At 3 a.m., the world lay in silence.

Judy Hartley, bruised and swollen from head to toe after being thrown out by Leo, had stumbled home. She downed three bottles of alcohol, unleashed her fury, and smashed everything she could until her rage subsided. Exhausted, she had only just fallen asleep for two hours when a loud banging on her door jolted her awake.

Her face still puffy and filled with resentment, Judy rolled over in bed, trying to block out the noise ...