My husband, Mark, always told me he was proud of me, and for a long time, I believed him. His compliments about my looks felt like love—until I realized they weren’t admiration, they were display. He pushed me toward short skirts, tight dresses, revealing outfits, always eager to show me off in front of others. I tried to convince myself it was harmless, that maybe this was just his way of expressing pride. But deep down, it made me uncomfortable in a way I couldn’t ignore forever.
