The father noticed a bruise beneath his daughters eye and made a callhis son-in-laws life was about to unravel.
Marion stood in the doorway, greeting her parents with her usual warm smile. Only the dark, swollen eye betrayed the subject she refused to discuss.
“Mother, its nothing, dont fuss,” she said quickly, catching her mothers sharp gaze.
Eleanor sighed deeply. “Its your life, my dear. You must live it as you see fit…”
Her father didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He walked slowly to the window, staring blankly, as though deaf to his daughters muttered excuses about cupboards and shadows.
“II just tripped last night, thats all. Come now, Mum, everythings fine with me and Edward!”
Fine? Marion remembered perfectly well what had happened. Edward, ever hot-tempered, hadnt just shouted at her. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown so roughly that the fabric tore at the neck.
“What, you ungrateful wretch, have you forgotten who kept you alive when you were running off with that Daniel? Who carried you in his arms when you were too drunk to walk?”
And then the blowsharp, deliberate. Stars burst behind her eyes, pain flared, and Edward kept shouting, his words vile.
“Yes, darling, I understand. Cupboard… shadows,” murmured Eleanor, though she knew the truth.
She felt the guilt. She had been the one to push Marion into marrying Edward! She had been the one to drive Daniel away, convinced he was a bad influence.
“And your wardrobe, my dear, seems to have fists,” Eleanor remarked pointedly, casting a glance at her son-in-law.
John never turned from the window. He stepped onto the balcony to smoke. Unlike his wife, he had never approved of Edward. The man was hollowa spoiled heir to a wealthy family, all appearances and no substance.
And now the rot had surfaceda bruise beneath his daughters eye.
John could have seized Edward by the collar and struck him. But that would only have caused a scene. So he stepped outside instead.
He knew how to handle this. And he already had.
Hed spent a long time on the phone out there.
Meanwhile, Marion bought her mother tea, and they spoke of nothing in particular. Half an hour later, her parents left.
Edward, who had braced for a scolding, relaxed at last. He slumped onto the sofa, cracked open a beer, and even smirked. In his mind, their silence meant approval. Family stuck together, bruises were just part of life. No one crossed him.
“See, Marion? I told you it would blow over!” he drawled, smug. “Your parents are reasonable people. Unlike you… Last night, you provoked me! So I had a drinkwhats the harm?”
He took a swig and reached for crisps.
His relief was short-lived.
Not even half an hour passed before someone knockednot the doorbell, but a firm, decisive rap. Edward set his beer down and stiffened.
He peered through the peephole and paled.
Daniel stood on the doorstep. His rival. Marions former love. The one who had nearly married her but let her go. Tall, confident, in an expensive coat, with that infuriating charm that made women sigh and men want to punch him.
“What do you want?” Edward growled, opening the door just enough to show his irritation but not enough to let him in.
“Move aside,” Daniel said calmly, and with a single shove of his shoulder, he sent Edward stumbling back like a ragdoll.
Marion stood, wide-eyed.
“Daniel”
“Pack your things,” he said briskly. “We can go to my place, or your parents. But you dont need this wreck of a man.”
“Who are you calling a wreck?” Edward spat, though he stayed rooted in the corner.
He had reason to fear Daniel.
“I called you, Eddie. Personally,” Daniel said smoothly. “I didnt want to interfere, but when Marions fathera decent man, by the wayrang me and told me youd laid hands on her… Well, I decided to step in.”
“Whatwhat are you on about?” Edward croaked.
“Not personally, of course,” Daniel chuckled. “But the space you rent for your club? Owned by a friend of mine. A very good friend. Youll find your lease wont be renewed. The notice is already on your desk.”
Edward sank into a chair as if struck.
“And the back rent? Oh, youve missed six months worth. The rates went up when profits climbeddid you even read the notice? My friend and I let it slide, waiting for the debt to grow. Now you owe a rather unpleasant sum. Should I say it aloud?”
Daniel leaned in.
“And you havent a penny to pay it, have you? Too busy drinking with your floozies.”
Edward crumpled like a deflated balloon.
“Thisthis is a setup!” he wheezed.
“Think what you like,” Daniel shrugged. “You could sue, but your lawyer resigned. Or did you sack him? Wholl defend you now? Your barman with the nose ring?”
Edward gaped, speechless.
“Marion, lets go. Dont bother with your things. Ill replace them. What you have here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, wait,” Marion said, bewildered. “This is all so suddenI dont understand”
“Sudden is taking a blow to the face and making excuses for the man who did it. The rest is just overdue.”
Daniel held out his hand, and she took it.
“Have you all gone mad?” Edward roared. “This is my house! My wife!”
“Wife?” Daniel scoffed. “Youre the man who hits her, then cowers behind a beer and the telly? Youre not a husband. Youre a failure. Loud, bitter… nothing. You wont even swing at me.”
Edwards lips moved soundlessly.
“Off to court, then? Tell them about the bruise from the cupboard? Or how your club failed because you drank instead of worked, riding on your fathers coattails?”
Marion followed Daniel without a backward glance. Only at the door did she pause.
“Im sorry, Edward. Goodbye.”
“Go to hell!” he snarled. “Finejust go!”
And they left.
Two days later, Edward sat in an empty flat. The club was shuttered. The table was strewn with legal notices, unpaid rent, and debt demands.
Daniel had been waiting. And when he struck, it was precise, brutal, and flawless.
Meanwhile, peace settled over Marions parents home. Her mother bustled in the kitchen, her father read the paper.
Then Marion walked in.
“Hello,” she said.
“Where have you been, love? Has Edward been bothering you?” her father asked sternly.
“Ive been… with Daniel.”
“So youve left Edward?”
“Yes. For good.”
Her mother clasped her hands, her father nodded in approval.
“Good! Thats my girl. And mark my words,” he added with a grin, “if that fool ever comes near you again, Ill rearrange his face myself.”
“Father… did you call Daniel?” Marion asked.
“Of course. Who else?” He winked. “Hes a good man. And sharpunlike the other one.”
“Thank heavens youre rid of that wretch!” her mother cried. “Forgive me, Marion, for almost ruining your life. At least there are no children with Edward…”
“Oh, Mum, you do go on!” her father laughed. “But the important thing is she saw sense.”
Outside, Daniel waited by the gate, leaning against his black SUV. He smiledknowing, certain. No one would ever lay a hand on Marion again.
Well, perhaps in love, and with tenderness. But that was another story entirely.
