The honeymoon period didn't last long. A few days later he was back to his normal egotistical self. Both of us had a bad past, mine was more visible, the scars were still there. His were well hidden by his charms, no one could see the man he so often became.

It was the last day of the week, and in normal office style we all got invited out for drinks after work. I asked David along, not wishing to be in trouble for going without him.

It was 17:30 by the time David rocked up, he was in a foul mood and was snappy with me for asking him to come. Yet in front of my colleagues he played the charming husband, even managing to crack my boss.

"Your husband is such a lovely guy Angela!" Emily whispered.

I smiled. "He certainly is very charming." I watched him stiffen as Chris sat down beside me and kiss my cheek.

"How is the beautiful Angela these days?"

I immediately felt awkward with David watching, feeling his gaze burning holes in the side of my head.

"I'm good thank you Chris."  I replied. He smiled in response.

I knew David's wrath would be incoming so I decided to get it over and done with. Excusing myself I went to the bathroom, knowing he would follow soon after and catch me as I was coming out.

As predicted when I left the bathroom he cornered me.

"What was that?" He seethed.

"What?" I frowned.

"You just throwing yourself at that guys feet like the slut you are. I'm so disgusted by you Angela." He looked down his nose at me.

He grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards him. "Go and tell your friends we're leaving."

"We've not been here long-,"

His grip on my wrist tightened. "Well you go, and you tell them we need to get you some food, as your blood sugar is low." He hissed.

Lying was something I'd gotten good at, especially living with David. I said my goodbyes and soon we were leaving.

The drive home was tense, but I knew if I wasn't home soon he would make me pay, he wasn't in the mood for playing games. He'd made that much clear, my wrist ached from where he'd grabbed me with such force.

I pushed the door open and heard silence. I crept into the kitchen. "David, I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean to upset you." I turned to see him standing, his face was stormy and unreadable.

"If you ever, play a stunt like that again, you will pay for it." His ebony eyes where dark, and held no emotion.

He pushed me, my back collided hard against the wall, knocking my breath out of me. His face was close to my own, and I could feel his breath grazing my neck.

"I didn't-" the back of his hand hit my face, causing the familiar burning. I whimpered in pain.

"You are mine, and only mine." He whispered.

Tears ran unchecked down my cheeks as he pushed me against the counter. I panicked, trying to push him off me, but his grip was firm, he held my arms down, pining me down with the rest of his weight.

His hand traveled under my skirt, pulling down my panties. I was paralysed, unable to move. I heard his trousers drop, and everything seemed to move in slow motion as he thrusted inside, I felt the pain, I tried to scream, but nothing came out.

"Please.." I whispered.

"Shut the fuck up." He rasped breathlessly. He grabbed my hair and held it as he found his release. The act was short, but felt like an eternity. The pain I felt was nothing compared to the pain in my soul. He zipped up his trousers and left, the door banged shut. I laid on the counter top, breathing steadily.

In,
out,
in,
out.

The cool marble surface helped calm my racing heart.

It wasn't very often he violated me, but when he did it always made me feel dirty and degraded. Like I was just an object to be used and discarded.

My abdomen hurt, I felt pain worse than usual downstairs. I dreaded needing to pee, it would sting, I knew it.

I pushed myself off the side, sliding down the cupboard. The once cream fabric of my skirt was splattered with crimson drops from his violent act. That explained the pain.

Tears fell unchecked from my eyes; everything felt like it was crashing down and I could do nothing to stop it. My legs felt like jelly, and when I finally stood up I saw myself in the hall mirror. My mascara had run leaving streaks down my face. My left cheek was puffy and had started to swell. My green eyes no longer held the normal glow or happiness. Everything I used to feel was gone. My whole body was in shock and my hands were shaking uncontrollably.

I mechanically discarded my skirt in the laundry basket, along with my blouse, grabbing my bathrobe from the clean washing. I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.

Don't think about it.

Just carry on.

Pull yourself together.

I slowly and mechanically climbed the stairs, locking myself I the bathroom.

Shaking, I pulled the bathrobe off my shoulders and set the shower temperature hot. Hot enough that it burnt my skin, the pain it caused was enough for me to let everything go. I didn't have the urge to hurt myself, but I knew I couldn't take much more of this. I'd been with him for 7 years, married for 6, endured most of the abuse in those 6 years of marriage, the true him was not exposed until we moved in together.

The jets of water hurt my skin and the heat from the water turned my skin crimson. Stepping out of the shower and dried myself gently, I stared at my hands, feeling numb. The evenings events pushed to the back of my mind.

That was until he returned with the children. His voice sent chills down my spine.

"Sort the kids, I'm going out." He growled at me. My face must've shown I wasn't right, I couldn't even speak, my body was paralysed by his presence.

He glared at the children. "Behave."

With that he left.

I quickly ran the taps for Xavier to have a bath. Pouring in some bubble bath, I checked the temperature and set Xavier in the bath with some of his toys.

Soon he was out of the bath, sitting on my bed in his favourite towel. I gave him a cuddle and kissed the top of his head.

"Go and get your PJ's on little dude and I'll make us some hot chocolate. Ay?" I smiled.

Xavier nodded enthusiastically.

I scooped Autumn up from playing with her teddies, and cuddled her tight. "Hot chocolate?" I asked.

"Mhm." She mumbled into my chest.

I walked down the stairs and set Autumn down on the sofa, busying myself with warming milk in the saucepan. Adding the chocolate powder slowly until it looked right and added a little bit of sugar for sweetness, as well as to get my sugar levels up, I felt a little faint, normally my diabetes way of telling me that I needed sugar.

Poured the hot chocolate into mugs and put the TV on. We decided on The Lion King. The kids happily slurped up their hot chocolate and snuggled up under the blanket, Xavier and Autumn snuggled next to me. But I was left alone with my thoughts. All I kept thinking was how would I protect them? Had I failed as a mother? I needed to keep them safe. It was my duty.

As the credits rolled, Xavier and Autumn were asleep. I woke up Xavier and told him to go brush his teeth. I carried Autumn up the stairs, her sleeping form so innocent and content.

I tucked her in and peered into Xavier's room. He was sitting on his bed, frowning, fiddling with his hands. A sign something was bothering him

"You okay lovely?" I asked, as I came and sat next to him.

His eyes locked onto mine. "Why did your skirt have blood on it?"

I froze. It was in the laundry hamper, I had forgotten to put it in the wash. My skin prickled. "Where-, I don't know what you're talking about." I swallowed hard.

"In the dirty laundry. I was blood mum I know it." He insisted.

I stroked his head. "Come on let's get into bed." My mind was reeling. What the hell was he thinking?

"Did daddy get angry at you again?" He whispered.

Tears momentarily pricked my eyes but I blinked them away. "No, no. It wasn't that. It was nothing Xavier." I tucked him in, planting a kiss on his forehead. "I love you baby."

"I love you too mummy."

Felt like we needed to meet the kids a bit more. Plus meeting Xavier. What do you think of him? He isn't your normal sort of kid, very observant - you'll see that get him in all kinds of trouble.

Hope you liked that chapter. It was difficult to write if I'm being honest, but I hope it was realistic enough.

If you felt this chapter was deserving please fill up the star :) and leave a comment of any suggestions/tips/ideas you may have on how to improve or change anything - and most importantly love you all :)