Beatris sat quietly, staring at Mac as he brought the car to a halt in front of the place that was supposed to be her home, a place she didn't feel safe anymore.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mac asked for the umpteenth time, presumably because she'd been quietly staring into space, thinking, throughout the short drive, offering no explanation for calling him.

She forced a smile, willing herself to appear strong. She hated having to relay her feelings to anyone. She'd already had enough of Sara crying for her and pitying her. That was why it was a little relieving that Mac did not know the full story. Though, it didn't make her feel any less like a burden.

"Beatris..."

"I'm fine," she said as she made an attempt to pick up the filed document sitting in-between them.

The man beside her was quick to place his hands above hers which was both comforting and disconcerting. She wondered how Mac always managed to provoke so many emotions in her.

"Whatever is going on between you and Norman, I'm glad you're doing the right thing and walking away. That weirdo does not deserve you." He let out a warm smile.

She nodded, picking up the file and as she tried to open the door, she wondered why Mac made no effort to even get out of his car or open it for her. It was unlike him.

Maybe he thought it better for her to deal with this on her own and she agreed with him. It'd be a lie if she said she wasn't afraid to face Norman after their last encounter, but this was her fight.

Beatris crept into her house and looked around. Norman wasn't in sight and as much as she was relieved, she really did want to see him and talk to him.

She took another glance at the filed document in her hand. It was about to change their lives, maybe for the best.

Sighing deeply, she walked into her bedroom. She missed this place so much. The amazing view, the fancy wardrobe, the gigantic bed, the sweet smell of roses. She even missed using the intercom. How would it feel to walk away from all this luxury back to the miserable life she once had?

However, this was not the time to miss anything. Norman hadn't only hurt her, he'd reduced her to nothing but some piece of crap, thinking he could toil with her as he liked. She'd let him walk all over her and trample on her pride all because she was guilt ridden for being a gold digger. But, that was about to stop.

Why on earth had he forcefully married her if he didn't even care about her feelings?

She got so angry to the point that she forced open her wardrobe and threw out her clothes roughly into her open box. She was moving out and no one was going to stop her.

Once she was done packing, she pulled her box and walked out of her room, into the living room.

Behold, Norman was standing there like he was waiting for her.

"Tris..." He trailed off as soon as he started, staring at her longingly with his innocently deceptive blue eyes.

She held out the document in her hand. "Have this."

He made no attempt to take it from her. It was like he already knew what was in there.

Beatris dropped her box, walked to the glass table at the centre of the sitting room and dropped it there.

"Read it and sign it. If you don't, I'd take you to court and you'd be forced to do it. Now, I'm sure you don't want to get into a scandal because you apparently have a lot to lose if you do," she said as calmly as she could.

As she walked back to take her box, she felt strong hands grab hers.

"Let go of me, Norman. Let go! Let go!" She faced him and hit his chest with all her might.

Norman released her hand and pushed her to the floor. On impact with the cold tiles, her body ached all over.

Before she could get up, Norman grabbed her up by her shoulder and pushed her roughly till her back made contact with the wall.

He leaned in so close that he could hear her ragged breath.

"Let go!" She yelled with all her might as she started to cry. All her strength was eluding her and the more she struggled not to show her husband how vulnerable she was, the less she succeeded.

Norman paid deaf ears to her. "Let me get something straight. We are married till death do us part," he said a devilish smile playing on his lips.

"You don't even love me!"

"No. You don't love me! Tris, I've given you everything you asked for!" He yelled putting more pressure on her.

"This is not what I asked for! I don't love you. I can't love you because you're nothing but a monster!" She said and felt Norman's contact on her weaken.

She took advantage of it and got out of his grip before slapping him hard against his cheek.

"Don't you ever touch me again!" She yelled out as he looked to the ground while touching his cheek.

Norman looked up fully enraged and had given her a slap on her face which sent her right to the ground.

She shrieked in pain and he was about to pounce on her when the door was swung open and Mac ran right in.

"Norman, stop!" He yelled getting both their attention.

Mac rushed towards Beatris who was crying bitterly now with her hair all over her face. He helped her up and stood in between them.

"Norman, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Mac asked as he faced his younger brother more confused than angry.

Norman chuckled. "What the hell are you doing in my house?" He asked.

"Shut the fuck up!"

"No. You shut the fuck up and get the hell out of my house! This is none of your business!" He yelled at his brother as he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, frustratedly.

"I won't let you act like this! I will not let you treat this woman like this!" Mac appeared angry and disappointed.

"Why not? You suddenly care about me? You suddenly want to act like my big brother? You know what, 'Brother'? You can go ahead and fuck yourself!" Norman replied impulsively and seeing that he'd left his brother stunned, he let a brilliant smile play on his lips.

Beatris looked from one brother to another. Both confused and shocked. Only then had the similarities between the estranged brothers become more apparent.

Mac tried to get hold of Beatris hand but she pulled her hand away.

"You're his b-brother?" She stuttered as she took heavy breaths. How the hell was that even possible?

Mac looked worried while Norman still had a smile plastered on his face. "Beatris, I promise, I can explain."

"Oh. I see you already met," he said.

"Fucking bastard. I'd make sure Beatris leaves you because you're just insane!" He yelled before holding Beatris' hand and taking her out of the house knowing fully well the only words that could actually hurt Norman.

"You think my brother is going to help you, huh? That's not possible because he's a whole lot worse than I am. If you think I'm a monster, you don't even wanna know what Mac is!" Norman yelled after them as they walked out of the house.

Norman stared at his reflection on the glass table in front of him. *Norman, Mac is lying to you. You are not a bastard*. He smiled, pointing to his image. He knew he was lying to himself.

---------------------------------------------------------

Mac drove for a while before bringing his car to a stop on Beatris command.

"Beatris, are you okay?" He asked, trying to get past the awkward silence that had been playing between them all through the journey.

Her hair was a mess and she had a black eye, so that question was very wrong.

She nodded. "I'm fine. I...I can't do this, Mac. I don't want you to-"

"Beatris... Hey, I'm not my brother."

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, her eyes revealing how hurt she was.

Mac looked lost. "I... I didn't want to ruin what we had."

"We don't have anything. I don't even know who you are!" She yelled. "Mac, one Patterson is already too much for me to deal with. Too much!"

"I'm not a Patterson," Mac said quietly. "If only you'd listen to me, I could explain everything to you."

"Like why your brother is crazy? Like why he hits me without a reason? Like why he doesn't love me yet he's unwilling to let me go? Like why you lied to me? Like..." She stopped to take a breath, glaring at him.

Mac sighed deeply. "Norman has always been a crazy person. I don't know why he hits you. He's not usually a violent person. He's just... I don't know what's wrong with him. Seriously Beatris, I didn't lie to you. I knew you were not happy in your marriage and that was why I couldn't tell you he's my brother. I hope I answered all your questions." He inquired.

Beatris stared at him, his piercing blue eyes bore into hers. Those eyes. Norman's eyes.

No matter how much she tried to believe otherwise, she knew Mac would just end up being like his brother.

Norman's words came back at her.

If you think I'm a monster, you don't even wanna know what Mac is!

"I'm sorry. I can't... I can't do this." She opened the door and got out of his car hurriedly.