Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Called It Love The next morning, David woke before sunrise.
Leah was asleep beside him, but even in sleep her face looked exhausted.
He quietly got out of bed.
He went downstairs.
Then he began throwing things away.
Tea.
Spices.
Supplements.
Food.
Medicine.
Anything his mother had touched.
He filled garbage bags until the kitchen looked almost empty.
Leah appeared in the doorway.
"David."
He didn't turn.
"If she touched it, it's gone."
"You don't know that everything was dangerous."
"I don't care."
His voice broke.
"I should have seen it."
Leah stared at him.
For years, David had defended his mother.
Whenever she criticized Leah, he called it concern.
Whenever she demanded to know where he was, he called it love.
Whenever she told him Leah was changing him, he called it jealousy.
He had spent his entire life translating control into affection.
Now he couldn't do it anymore.
His phone vibrated.
MOM — MISSED CALL
Again.
MOM — MISSED CALL
Then a voicemail appeared.
David deleted it without listening.
He opened his laptop and created a folder.
He typed one word:
EVIDENCE.
That was when Leah realized something.
Her husband wasn't simply angry anymore.
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He was awake.
And once a person finally recognized abuse for what it was, pretending it was love became impossible.
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