What Ivan didn’t know and Michelle didn’t share was that Rocky would sometimes take the kids away from Michelle if he was angry at her. He’d disappear with them for hours, take them to the movies, camping, or wherever, and Michelle would be stuck there at home, worried, frantic that maybe this time he wouldn’t come back, and the kids became pawns, a way for him to keep her obedient, conciliatory. A way for him to make sure she didn’t leave. By the time he’d return, she’d just be thankful they were okay. He didn’t need to hit her. He had all the control he required.
