Father noticed a bruise under his daughters eye and made a phone callhis son-in-laws life was about to crumble.
Emily stood in the doorway, greeting her parents with her usual cheerful smile. Only the shiner betrayed the subject she refused to discuss.
“Mum, dont worry about it, really,” she said quickly, catching her mothers sharp glance.
Margaret sighed. “Its your life, love. Youve got to live it…”
Her father didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He drifted to the window and stared blankly, as if he hadnt heard Emily mumbling something about a wardrobe and the dark.
“I just… tripped last night. Honestly, Mum, everythings fine with me and Greg!”
Fine? Emily remembered exactly what had happened. Greg, always simmering with anger, hadnt just shouted at her. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown so hard the fabric tore.
“What, you stupid cow, dont you remember who kept you alive when you were off chasing that Daniel? Who carried you home when you were too drunk to walk? Who loved you, eh?”
Then the punch. A proper, full-force blow. Stars danced in her vision before the pain swallowed her whole. And Greg? Still screaming filth.
“Yes, love. Wardrobe… dark,” muttered Margaret, though she knew the truth.
Guilt gnawed at her. Shed been the one to push Emily into marrying Greg! Shed been the one to drive Daniel away, convinced he was bad news.
“And your wardrobe, darling, by the looks of it, has fists,” Margaret remarked dryly, shooting her son-in-law a glance.
William never turned from the window. He stepped onto the balcony for a smoke. Unlike his wife, hed never liked Greg. The man was all flashposh flat, fancy car, connections. But rotten inside.
Now the rot had surfaceda bruise on his daughters face.
William couldve grabbed Greg by the collar and walloped him. But that wouldve just caused a scene. So he stepped outside.
He knew how to fix this. And hed already made the call.
Meanwhile, Emily bought her mum a coffee, and they chatted about nothing. Half an hour later, her parents left.
Greg, braced for a lecture, relaxed. He flopped onto the sofa, cracked open a lager, and smirked. Silence meant approval, right? Family sticks together, and bruises? Just part of life.
“Alright, Em, told you itd blow over!” he drawled. “Your folks are sensible. Not like you… whinging last night. Had a few pints, so what?”
His joy was short-lived.
A firm knock rattled the door. No belljust a knock. Greg froze mid-swig.
He peered through the peephole… and paled.
Daniel stood there. His rival. Emilys ex. The one whod nearly married her. Tall, confident, in a sharp suitthe kind of bloke who made women swoon and men seethe.
“What dyou want?” Greg snarled, barely opening the door.
“Stepped aside,” Daniel said calmly, shouldering past him.
Greg staggered back like a ragdoll.
Emily shot up from the sofa. “Daniel…?”
“Pack a bag if you want,” he said briskly. “We can go to mine or your parents. But you dont need this waste of space.”
“Who you calling a waste, you prat?” Greg spat, but stayed rooted to the spot. He had reasons to fear Daniel.
“I called you, mate. You,” Daniel smiled. “Didnt want to interfere. But when Emilys daddecent bloke, by the wayrang and said youd hit her? Well. Time to collect.”
Greg gaped. “Youwhat?!”
“Didnt take it *literally*,” Daniel chuckled. “But that gym you lease? Belongs to a mate. A very good mate. Contracts upno renewal. Notice is already on your desk.”
Greg swayed like a felled tree.
“Also, youve got six months of unpaid rent. Remember that clause about hikes if the gym turned profit? Yeah, that kicked in half a year ago. Notice was thereyou just didnt read it. Me and Mike waited. Let the debt stack. Penalties, interest… Get it? Youre skint, Greg. Proper skint.”
Daniel leaned in. “And I know you havent got a penny to pay it. Too busy boozing with your tarts, eh?”
Greg crumpled into his chair 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? Whos left? That barman with the nose ring?”
Gregs mouth flapped uselessly.
“Emily, lets go. Dont bother packing. Ill buy you whatever you need. The rubbish here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, wait,” Emily frowned. “This is all so… sudden.”
“Sudden is taking a punch and making excuses for it. Everything else is too slow.”
He held out his hand. She took it.
“You lot mad?!” Greg roared. “This is *my* house! *My* wife!”
“Wife?” Daniel scoffed. “Youre the bloke who hits her, then hides behind a six-pack? Not a man. Just a loud, sulky loser. Cant even swing properly.”
Greg spluttered.
“Take it to court if you want. Explain the wardrobe bruise. Or how your gym flopped because you were too busy downing pints on daddys connections.”
Emily followed Daniel without a backward glance. Only at the door did she pause.
“Sorry, Greg. Goodbye.”
“Sod off, then!” he hissed.
And they left.
Two days later, Greg sat in an empty flat. The gym was shut. Piles of unpaid rent notices littered the table.
Daniel wasnt just an ex. He was an ex with a plan. And hed struck perfectlyswift, brutal, flawless.
Meanwhile, at her parents, Emily walked into the kitchen.
“Hi,” she said.
“Whereve you been, love? Greg looking for you?” her father asked sternly.
“Been… with Daniel.”
“So you left Greg?”
“Yeah.”
Her mum clasped her hands. Her father nodded approvingly.
“Good. Thats my girl. And listen,” he grinned, “if that sod comes near you again, Ill rearrange his face.”
“Dad… you called Daniel?”
“Course. Who else?” He winked. “Good lad. Proper businessmanunlike *that* one.”
“Thank God you left that idiot!” her mum chimed in. “And thank heavens no kids with him…”
“Oh, Margaret, always with the dramatics!” her dad laughed. “Point is, she saw sense.”
Outside, Daniel leaned against his black Range Rover, smirking. He knew. No one would ever lay a finger on Emily again.
Well, maybe with love. Or nice surprises. But thats another story.
