Holly Madison: Hef Was Abusive

Holly Madison insists that she doesn't like talking about living at the Playboy mansion and dating Hugh Hefner, but believes "it's important to tell the truth of my story." The 35-year-old former Playboy Bunny writes about life before, during, and after the mansion in her new book, Down the Rabbit Hole. She paints a completely different picture from the carefree life depicted in the now defunct E! series Girls Next Door, which featured the legendary men's magazine publisher living with his three girlfriends—Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson—and, in her book, depicts Hefner as calculating, manipulative, and verbally abusive.

"I wasn't really happy with the way Hef treated us," says Madison, now a married mother of one. "I wanted to be in the relationship where I was the only girl and I wanted more out of the situation than what we were really allowed to do." Madison says one day she woke up and "couldn't take it anymore." For his part, Hefner has released a statement accusing his former lover of rewriting history. But "I don't care what his reaction is," Madison says. "He doesn't have any mental or emotional power over me anymore." She hopes her book will "inspire people if they're in bad relationships to break free," she says. "This wasn't done out of revenge." (Click for more Playboy mansion secrets dished by Madison.)