It's the 1970s and Anne thought a fresh start in a northern town would be the adventure of a lifetime. But her husband Thomas has other plans. While he is busy with his career Anne struggles to adapt to a new culture, a growing family and a marriage that seems to be unravelling in ways she doesn't understand. As the years pass, Anne finds herself tangled in an emotional web she can't escape - a web of coercive control that at the time didn't have a name. Her world becomes a constant balancing act: love and fear joy and dread commitment and silence. Each day she wonders if she's doing the right thing as Thomas's emotional manipulation grows more extreme and his terrifying retribution threatens her at every turn. With shame weighing her down and her children's safety in the balance, Anne is trapped in a cycle of confusion and guilt. But when Thomas crosses a line Anne is faced with an impossible choice: stay or leave? The question becomes a matter of survival. This raw compelling story of marriage manipulation and the quiet courage it takes to break free from an abusive relationship will resonate with anyone who has ever faced the cost of loving someone who isn't what they seem.
