Tae’s POV

“Blob, get the door.”

My husband’s voice echoed from downstairs.

I sighed, reluctantly getting up from the couch and walking toward the front door. The doorbell rang again just as I reached it.

When I opened the door, I found Erica standing there with a bright smile on her face.

“Hey, babe! Is Mike ready?” she asked, pulling me into a quick hug.

“Yeah, morning,” Mike called from behind me as he came down the stairs.

Erica was my friend from college, but she also happened to be Mike’s coworker. The two of them were pretty close, which I had never really liked, but I had learned not to complain.

They always went to work together.

“Bye, Tae,” Erica said as Mike opened the door.

I smiled and waved.

Mike didn't even look back at me.

The door closed behind them.

I stood there for a few seconds before letting out a quiet sigh.

Then I went upstairs to get ready for work.

For a twenty-five-year-old woman, I often felt much older.

Maybe it was because my life had changed so much in such a short amount of time.

My mother had died two years ago.

My father had died five years ago.

And before he died, he had warned me about Mike.

Over and over again.

I just hadn't listened.

I wish I had.

Because now, I was living with the consequences of giving Mike everything.

My money was in his name. Every single thing I owned—including the inheritance my father had left me—was tied to him.

My father had been a wealthy man, and after his death, I inherited more than enough money to live comfortably.

But somehow, I had handed control of it all to Mike.

And he treated me like I was nothing.

He would hit me whenever he was angry.

No one knew.

Not my friends.

Not my coworkers.

Not anyone.

I still remembered the day I hadn't served his sauce with his rice.

It sounded ridiculous when I thought about it now.

But that day, he beat me so badly that I was sick for two weeks afterward.

And somehow, I still blamed myself.

Maybe if I lost weight, he'd love me.

Maybe if I looked better, he'd be proud to call me his wife.

Maybe then I'd finally be enough.

Fresh tears slipped down my cheeks as I remembered something that happened recently.

A new neighbor had smiled at me and called me Mrs. Beth.

Mike had been furious.

He'd forbidden her from using his last name when addressing me.

“Call her Ms. Robinson,” he'd told her coldly. “She's not my wife. She's just a blob I have to see every day.”

I had pretended not to care.

But his words had stayed with me.

They always did.

I quickly wiped my tears and headed to work.

I was sitting in my office when my best friend, Kendall, walked in.

“Hey,” she said, dropping into the chair across from my desk.

“What's up?” I asked.

“Nothing much. Are you coming to the game tonight?”

“I’m not sure.”

She stared at me.

“Are you alright? You want to miss a Scott Malone game?”

I gave her a small shrug.

“Mike might not agree.”

Kendall rolled her eyes.

“Well, I don't give a fuck. You're coming. I already bought the tickets.”

I couldn't help but smile.

“I'll see what I can do.”

“Not what you can do. What you're going to do.”

I laughed quietly.

For the first time that day, I felt a little lighter.

Working hours eventually came to an end.

I drove home, wondering how I was going to ask Mike about the game.

When I walked inside, I found him standing at the kitchen counter, eating ice cream.

I hesitated before speaking.

“Can I go to a game tonight?”

He didn't even look at me.

“Sure.”

I blinked.

“Really?”

“Your presence is annoying anyway. Erica and I have a project to work on. You could be gone forever and I wouldn't give a fuck.”

His words stung, but I forced myself not to react.

“Okay.”

I walked upstairs to my room.

Mike and I had separate bedrooms.

That had been his idea.

I freshened up, changed my clothes, grabbed my purse, and headed downstairs.

I got into my car and drove to pick up Kendall.

The moment we arrived at the basketball arena, my mood completely changed.

The Brooklyn Nets were playing, and I loved watching them.

My favorite players were Scott Malone, Jason Wade, and Dwayne Reign.

They were all incredibly talented.

And, admittedly, ridiculously attractive.

But Kendall was an even bigger fan than I was.

She practically lost her mind every time Scott or Jason touched the ball.

“Shut your mouth!” she screamed at a guy sitting a few seats away who had just called Scott trash.

The man looked at her in confusion.

Kendall didn't care.

“Our team is winning tonight!” she yelled proudly.

And somehow, she was right.

They actually won.

After the game, Dwayne Reign was throwing a party, and Kendall and I desperately wanted to get in.

Unfortunately, neither of us had an invitation.

We eventually gave up and started heading out.

My phone buzzed.

I pulled it out and saw a text from Mike.

Buy my hair products before you come home.

Of course.

I sighed.

“Kendall, I'll see you later.”

She gave me a quick hug before getting into a cab.

“Call me tomorrow!”

“I will.”

I watched the cab disappear before heading to the store.

After buying Mike's hair products, I drove home.

The house was quiet when I arrived.

Mike wasn't anywhere downstairs.

I assumed he was in his room, so I carried the bags upstairs and left them outside his bedroom.

I didn't bother looking for him.

I went into my own room, changed into my nightwear, and climbed into bed.

For once, I didn't want to think.

Not about Mike.

Not about my father.

Not about my mother.

Not about how my life had turned out this way.

I closed my eyes.

And eventually, I drifted off to sleep.