j. michael farren. >> it was horrific. i was covered in blood. >> reporter: what looked like a wonderful life, vanishing behind them. >> i looked in the rearview mirror and i saw it was black, it was dark. so i knew he wasn't behind, and then i thought, "okay, where do i go?" >> reporter: objects in that rearview mirror are stranger than they appear. a 12-year marriage to one of the most powerful men in washington. a life of privilege and prestige. a $5 million mansion in new canaan, one of the richest towns in america, with neighbors like harry connick jr. singer paul simon, and "scandal" star tony goldwyn. all that is behind her now. mary margaret has spent the five years since the attack living in hiding, still fearing for her life, but tonight agreeing to come out of the shadows, for this first interview, ready to talk about the family secret that almost killed her. tell me why you want to share your story. >> i think when the severity of abuse gets to where i ended up with, most women in that situation never get to sp