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Authors: Elizabeth Moynihan
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responsibility for staying in an unsafe situation. The longer an abusive relationship goes on, the less likely it is the one being abused is going to leave.”
“Who in there right mind willingly stays in an abusive relationship?” Sergei growled, pacing a small path back and forth across the floor like a caged animal.
“People who abuse have more power than you might imagine. Over time they convince the person they’re abusing it’s all their fault for the way they’re being treated; if they were better, smarter, prettier, tried harder, jumped higher, whatever, they wouldn’t be treated this way. After being told you’re ugly, or stupid, or can’t skate over and over, you begin to believe it and suddenly, in a warped fashion, they begin to understand that the abuse is punishment for their failures. They begin to believe it’s justified, even deserved,” Aleksei explained.
“Bull shit,” Sergei shook his head back and forth vigorously, “Chloe would never believe that. She knows what a wonderful skater she is. Hell, she’s a better skater than I am.”
Aleksei ran his hands through his hair, “How long have Manning and Chloe been partners?”
“I’m not sure. About five years, I guess,” Sergei answered with a shrug. “Why?”
“Chloe’s eighteen now. You know how temperamental Dani gets about her looks or her weight or what she’s wearing; Christ, look at what she did to her hair and that was her idea! When was the last time you heard Chloe express a complaint or an opinion to her partner?”
Sergei searched his mind, trying to remember the last time Chloe even uttered a sound when she was with her partner. In fact, the more he thought about it, he couldn’t even remember her lifting her eyes to meet his when he said hello to her when she was with Manning. Sergei’s eyes darkened in pain and sorrow as it suddenly dawned on him that it had to have been at least two years since he’d seen Chloe act like the carefree girl he remembered her to be when she was with her partner. The thought she’d spent the last two years in an abusive partnership made his heart ache and stole his breath away. “Two years,” he whispered, raising tear filled ebony eyes to his father, his breath catching as he struggled to maintain his emotions. “Could this have been going on for two years?”
Aleksei’s broad shoulders lifted in shrug, “I don’t know, Sergei, I hope to God not. But even if it has, there was no way you could have known. Abusers are sly and manipulative and dangerous in more ways than you or I could ever imagine. I can’t imagine Manning’s father didn’t know about this, but considering his high position in the legal field, I can’t imagine it was too tough for him to keep it covered up.”
“Yeah, but it’s out in the open now. Manning’s got questions to answer,” Sergei vowed.
“Not unless Chloe presses charges against him, and in her present state, I don’t see that happening,” Aleksei stated, holding up one hand to stop his son’s impending protest. “Chloe’s on the brink of collapse; pressing her to charge Manning is liable to do her more harm than good. Our first concern should be to see that she’s comfortable and safe. Has she contacted her mother?”
“She doesn’t want to cause her mom problems with the elder Manning. Apparently Mrs. Spenser’s been given a chance to oversee a large merger and if she blows it, she’s out of a job. Chloe insisted I not contact her mother. I’m not sure whether to listen to her or not.”
“I don’t agree with Chloe’s decision, but I understand her motivation behind it. Obviously both Spenser women have lost control to the Manning’s and I won’t add to their dilemma by pressing the issue. For now, Chloe stays with us, it’ll keep Dani occupied so I don’t have to worry about her piercing a body part or coming home with a tattoo.”
Sergei nodded in agreement, a small smile graced his lips as the image of his
“Who in there right mind willingly stays in an abusive relationship?” Sergei growled, pacing a small path back and forth across the floor like a caged animal.
“People who abuse have more power than you might imagine. Over time they convince the person they’re abusing it’s all their fault for the way they’re being treated; if they were better, smarter, prettier, tried harder, jumped higher, whatever, they wouldn’t be treated this way. After being told you’re ugly, or stupid, or can’t skate over and over, you begin to believe it and suddenly, in a warped fashion, they begin to understand that the abuse is punishment for their failures. They begin to believe it’s justified, even deserved,” Aleksei explained.
“Bull shit,” Sergei shook his head back and forth vigorously, “Chloe would never believe that. She knows what a wonderful skater she is. Hell, she’s a better skater than I am.”
Aleksei ran his hands through his hair, “How long have Manning and Chloe been partners?”
“I’m not sure. About five years, I guess,” Sergei answered with a shrug. “Why?”
“Chloe’s eighteen now. You know how temperamental Dani gets about her looks or her weight or what she’s wearing; Christ, look at what she did to her hair and that was her idea! When was the last time you heard Chloe express a complaint or an opinion to her partner?”
Sergei searched his mind, trying to remember the last time Chloe even uttered a sound when she was with her partner. In fact, the more he thought about it, he couldn’t even remember her lifting her eyes to meet his when he said hello to her when she was with Manning. Sergei’s eyes darkened in pain and sorrow as it suddenly dawned on him that it had to have been at least two years since he’d seen Chloe act like the carefree girl he remembered her to be when she was with her partner. The thought she’d spent the last two years in an abusive partnership made his heart ache and stole his breath away. “Two years,” he whispered, raising tear filled ebony eyes to his father, his breath catching as he struggled to maintain his emotions. “Could this have been going on for two years?”
Aleksei’s broad shoulders lifted in shrug, “I don’t know, Sergei, I hope to God not. But even if it has, there was no way you could have known. Abusers are sly and manipulative and dangerous in more ways than you or I could ever imagine. I can’t imagine Manning’s father didn’t know about this, but considering his high position in the legal field, I can’t imagine it was too tough for him to keep it covered up.”
“Yeah, but it’s out in the open now. Manning’s got questions to answer,” Sergei vowed.
“Not unless Chloe presses charges against him, and in her present state, I don’t see that happening,” Aleksei stated, holding up one hand to stop his son’s impending protest. “Chloe’s on the brink of collapse; pressing her to charge Manning is liable to do her more harm than good. Our first concern should be to see that she’s comfortable and safe. Has she contacted her mother?”
“She doesn’t want to cause her mom problems with the elder Manning. Apparently Mrs. Spenser’s been given a chance to oversee a large merger and if she blows it, she’s out of a job. Chloe insisted I not contact her mother. I’m not sure whether to listen to her or not.”
“I don’t agree with Chloe’s decision, but I understand her motivation behind it. Obviously both Spenser women have lost control to the Manning’s and I won’t add to their dilemma by pressing the issue. For now, Chloe stays with us, it’ll keep Dani occupied so I don’t have to worry about her piercing a body part or coming home with a tattoo.”
Sergei nodded in agreement, a small smile graced his lips as the image of his
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