Father noticed a bruise under his daughters eye and made a callhis son-in-laws life was about to be ruined.
Emily stood in the doorway, greeting her parents with her usual friendly smile. Only the dark, swollen eye betrayed the subject she refused to discuss.
“Mum, its nothing, dont worry about it,” she said quickly, catching her mothers sharp gaze.
Margaret sighed deeply. “Its your life, love. You have to live it…”
Her father didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He walked slowly to the window and stared blankly outside, as if he hadnt heard his daughter muttering something about a cupboard and the dark.
“I just… tripped last night. Honestly, Mum, everythings fine with me and Oliver!”
Fine? Emily remembered perfectly well what had happened. Oliver, always quick to anger, hadnt just shouted this time. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown collar so hard it tore at the neck.
“What, you stupid cow, have you forgotten who kept you alive when you were running off with that bloke, Daniel? Who loved you, eh? Who carried you in his arms?”
Then a hard punch, like a mans fist. Stars flashed before her eyes, pain searing through herwhile Oliver kept screaming vile insults.
“Yes, love. Cupboard… dark,” her mother murmured, though she knew exactly what had happened.
And she felt guilty. She was the one whod pushed Emily to marry Oliver! She was the one whod driven Daniel away, convinced he was a bad influence.
“And your wardrobe, love, seems to have fists,” Margaret said pointedly, casting a glance at her son-in-law.
William never turned from the window. He stepped onto the balcony for a smoke. Unlike his wife, hed never liked Oliver. The man was hollowselfish, charmless. Yes, he came from moneyflat in Chelsea, flash car, connections. But rotten inside.
Now the rot had surfaceda bruise under his daughters eye.
William couldve grabbed Oliver by the lapels and given him a proper thrashing. But that would only lead to a scene. And he couldnt be bothered. So he stepped outside.
Hed handle this another way. And he already knew how.
Hed spent a long time on the phone out there.
Meanwhile, Emily bought her mother a coffee, chatting about nothing. Half an hour later, her parents left.
Oliver, expecting shouts and drama, finally relaxed. He slumped back on the sofa, cracked open a beer, even smirked. In his mind, their silence meant approval. Family sticks together, bruises happen. No one kicks up a fuss.
“See, Em? Told you itd blow over!” he drawled, smug. “Your parents are decent. Not like you… Yesterday, you started on me! So what if I had a few drinks?”
He took a swig and reached for crisps.
His relief didnt last.
Not even half an hour later, someone knocked. Not rangknocked. Firm, decisive. The sound made Oliver freeze mid-sip.
He went to the door, peered through the peephole… and paled.
Daniel stood there. His rival. Emilys ex. The one whod nearly married her before walking away. Tall, handsome, confidentwearing a sharp suit and that smirk that made women weak and men want to punch him.
“What dyou want?” Oliver growled, barely opening the door.
“Move,” Daniel said calmly, shoving him aside with a shoulder.
Oliver stumbled back like a ragdoll.
Emily stood up, eyes wide.
“Daniel?”
“Pack what you need,” he said simply. “We can go to mine, or your parents. But you dont need this deadbeat.”
“Who you calling deadbeat?” Oliver snapped, but stayed rooted in the corner.
He had his reasons to fear Daniel.
“I called *you*, Olly,” Daniel smiled coolly. “Didnt want to interfere, but when Emilys dadgood bloke, by the wayrang me and said youd hit her? Thats when I stepped in.”
“What… what are you on about?” Oliver croaked.
“Didnt do it myself, of course,” Daniel chuckled. “But the space you lease for your club? Belongs to a mate of mine. A very good mate. Anyway, youll get noticecontracts not being renewed. Got it? Its already on your desk.”
Oliver sank like a deflated balloon.
“Also, I calculated six months back rent. Remember when they said fees might go up if the club turned profit? That happened six months ago. You just didnt read the notice. Me and Mike kept quiet, let the debt pile up. Plus penalties, interest… Understand? Youre officially in the red. Want me to name the figure?”
Daniel leaned in.
“And I know you havent got a penny to pay it. Shouldve spent less time boozing with your mates.”
Oliver collapsed into a chair like a wrung-out dishrag.
“This… this is a setup!” he wheezed. “You… you planted those papers!”
“Think what you like,” Daniel shrugged. “You could sue. But your lawyers resigned. Or did you sack him? Wholl defend you now? Your barman with the nose ring?”
Oliver opened his mouthnothing came out.
“Emily, lets go. Dont bother with your things. Ill buy you whatever you need. The rubbish here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, wait,” Emily said, confused. “This is all… so fast. I dont understand.”
“Fast is getting punched and still making excuses for the one who did it. Everything else is too slow.”
Daniel held out his hand. She took it.
“Youve all lost it!” Oliver roared. “This is *my* house! *My* wife!”
“Wife?” Daniel scoffed. “Youre the husband who hits her, then hides behind a beer and telly? Youre not even a man, Oliver. Just a loud, bitter loser. Cant even swing a proper punch.”
“But I… I…” Oliver stammered.
“Going to court, are you?” Daniel narrowed his eyes. “Tell them about the cupboard bruise? Or how your club failed because you drank instead of working, riding your dads coattails?”
Emily followed Daniel without looking back. Only at the door did she pause.
“Sorry, Oliver. Goodbye.”
“Piss off, then!” he spat. “Yeah… sure, go on…”
And they left.
Two days later, Oliver sat in an empty flat. The club was closed. Papers demanding rent and debt notices covered the table.
Daniel wasnt just an ex. He was an ex with connectionsand patience. Hed waited for the right moment. And when it came, he struckswift, brutal, flawless.
Meanwhile, peace settled in Emilys parents home. Her mother cooked, her father read the paper.
Then Emily walked in.
“Hi,” she said.
“Whereve you been, love? Oliver looking for you?” her father asked sternly.
“Ive… been with Daniel.”
“So you left Oliver?”
“Yes. Im done.”
Her mother clasped her hands. Her father simply nodded.
“Good. Thats my girl,” he said, smiling. “And know thisif that wanker ever comes near you again, Ill knock his teeth in.”
“Dad… did you call Daniel?” Emily asked.
“Course I did. Who else?” He winked. “Good lad. Proper businessmanunlike the other one.”
“Thank God you left that idiot!” her mother finished. “Sorry, love, I nearly ruined your life. At least youve no kids with him…”
“Oh, Mum, listen to you!” her father laughed. “But the main thing isshe saw sense.”
Outside, Daniel leaned against his black Range Rover, smirking. He knew. No one would ever lay a hand on Emily again.
Well, maybe with loveand pleasant surprises. But thats another story.
