Breaking Free from the Cage

"Stop being unreasonable."

"This is the last year, Jay."

Jay froze for a second. He clearly did not understand what I meant. I turned and walked into the bedroom.

The bed was a mess, and their clothes were scattered across the floor.

I should have moved out of that room a long time ago, but Jay would not allow it.

He wanted me to clean up the mess he made with other women, as if it was his way of punishing me.

I wondered what I did to deserve such humiliation.

What I did was merely love someone I should not have. I clung to a marriage that was never meant to last.

The pain had lasted so long that it turned into numbness.

All I wanted was the agreement to end in a week. After that, I would finally be free.

I opened the closet to start packing my things. I pulled out the wedding dress that had been hanging in the corner for years.

It was not really a wedding dress. Just a simple white fitted gown.

We got married in a rush. After getting the marriage certificate, Jay brought me—still wearing that dress—to have dinner with his parents.

That was our wedding.

He casually picked out the dress from a luxury store, and I had kept it for six years.

Jay followed me into the room and asked, "What do you mean, Rachel? Say it clearly."

He saw me staring at the dress, deep in thought, and suddenly remembered its meaning.

He cleared his throat. "Forget it. Ivy wants to go shopping. Take her."

I refused him right away. "I don't have time. Let the driver take her."

Jay grabbed my arm and pulled me around roughly.

He then lowered his voice and threatened, "Rachel, I paid for everything. You'll do as I say."

His grip hurt.

I yanked my arm away and replied, "I can work. I can take care of myself."

Jay's anger turned into a mocking laugh. "You've been a housewife for six years. What kind of job can you land? I'll freeze your card if you refuse."

I inspected the red marks on my arm as he left.

I walked out of the room. Ivy stood at the door like she owned the place, kissing Jay goodbye.

His hands roamed all over her, making her giggle.

"I thought you were running late. You need to go," she teased.

Jay smiled and kissed her forehead, but when he glanced at me before walking out, his eyes were cold and sharp.

That look warned me to stay in line.

I shivered. I remembered how he used to punish me when I disobeyed, but I was ready.

That would be Jay's last chance to threaten me.

After he left, Ivy walked over with the car keys in her hand and said with a mocking smile, "Mr. Dawson is really clingy, isn't he? Do you agree, sweetheart?"

Ivy raised an eyebrow.

I snatched the keys from her and walked to the garage without a word.

Ivy followed behind me, calm and carefree, then sat in the back seat like I was her personal driver.

When we neared the mall, she leaned forward suddenly and asked, "Why are we on this road? I told you I wanted to go to M Mall."

Then, she let out a mocking laugh.

"Don't tell me you're taking me to some cheap place. What, do you really think you're Mr. Dawson's wife? Are you jealous that I'm spending his money? That's hilarious. You don't really think getting married means his money became yours too, do you?"

Ivy kept yapping in my ear. Her reason for staying with Jay was obvious.

I ignored her and kept driving, which seemed to annoy her even more.

She reached for the wheel all of a sudden and yelled, "Take me to M Mall! Do you think you're better than me?"