Chapter 2 - THE BALD TRUTH AND THE SILENT STRATEGY
Ryan claimed families don't survive wives who refuse to obey, and Linda smugly reiterated that I would resign tomorrow. I said nothing, walking into the bathroom to face my reflection where one side of my hair was torn away in bloody, uneven strips. I didn't cry; instead, I picked up the clippers, switched them on, and shaved off every remaining strand so no one would ever control my body again. When I walked out completely bald, Ryan's face went pale, and I smiled, telling him they had convinced me and that I would dedicate myself completely to this family tomorrow. Linda relaxed, believing she had won, never noticing the absolute stillness in my voice or that I was already planning a tactical counter-offensive. That night, while they slept, I moved through my laptop like a soldier clearing a room, canceling cards, removing authorized users, transferring savings, stopping automatic payments, contacting my attorney, and updating military housing.
