Ana Grey, nee Steele, never stood for bullying. And until her mother in law Grace noticed, she never knew that she was being bullied by her husband.

Note: Everyone knows about Elena, Christian's BDSM, the playroom, etc

"Grace! He doesn't! Christian would never do something like that!" Ana was horrified that Grace would think something like that. Her own son? Abuse Ana? Never!

Grace sighed. "Darling, I know you love him. I do too. Very very much. But you have to understand: he may be emotionally abusing you; this is not what goes on in a healthy relationship. Christian is not your owner, nor are you his servant. You should not have your life dictated."

Grace could see the conflict in Ana's eyes.

"Dear, has Christian ever forbidden you from doing anything?"

Ana was quiet. Had he? Yes, but it was only for her good, wasn't it? Or was it? He had forbidden her from being friends with Jose, probably from jealousy. And he had limited her time with Kate. She was not to see Kate unless it was in Christian's presence. Slowly, Kate had grown so uncomfortable that her visits had dwindled to just family gettogethers. She was not allowed to see Ethan, one of her (gay) best friends due to Christian's posessiveness and jealousy. Now Ana was getting mad. Who was he to forbid her from doing anything?

"Yes Grace, he has. And most of my relationships have fallen apart because of that. He is very posessive and intrusive. Oh Grace, what do I do?" Ana sobbed. My life is miserable. "Grace, he never tells me anything and expects me to do as he says. The other day he told me to go home after work, but I stopped at a restaurant to pick up some food. When I got home, he lashed out at me and didn't talk to me for a week! Turns out, we had been stalked for a while and there was a threat! Grace, if he had just told me! I don't do any of this to defy him! I just want to live my life without being controlled!"

Grace pulled her into a hug. "Oh Ana..." My son is a stupid prick, Grace thought. Ana was just getting started, it seemed.

"Grace, every time we fight and I try to go talk to you or Kate or Flynn, he thinks I'm leaving him! He blames all of it on his dead mother and his teenage issues and Elena! I'm sick of him using excuses, why can't he just own up to anything? It's been three years, Grace, three years! I'm sick of this. I can't go anywhere without being accompanied by five guards and having a background check done on everyone I come into contact with. I know Christian says it's all for my safety, but I can't help but wonder if it's for him to know where I am at every minute in every day. Grace, I hate BDSM. But Christian wants it. And just so I know he won't run off to a sub or Elena, I go in there with him!" Ana snorted through her tears. How pathetic! She had to do something she hated just to make sure her husband didn't run off and cheat on her.

"Grace, for the longest time, I though I was the problem. Maybe if I acted more like he wanted me to, he wouldn't feel a need to punish or dominate. But now I can see: I'm not the problem here, am I?"

Ana was quiet for a minute.

"I am ready to have kids, Grace, I have been for a while. But Christian has said that under no circumstances is he ever to have a child. I keep thinking and hoping that maybe once I can convince him... But now I know that will never happen. I;m tired of all this, Grace. I'm tired of having to leave him just for him to realize what he's missing. That cycle repeats every few months." She turned to Grace. "Grace, I don't want you to think I'm giving up on your son. I have given him three years of my life, and enough love to last a lifetime. But I don't think I can do this anymore."

Grace turned Ana's face towards her. "Ana! Don't you ever think Carrick and I could be mad at you! You are our daughter just as much as Christian is our son! And you are not to blame in this. If anything, it's Christian's fault entirely, and I am extremely disappointed in him. I don't think I will ever be able to look at him the same way again. As for you, Ana, you need to live your life. Be happy. With or without Christian. Don't let Christian get to you again. Don't take me wrong, if you and Christian ever have a relationship where he treats you like an equal, no one will be happier than me. But, and don't take this the wrong way darling, I don't think Christian can do that."

Ana nodded and wiped her tears. "What do I do now Grace?"

Grace smiled at Ana. "Believe it or not, I happen to know a wonderful lawyer who we can go speak to right this instant..."

TO BE CONTINUED

UPDATE DATE: Friday May 15th