Chapter 1

My wife, Veronica Mercer, locked me in the dark basement for twenty-four hours just to vent her anger on behalf of her college junior.

I suffer from severe claustrophobia.

When she finally let me see the light of day again, she wrapped her arm around the young man and spoke in a cold, indifferent tone.

"This is just a mild lesson to teach you who you should never offend. Next time, it won't be this easy."

I nodded calmly and did not argue.

What she didn't know was that during that endless day and night in the dark, I had completely stopped loving her.

1.

My silence brought a flicker of surprise to Veronica's face, followed quickly by smug satisfaction.

"Landon, if you had been this obedient earlier, you wouldn't have suffered like this."

"You need to remember your place. A mentally unstable man has no right to throw tantrums in my house."

I looked up at the two people standing before me. One wore an expression of pure disgust, while the other couldn't hide his triumphant smirk.

Seeing that I remained silent, Veronica grew slightly uneasy.

"Did being locked in there turn you into an idiot? Thomas, call an ambulance!"

"No need. I can go on my own."

I stood up quietly and prepared to walk out.

As I passed Bryce Foster, he suddenly opened his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Landon. I shouldn't have complained to Veronica. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have been locked up."

"I really didn't expect her to care about me this much."

Bryce looked at me with eyes full of provocation.

He always did this, using thinly veiled intimacy to provoke me and waiting for Veronica to berate me on his behalf.

This time, I felt no emotional ripple at all. I simply brushed him off.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter."

Seeing that I didn't lose my temper as usual, Bryce looked visibly disappointed.

Before he could start another round of taunts, I walked straight out of the mansion.

As soon as I stepped through the front doors, the butler, Thomas, was waiting outside with several bodyguards.

"Sir, Miss Mercer instructed us to take you to the hospital."

"No need. I can manage myself."

They completely ignored my refusal and ushered me straight into the car.

Every time I left the house, Veronica sent people to follow me. She claimed it was for my safety, but it was really just surveillance.

Mercer Enterprises was a massive corporation. If word got out that the CEO's husband was mentally unstable, it would tarnish the company's prestige.

After examining me, the doctor suggested that I see a therapist.

Before I could speak, Thomas chimed in, saying the family had private therapists and there was no need for the hospital to bother.

On the way back, Thomas spoke with disapproval in his voice.

"Sir, you represent the Mercer family. You cannot speak so carelessly outside!"

I was thoroughly sick of hearing his lectures.

"Sir, you cannot do this..."

"Sir, doing that will disgrace the Mercer family..."

"Sir..."

Every single day of my life was filled with rules about what was wrong and what was unacceptable.

"Enough! I am exhausted!"

For the first time, I snapped and cut Thomas off while he was still rambling.

In the past, I respected Thomas because he was Veronica's most trusted confidant. Loving her meant I tried to treat the people around her with respect.

In return, I received nothing but contempt and disdain.

Thomas's face darkened with displeasure after I interrupted him.

"Sir, you are not permitted to raise your voice like that in public..."

I turned my head and stared out the car window.

In five years of marriage to Veronica, I had lost both my identity and my freedom.

Now, I was tired and had no desire to hold on any longer.

Neither Veronica nor these five years of pain were worth keeping.