That illusion lasted less than half a day after the vows.
“You don’t talk to my mother that way,” he snapped.
“I talk to people the way they earn.”
The slap landed across my face before anyone had time to react.
For a single second, the entire house seemed to stop breathing.
My cheek stung. My wedding ring suddenly felt like a weight on my hand. Ryan stood there breathing hard, watching me as if he expected tears, apologies, surrender.
I gave him nothing but a cold stare.
Not surprise. Not terror.
