Page 44 of An Inevitable Marriage

Thankfully, I didn’t have to go far. Hell, I didn’t even leave the apartment. Having an in-home gym was one of my requirements when I’d hired a company to remodel my apartment when I’d first purchased it.

Aside from my home office, it was the room I spent the most time in.

Especially at times like this.

Because no matter how desperately I wanted to or how much they deserved it, I’d never take someone else’s life. I refused to answer that particular call of my blood. I’d much rather ram my fists into a bag of sand.

Which was exactly what I did.

That first feel of my gloved hand connecting with the synthetic material sent a wild rush of adrenaline through my veins. It was easy to imagine first my grandfather and then my father as I bobbed and weaved around the bag, furiously raining down punch after punch.

Inside the safety of my mind, I did to them what I couldn’t do in real life. I made them both hurt for everything they’d taken from me and for what my grandfather was still trying to take from me.

Here, in this space, was the only place I could ever do it.

Anywhere else, I’d be exactly like my namesake.

A despicable excuse of a man.

At least life wasn’t all that cruel. Not long after my mother’s death, my father had gotten his reward for being such awonderfulhusband.

Another punch landed against the bag, sending it flying backward. It swung forward just as fast. Shuffling my feet, I angled my body sideways to keep it from slamming into me. Not that it would have mattered if it hit me.

In these moments when memories of my mother and father were at the forefront of my mind, pain was a welcome friend. A great reminder the person who vowed to love you no matter what was usually the one with their hands wrapped around your neck.

“Fuck.”

One more punch, and my body hit failure. My muscles ached, and my legs finally gave out. I toppled backward, my ass hitting the floor with a loud thud. My breaths came in quick, short bursts, sending a line of fire straight to my lungs.

I didn’t even know how long I sat there before I finally took a shower and slid into bed.

With any luck, I’d have worked my body hard enough to keep the demons away.

“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice, Theo?”

At the angry tone in Mom’s voice, I drew my knees to my chest and scooted farther back under the table. I didn’t want her to see me because I was supposed to be asleep in bed. And I had been. Until I’d woken up, tummy growling for another slice of birthday cake.

Thinking they were already asleep, I’d snuck downstairs. Unfortunately, I’d only stuffed one bite into my mouth when the angry voices spilled into the kitchen.

It probably wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but my father had stayed late at the office again. Usually, when that happened, he and Mom would have terrible fights when he got back home.

Tonight was no different.

“Oh, please, Jessica. You know I can do a better job than you.” My father’s words slurred a bit. “Even with one hand tied behind my back.”

Mom’s feet came into view, and I scooted back a little more.

“You’re delusional if you believe that.”

The sound of my father’s hand connecting with my mom’s cheek cracked through the air. I winced. Even though I hadn’t seen this one. I’d seen him do it enough times to know her head snapped to the side and her skin was already red.

I knew it was wrong—because Mom always said there was no place for hate in a good heart—but I hated him. At night, as I lay in my bed, I imagined a life where it was just Mom and me. There was no yelling, no beatings.

Just happiness and laughter.

“Watch your damn tone, you ungrateful bitch.” My father sounded like a demon. “Besides, you’re the only delusional one here. Oh no, wait, that would be your stupid parents for thinking you’re capable of running a multi-billion-dollar company on your own.”

Mom sniffled, but her words came out strong. “Nouvelle Femme has been in my family for generations. I won’t allow you or your greedy father to get any closer to it than you already have. I’ve made certain of it.”