Chapter 1

It had already been 2 days since she had met Scott. It was Monday and tomorrow would be the fateful day. At first, she thought she had dreamed of them meeting, but it seems not. When she woke up, the card and the napkin reminded her of him, tirelessly. His scent emanated from the card itself. She couldn't take her mind off him. He had left an indelible mark on her. She wanted more than anything to see him again. But he had warned her, his universe was not for her. But this warning had the complete opposite effect, as she was understandably very intrigued. On the black card, an address, and a simple name in a rather distinguished calligraphy: Mermaid...

She turned the card over in all directions, leaving her mind wandering in the most eccentric hypotheses.

- Stella!

This voice made her come back hard to reality. Donald…He was seriously back after what he had done to her, she wondered to herself. He arrived in the living room of their apartment, his face closed and visibly angry.

- Did you dare to change the locks? He was yelling at her and by reflex, she fell into silence. How could she let him treat her like this for so many years? He approached her and sent her one of his slaps, facing her silence. Her hand on her painful cheek and tears testified both of her physical pain, but also to her suffering and fear in front of him. She backed up, trying to put the most distance between them and stuck to the nearest wall. No honey, I didn't want to do this... But you left me no choice... You don't listen to me anymore... I don't want you to leave me and I'm so scared for us, sweetie...

For almost 4 years, she let herself be moved by his words and his sulphurous attitude, after having abused her. She loved him and despite the words of others, she still had hope that he would become the man she had fallen in love with. She had left everything for him: friends, family, and last, job, 6 months ago. He wanted her home to take care of him and their future children. Above all, he wanted her to be vulnerable and completely dependent on himself. She gave in again and submitted her resignation. He was a weak man, unable to imagine this woman, who adored him and did everything to please him, to be independent or to free herself from his influence. She was his only... And he really intended to make her understand and accept that, because after all he loved her, and he only loved her under his influence.

He moved closer to her and caressed her cheek tenderly with his finger, as her fantasy had done last Saturday. But to the thought of Scott's sweetness and sensuality, she pushed him away violently, understanding that there was no sweetness in her fiancé's. He wanted to own her and keep her for himself. She didn't even know if he saw her for who she was, or rather for an object...

- Baby, you couldn't get by without me... He opened his arms. Come into my arms, let me make love to you. You know I'm the only one who can fill you.

- No, she said in a small voice.

- Sorry?

- No Donald, you hurt me too much...

- You will regret your words, Stella. If you're not happy, leave me if you can, he told her with a threatening tone.

She took her courage in both hands and tried to speak without trembling.

- Donald, you cheated on me. I know about your affair with your secretary...

- No, but Stella stops with your nutty suspicions. It's not the first time you've given me such a fit of jealousy, you're a bit paranoid, honey.

Was he really trying to make her look crazy? But where had the man she loved gone? The one who made her dream?

- I saw you yesterday at your office... His face fell and he lowered his arms. I saw you make love to her, she finished, her eyes tearing up.

- I'm sorry baby… She seduced me… He approached her and took her in his arms. I didn't want... I need you Stella, without you I can't do anything, I'm nothing... Please don't leave me...

- Donald, I can't take it anymore. She gently pushed him away. I told you about my suspicions, I almost went crazy, I wasn’t eating anymore... Our relationship is toxic for me. I want to distance...

- Take your distance. Anyway, you're nothing Stella without me. He stormed off. He opened the front door and turned around, a wicked smile on his face. Anyway Stella, I was the only one to put up with you. With Miranda, I've been cheating on you for four months.

He left, slamming the door on his words. She collapsed on the sofa in the living room and began to cry. She was devastated. This conversation had drained her, despite the harshness in her words, she loved him. 10 minutes later, she decided to take a shower and to do some housework to take her mind off things.

The vision of her body reflected in the bathroom mirror was not exactly flattering. She had lost a lot of weight, and on her body, the bruises that were beginning to fade were remnants of Donald's actions. She didn't even recognize herself in the mirror anymore. Where had her zest of life, her smile and her good humor gone? All of that had faded with time because he had worn her down so much and hurt her so much.

She had no one to lean on... He had done everything to drive a wedge between her and everyone around her. She had lived for 4 years, only for him. It was then that only one thing crossed his mind. She went into the living room and found the card and the briefcase. The smell and the memory soothed her. If she had any hesitations before, now she was sure of it, tomorrow she would go to meet him. Nothing, no scruples were holding her back and he could be the escape she had been looking for all this time. She wanted to start over. Not forget, everything she had been through, but moving forward...