On the second day of our marriage, at 7 am, my husband sl3pped me across the face and shouted, “You’re still in bed? get up and make me breakfast! in my house, you don’t make the rules—I do!” I held my cheek, tears filling my eyes as I stared at him. But moments later, a mysterious smile appeared on my face…

the night before our wedding.

By lunchtime, Daniel would be begging me to undo what he’d started that morning. But it was already too late.


My name is Claire Mercer, and until that morning, I believed I’d married a successful, ambitious man who genuinely loved me.

Daniel and I had been together for eighteen months before our wedding.

When we first met, he was charming, attentive, and confident.

He remembered little details about my life.

He sent flowers when I had stressful days.

He spoke about building a future together.