2nd Chance

Chapter 3: Chains of Silence

Jake's thoughts on working women were laced with resentment, a toxic mix of insecurity and contempt. To him, they were no more than cowards too weak to handle their roles as partners, too eager to escape their responsibilities by pursuing careers.

Whenever Victoria would ask him to do something whether it was helping with the dishes or sharing the load of daily life his response was always the same: cold and cutting.

"If my mother was alive, a girl like you would never be in my life," he would sneer, barely glancing her way. "I'm just keeping you around because I've gotten used to it. Otherwise, I'd have thrown you out long ago."His words hung in the air, sharp and demeaning, reminding Victoria that to Jake, she was expendable a placeholder in a life he believed was beneath him.

But it wasn't just his attitude toward her that made her feel trapped; it was his entire outlook on women who worked outside the home.

Jake believed that women in MNCs were of low character, constantly having inappropriate relationships with their superiors. He couldn't fathom that a woman could work hard, succeed on her own merit, and still maintain her dignity. For him, they were all the same unfaithful, disrespectful, and always looking to use their jobs as excuses to "climb the ladder" in ways he refused to understand.

Even when Victoria would smile politely or engage in small talk with any male, Jake's reaction was swift and ugly. He would march over, grabbing her arm with a possessive grip, pulling her away without a word of explanation to the person she had been speaking to. 

His face would tighten with anger, and the venom in his voice was unmistakable as he would hiss, "Whore."It didn't matter if it was a harmless conversation or a simple exchange of pleasantries. To Jake, it was all the same, disrespect toward him. His paranoia ran so deep that even the smallest of Victoria's actions would be twisted into something sinister in his mind.

 She had learned not to challenge him on it or fight back because the moment she did, his anger would escalate into something far worse. The bruises were always there to remind her of the cost. 

Victoria knew what kind of man Jake was. If he ever found out that she had gone for an interview for a secretary position a job he believed was beneath any woman, especially his partner his reaction would be violent. To him, such positions were degrading, not because of the work itself, but because he believed women like her would only take those jobs to flirt with male bosses or be used by them. It disgusted him, and he made that very clear. 

For Jake, the only acceptable role for Victoria was one where she was always home, working remotely so he could control her every move. He wanted her to cook his meals, clean the house, and stay around him like a pet an obedient one, unquestioning, and confined to the small world he had created for her. He had no interest in her ambitions or her desire for independence. Those things, to him, were threats.

One night, as Victoria came home from yet another gruelling interview, she felt the familiar knot of anxiety twist in her stomach. The apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the television. Jake was sprawled out on the couch, his face illuminated by the flickering light of his phone screen. 

He didn't even look up when she walked in."Where were you?" he asked without emotion, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"Interview," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady as she headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She kept it vague on purpose. The last thing she needed was Jake digging into the details of her day.

"For what?"She froze, her hand hovering over the stove, her heart racing. 

She knew that telling him the truth that it was for a secretary position would only set him off. His disdain for such roles was ingrained, and she could almost hear his voice in her head, mocking her for even considering it.

"A customer service role," she lied, hoping that would pacify him.

Jake scoffed. "I don't know why you're wasting your time with these interviews. You should just work from home, like I've been telling you. No need to be out there embarrassing yourself."

Victoria clenched her jaw, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. She could feel his eyes on her, judging her every move, every decision. She knew that if she said the wrong thing, or even moved the wrong way, it could trigger another argument, one that would escalate, as it always did.

"I know," she said quietly, keeping her voice neutral. 

"I'm just trying to keep my options open."

Jake didn't respond, but she could feel the tension in the room building. As she cooked dinner, her mind wandered. She thought about how trapped she felt, how suffocated her life had become under Jake's constant control and disdain. She thought about the interviews she had been attending, the flickers of hope she allowed herself to feel when she imagined a life outside of this. 

A life where she wasn't constantly afraid of provoking him, where she wasn't belittled for wanting more.But the reality was always there, lurking just beneath the surface. She knew the danger of pushing Jake too far, of stepping out of the narrow box he had put her in. She knew that if she ever truly broke free, there would be consequences.Dinner was ready, and she placed the plate in front of him without a word. Jake ate without thanking her, without acknowledging the effort she had put into the meal. Victoria sat quietly across from him, her eyes downcast, wondering how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine.