Lyra Breaks Free from Abuse

“Enough is enough!”

Dad was shaking with anger as he dialed Ryker's number without a second thought. Before Dad could even get a word out, Ryker launched into a rant.

"Lyra, you’ve got some nerve. You get hit once, end up in a hospital, and suddenly it’s a big drama? The whole family is waiting for you to come back and take care of them, and what do you do? You just leave. Honestly, you’re asking for it!" Amelia's voice echoed in the background.

"Get back here and make dinner! Don’t let my precious grandson go hungry."

"Some people can’t even have kids of their own but still want to ruin our family line. Keep dreaming!" Ryker chimed in immediately.

"Sienna’s pregnant and craving pulled pork; you better get back here and make it."

Dad was still trying to process all this when another harsh, malicious voice interjected.

"Brother, why go easy on her? Lyra’s probably off flirting with the doctors in the hospital! She’s just a woman who can’t do without a man!"

"She even tried flirting with her brother-in-law, absolutely shameless!"

I shuddered, the words stirring up painful memories, and mumbled to myself, "I didn’t... I'm not..." The nasty insults kept pouring through the phone, and as I grew more distressed, Dad angrily hung up, trying to comfort me.

I buried my face in my hands, tears streaming down uncontrollably. From the first day of my marriage to Ryker, Amelia would wake me at the crack of dawn to make breakfast for the entire family. Though I wanted to refuse, Ryker insisted it was their tradition. I gave in.

One compromise led to another. From then on, every day, I had to rise before dawn to make breakfast and rush home during lunch breaks to cook again. Sometimes, even when work kept me late, Amelia would show up at my office, accusing me of neglecting my in-laws.

Despite having a washing machine, they insisted I handwash everyone’s clothes, claiming it was gentler. They made me do everything myself, and it showed—I was visibly worn out. Yet, my husband turned a blind eye.

Ryker's sister, Giuliana, didn't work and constantly demanded my money. If I refused, I faced beatings from Amelia and Ryker. The bruises became a permanent part of me.

It got worse. One time Giuliana brought her boyfriend home, and because he glanced my way, she accused me of flirting with him, slapped me, and called me a homewrecker. Amelia, without knowing the full story, yanked my hair, while Ryker accused me of cheating and hit me. I ended up in the hospital for a week.

When I was finally discharged, I found a termination letter waiting for me at home. While I was hospitalized, Giuliana and Amelia spread lies about me at work and vandalized my desk to the point my company had no choice but to let me go.

Without a job, my standing in the family plummeted. I became nothing more than their unpaid maid, especially for Giuliana, who frequently hit and berated me.

It wasn't until Ryker’s infidelity that something snapped within me. My phone buzzed incessantly, family group messages flooding in, each more toxic than the last.

"Ryker’s wife is unbelievable, not thinking of the family at all. Can’t have kids herself but stops others!"

"In the past, a jealous wife like this would have been thrown out ages ago! How dare she even mention divorce with Ryker."

…

Ryker's self-righteous relatives were the final straws that crushed my spirit.

I bent down, pressing my cheek against my sister’s. Staring into the mirror, her pale face reflected the anger and defiance simmering within. I suddenly laughed softly.

"Sister, you know, those deemed insane don’t face the gallows for murder."

"Let me help you, okay?"

Eyes closed, she didn’t resist. Dad’s face was a mixture of emotions, and in the end, he remained silent.