Author's Note: Please skip past the abuse if you are not comfortable reading it. It was very difficult for me to write, but I can assure you that while these two are at it, Ike is brewing up a plan to get our beloved Diana out of there. Enjoy.

Warning: Domestic abuse–physical and verbal, also, unwanted force! So, please, beware!


Since her phone call with Ike, she kept her distance against Ben throughout the night. She refused to touch herself which caused him to slap her across the cheek once more out of anger and irritation. She had grown tired and tired of pleasing him—wearing clothes that he wanted her to wear, leaving the house only when he allowed it, and changing how she looked so he could look good.

The next day, though, Ben didn't bother her which she was grateful for. She could feel the stiffness in her cheek, knowing full well that a bruise had formed overnight. Diana didn't get up from bed. She lied under the covers, staring at the wall with silent tears streaming down her face.

A man who had promised her the world had become her worst nightmare. She could hear her family and friends just shaking their heads, knowing that she had made a mistake. She had nowhere to turn, no one to go to. Ike was her last resort and while he assured that he would get her out of this mansion and away from Ben, she knew that it was highly unlikely.

Diana realized just how dangerous Ben could be and she hoped that Ike didn't stick to his word. She didn't want him getting hurt over her decision to have an affair with him.

Throughout the day, she daydreamed about a life she could have had if she was married to Ike. It made her smile, even when she was surrounded in her own darkness. She imagined that he would hold her every night, wake up every morning with his strong arms embracing her, the affection that she desperately needed, and certainly the confidence that she wanted. Diana was aware that Ike could treat a woman like a queen. The past month since she had gotten to know Ike showed her that she still had a chance in life; she could still leave Ben.

Her relationship with Ben was toxic. Though, it didn't start out that way. When they met, Diana was smitten with his charming attitude and constant promises that he could give her a new outlook on life. He was his gateway to leave her home and start anew. Instead, she didn't know what she signed up for when she walked down that aisle.

Since meeting Ike, he opened her eyes and realized that the life she was living was not a life anyone would want to live. Ben was controlling and now he had become physically abusive. Before, she could take his verbal insults, thinking they were just playful teasing, but Ike showed her that a woman should never be treated the way she was.

Ben had come home that night, stumbling into her room. Diana flinched at the sound, curling the blankets closer to her body. She could hear every grumble and growl, cowering in fear of what Ben may do to her. She looked over her shoulder and cleared her throat, noticing the animalistic gaze in his eyes.

"B—Ben…" she whispered hesitantly. "Please, just go to bed."

"No," he chuckled, his words slurring. "I need you to strip for me, baby."

Diana shook her head immediately. "I'm really tired, Ben. Tomorrow, okay?"

Suddenly, Ben ripped the blanket from her body. He narrowed his eyes when he noticed that she wasn't wearing a nightgown like he specifically told her to do every night. "What the hell are you wearing, Diana?!"

"T—They're much more comfortable than—"

He climbed onto the bed and hovered above her, his hands coming down to rest at either side of her head. "I don't care about you being comfortable. I want you to look nice and sexy. This—This isn't sexy. You don't even look sexy. Not anymore at least," he laughed.

Tears were now streaming down her face, wiping them away before Ben gripped her hands and pulled them away roughly. He stared down at her, the remnants of alcohol lingering in his system. Ben could see the fear in her eyes and immediately, he grinned. He leaned down to press his lips against hers, but Diana moved away which caused his lips to press against her cheek.

He fumed, gripping her chin roughly to face him. "You are my wife. I will kiss you whenever I please," he threatened. "Or else, Diana."

She was crying now, leaning up to gently peck his lips. Once Ben was satisfied, he pulled away and allowed his eyes to rake over her body. He looked disgusted and Diana wanted nothing more than for Ike to burst through the door and save her. She tried to pull the blanket to her body to cover herself, but Ben shook his head.

"Nope. You and I are going to have quite the conversation, Diana," Ben chuckled. He tossed the blanket to the ground and motioned to her large t-shirt. "Take it off."

"Ben, please…"

"Did I ask? No, I am telling you to take that off. You look pathetic just lying there with tears streaming down your face. Take off the damn shirt, Diana."

Her hands were shaky as she lifted the end of her shirt over her head. Diana couldn't look at him once the shirt was removed to reveal her exposed chest. Instinctively, she covered herself with her arms before Ben stepped forward to slap her across the cheek. Hard.

"Remove your hands. Don't make me have to tell you again."

Diana nodded, placing her hands on her thighs as Ben pulled her onto her knees. She felt violated at the way he was looking at her. He was devouring her with his eyes alone and it made her uncomfortable. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and Ben brought a hand to gently wipe the tears away, causing Diana to flinch away from him.

"I'm trying to clean you up and you're being an ungrateful bitch," he spat.

"I—I'm sorry…"

"No, you're not, Diana."

"I am, Ben!" she exclaimed, causing him to move his hands along her shoulders. Diana looked into his eyes, clearing her throat and wincing in pain when he began to squeeze her shoulders tightly, causing his fingertips to dig into the skin. "Ben… You're hurting me, please… Stop..."

"I just want to know something, darling," he began. "Does the other man that fuck you take good care of you like I do?"

Diana's eyes widened and immediately, she pushed him away which caused his eyes to widen with anger. "G—Get out!"

"Excuse me?" he asked. "Am I hearing you correctly, Diana?"

"How dare you accuse me of cheating on you when you're with other women!" she yelled. Diana was lying, but she needed to show him that she was devoted to him if she wanted to leave. It was all in the element of surprise, she thought.

Ben laughed, inching his way closer to her. "What I do on my spare time doesn't concern you, Diana."

"I am your goddamn wife, Ben! I am not just woman you parade around when there's an important event. We exchanged vows! You promised me a better life, but what life is this when you control everything I do, everything I wear, everything I eat?!" Diana knew she was going to receive dire consequences for her outbursts, but she needed to alleviate her anger somehow.

"You are my wife, and as my wife, you will do as I tell you! That includes what you wear, what you eat, what you do… You belong to me!"

"I am not some toy, Ben! I am a human being and—"

Suddenly, he struck her across the cheek once more, causing her to topple to the side. Diana broke her fall by placing her hands to the ground, looking up at him with teary eyes and a bloody nose.

"Know your place, woman!" he yelled, reaching down to pick her up roughly. Ben slammed her back against the dresser, causing a loud yelp of pain to escape her lips.

"Ben, please!" she begged, covering her face when she noticed that he had raised his arms.

"Aw, baby… Don't cry… What's the matter?" he laughed, gripping a chunk of her hair roughly in his hands. "Why don't you tell your devoted husband what's wrong…"

"I—I love you, please, stop!"

Ben's grin disappeared. His eyes narrowed. He pulled her head back with the grip he had on her hair and looked into her eyes with a look so void that she was sure this wasn't the same man she met months ago.

"Liar…" he whispered. "Do not lie to me!" Ben threw her across the room and quickly, she scrambled to the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it behind her. She huddled in the corner away from the door, crying into her hands as she flinched with each sound of the loud banging.

"Open the door!" he yelled, slamming his fist against the door. "Goddammit, Diana!"

After a few minutes, Diana heard the banging stop. She didn't bother to open the door, but she stood to grab a robe from the rack to slip on and cover her body. She rinsed her face of the dried blood and stared at herself.

She was once a woman who had dreams to become a famous singer, a life that Ben promised before they got married. Diana was naïve to believe that lie and as she stared at her reflection, she couldn't help but cry silently at the woman who was staring back at her.

She was bruised, and broken. Before Diana could do anything else, she felt bile rise in her throat and immediately, she bent over the toilet and vomited.

First it was her late period, and now she was throwing up. Diana believed that it was stress, but she couldn't help but wonder if it was something else…