Chapter 1: The Burn
Clara stood in the pristine, modern kitchen, the air thick with sudden violence. Her husband, Mark, had erupted over a minor disagreement. Before she could step away, he grabbed her wrists with crushing force, shoving her hands directly onto the glowing red rings of the electric stove.
Agony ripped through her nerves. She screamed, her knees buckling as she collapsed onto the cold, white tiled floor. She clutched her blistered hands to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
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A few feet away, Mark's mother, Eleanor, stood unbothered. She took a slow sip of her red wine, her eyes cold. “She needs to know her place,” Eleanor murmured dismissively.
Mark loomed over Clara, his face contorted with rage. “No hospitals,” he spat, pointing a threatening finger at her trembling form. “You'll tell some dramatic story and embarrass me. Deal with it yourself.” He turned on his heel, leaving her on the floor.
