BOOK TWO — BILLIONAIRE'S DANGEROUS OBSESSION

ONE – MASON

Twenty two years ago.

Father is hitting mother again. I hide behind the sofa, my thin arms firmly wrapped around my shaky legs as the "whoosh!" of a belt swinging in the air, and the "slap!" of harsh leather landing against soft skin reaches me over and over again.

Our mansion is huge, huge and cold. Everything seems cold. Even the cherry, blue coloured children's room where I slept until two weeks ago feels like depression and death.

Mother's cries twist something inside me. I feel anger…muderous, helpless anger. Anger at her for always coming back even after he almost kills her, and at father for being such a harsh monster.

When I can no longer stand her cries of pain, I place my hands against my ears. Not that it helps.

The reason for today's beating is that mother found father with one of his numerous mistresses from the club, and she confronted him in their presence.

Mother is an airhead sometimes. By now, she should know that father has an enormous ego. He does not t