At 8:12 a.m., a bank alert appeared: “Purchase approved: €4,980 — travel agency.” I was in our Barcelona apartment, coffee half-brewed. I opened the app: flights to Venice, a boutique hotel, “romantic package.” The card was mine, linked to my personal account since my promotion in finance at Llorente Tech.

Ethan walked in, whistling.

“What’s this?” I showed him the screen. “You didn’t ask me.”

“Anniversary surprise. Venice. You’ll love it.”

“With my money. Without my permission.”

His smile faded. “It’s just a card. You’re here to handle these things.”

My hand shook. My voice didn’t. “I’m canceling it. Now.”

He lunged. He grabbed my hair. The first punch rang in my ears. The second slammed me into the counter. He kicked my side, dragged me to the door, and shoved me out.

“How dare you cancel it?”

The door slammed.

I went downstairs, called the bank, and permanently blocked the card. Then I called Clara from HR.

“I need a meeting tomorrow morning. With the CEO.”

“What happened, Isla?”

“I’ll explain tomorrow. But I’m done begging.”

I spent the night in a cheap hotel in Eixample. My body hurt. My mind was clear. Ethan didn’t want Venice. He wanted control.

The next morning, I went to a medical center. The doctor saw the bruises and quietly asked, “Do you want to activate the protocol?” I nodded. The pain became documentation.

Then I went to my sister Mara’s apartment.

“What now?” she asked after I told her everything.

“I’m taking away his impunity.”

Ethan worked at Llorente Tech too—corporate sales. I worked in finance and compliance. For months I’d noticed irregular entertainment expenses: duplicate invoices, inflated dinners, vague trips. His name appeared in every approval chain.

At 9:00 a.m., I handed HR my medical report, photos, and bank confirmation. Then I opened another folder: internal emails, expense reports, screenshots showing pressure on suppliers to “adjust” invoices. All accessed legally through my role.

“I’m filing a complaint,” I said. “And the CEO needs to know.”

At 1:00 p.m., I met CEO Graham Sloan with HR and compliance present. I presented the facts: assault and financial irregularities.

“Bring him in,” Graham said.

Ethan entered confident—until he saw me and the documents.

“Husband-wife argument,” he tried. “Expenses are part of sales.”

“We have medical and compliance reports,” Graham replied. “Sit down.”

The compliance director listed the findings: duplicate invoices, unsupported expenses, manipulated documentation.

“Everyone does it,” Ethan muttered.

“Today we’re discussing yours,” compliance answered.

Graham opened an envelope. “Ethan Cross, you are suspended effective immediately pending investigation. Access revoked. Contract terminated for serious misconduct.”

Ethan stared at me. “You’re ruining me.”

“No,” I said. “I’m protecting myself.”

That afternoon he called from unknown numbers. I didn’t answer. My lawyer filed for a restraining order. I submitted all evidence.

Two weeks later, escorted by police and a locksmith, I returned to the apartment to collect my belongings. In a drawer, I found an envelope from the Venice agency—tickets printed in Ethan’s name and another woman’s.

I photographed it. More proof.

I locked the door with a new key and walked away.

That night, Mara asked, “And now?”

I looked at my steady hands.

“Now I have my life back. And Venice? He can pay for it himself.”