Control by Joanne Sexton

Lara is the dutiful daughter, marrying for money to help her family. Money can buy you many things but it can’t buy you love. Living in abject misery things turn violently sour between Bryce and Lara, and like so many before her she finds solace in the arms of another.
Finally Lara puts herself first, leaving Bryce for Owen, taking her children with her. Now her life is crammed with love and happiness, but Owen has a secret. This secret is enough to crush their precarious bubble of bliss and bring their house of cards tumbling down.

Bryce controlled her, her parents needed her, and life got to her, but eventually the doormat gets tired of the stomping and filth befouling her life. Sometimes you have to retire the doormat and build a door, allowing only those who cherish you into your life. Even doormats have a hard limit if you push them around long enough.
Between the secrets and lies, this is a gritty romance sweeping all the skeletons out of the closet. Lara deserves a happy ending, and sometimes the only way to get that is for someone to die.