"Annette asked you to pour her water. Are you deaf?"
I paused and turned around.
"You married me just to make me your maid?"
Stan closed the distance in two strides, seized a fistful of my hair, and wrenched my head back.
"Wife?" He looked down at me with open contempt. "You think you deserve that title?"
"Jade, I married you for one reason: to make you suffer."
"Your father destroyed Annette's family. Ruined everything she had. That debt falls to you now."
I froze.
My father destroyed Annette's family?
That was absurd. My father ran his business with integrity. He would never have hurt anyone.
"That's a lie!" I thrashed against his grip.
Stan shoved me away.
"Deny it all you want."
"It doesn't matter. You'll spend the rest of your life atoning."
He turned to Annette, and his voice softened instantly, as if he were speaking to a completely different person.
"Annette, how would you like to punish her?"
Annette fixed her gaze on me.
"Stan, I've been so dizzy lately. The doctor says I'm anemic."
She tilted her head, a picture of innocence. "Maybe Miss Kaufman could spare some blood for me?"
Stan agreed without hesitation.
"Done."