10: BREAKING POINT: A BATTLE FOR AUTONOMY

Bob's face contorted with anger, and I could feel the tension in the room escalating. The threat hung heavily in the air, suffocating any sense of normalcy. I knew this wasn't just about the dinner or the chance encounter with the doctor; it was a manifestation of his need for control, a control that extended to every aspect of my life. I mustered the courage to speak, my voice steady but filled with frustration. "I don't need you to control every move I make, Bob. I went out for dinner because I was hungry, not to deliberately defy you." His eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a sneer. "Defy me? Is that how you see it? You're lucky I even allowed you back into this house after the way you embarrassed me in front of Julie." I couldn't hold back my own frustration any longer. "Embarrassed you? How about the way you treat me? Do you think humiliating me in front of everyone is acceptable?" His hand slammed onto the table, causing the dishes to rattle. "You're the one who brings e