it all on me. Or how he would knock on the wall to summon coffee every morning. Or how he lied about the farm and then tried to force me to sell. How he made snide comments about Wren to try to isolate me from my friends, and how he talked a big story to you so you would cut me off. He’s emotionally manipulative at his best. Emotionally abusive at his worst. And I’m not taking it anymore.”
“Oh come on, she’s lying!” Trevor snapped. “I’ve never emotionally manipulated anyone in my life!”
“Really? Then why did you never let me make any choices for myself? Why did you constantly say you weretrainingme to be your wife? Was I a dog to you? Or just a trophy you wanted to show off?”
Mom covered her mouth, but Dad spoke first. “When did you feel this way, Mollie?”
“I felt this more and more every single day until I left.”
“Is he why you left?”
“Yes. I got out before it could get so much worse.”
“What did he say?” Mom’s voice was shaky, but I hadn’t seen her this mad in a long time.
“Come on?—”
“No,” Mom said. “If someone uses the wordabuse,I listen. Honey, tell me what he said.”
“He said he had me trained well before I whored myself out. Despite the fact that he said he would be seeing other people.”
Mom turned to Trevor, jaw on the floor. “Howdareyou.”
“No, I didn’t!” Trevor snapped. “She’s lying like she always fucking does! She’s nothing but a spoiled princess who cares only about herself.”
“Is that all you have to say about me? Because you’ve said a lot worse in the past. Or are you too much of a fucking chickenshit to try it now?”
“You littlebitch.”He sneered. “I don’t know what sort of inbred bullshit that town taught you, but you should learn your place!”
He stepped forward, and I wondered how hard it would be to punch him in the face.

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