Father spotted a bruise under his daughters eye and made a phone callher husbands life was about to unravel.
Emily stood in the doorway, greeting her parents with her usual cheerful smile. Only the shiny black eye betrayed the subject she refused to discuss.
“Mum, its nothing, really, dont worry about it,” she said quickly, noticing her mothers sharp gaze.
Margaret sighed deeply. “Its your life, love. Youve got to live it…”
Her father didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He slowly walked to the window and stared blankly, as if deaf to his daughters mumbled excuses about tripping over a wardrobe in the dark.
“I just… stumbled last night. Honestly, Mum, everythings fine with me and Oliver!”
Fine? Emily remembered exactly what had happened. Oliver, ever the hothead, hadnt just shouted at her. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown so hard the fabric ripped at the collar.
“What, you ungrateful cow, have you forgotten who keeps a roof over your head?” hed roared, shaking her. “Who dragged you back from the pubs when you ran off to that Daniel? Who loved you, you stupid little idiot? I carried you in my arms!”
Then came the punchsolid, deliberate. Stars danced in her vision before the pain swallowed her whole… while Oliver kept screaming obscenities.
“Yes, love. Wardrobe… dark,” her mother muttered, 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 chased Daniel away, convinced he was a bad influence.
“Your wardrobes got quite the right hook, hasnt it?” Margaret said dryly, shooting a pointed look 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 all showarrogant, empty. Sure, he came from moneyflat in Chelsea, flashy car, connections. But inside, he was rotten.
And now the rot had surfaceda bruise under his daughters eye.
Of course, William couldve grabbed Oliver by the lapels and given him a proper thrashing. But that wouldve just caused a scene. And he couldnt be bothered. Barely even flinched. Just stepped outside.
He knew how to handle this differently. And he already had a plan.
Hed been on the phone a long time out there…
Meanwhile, Emily bought her mother a coffee, and they chatted about nothing. Half an hour later, her parents left.
Oliver, whod braced for a shouting match, finally relaxed. He flopped back onto the sofa, cracked open a lager, and even smirked. In his mind, their silence meant approval. Family sticks together, bruises happen. No one rats you out. Easy!
“See, Em? Told you itd blow over,” he drawled, smug. “Your parents are decent people. Unlike you… Yesterday, you were nagging me! So I went out, had a few pintsso what?”
He took a swig and reached for the crisps.
His joy was short-lived.
Half an hour later, someone knocked. Not the polite doorbella firm, decisive rap. It made Oliver freeze mid-sip.
He peered through the peephole… and went pale.
Daniel stood there. His rival. Emilys ex. The one whod nearly married her before letting her slip away. Tall, handsome, confidentwearing a sharp suit and that smirk that made women swoon and men want to punch him.
“What dyou want?” Oliver growled, cracking the door just enough to glare.
“Step aside,” Daniel said calmly, shoving past him with a shoulder.
Oliver staggered back like a rag doll.
Emily shot up from the sofa, eyes wide.
“Daniel”
“Pack a bag,” he said briskly. “Were leaving. My place, your parentswhatever you want. But youre not staying with this bankrupt waste of space.”
“Who you calling bankrupt, you prat?” Oliver spluttered, but stayed glued to the corner, too scared to move.
He had his reasons to fear Daniel.
“I called you, Ollie,” Daniel said pleasantly. “Didnt want to interfere, really. But when Emilys dadsolid bloke, by the wayrang me and said youd hit her? Well, I decided to take over.”
“Whatwhat are you on about?” Oliver croaked.
“Not like that, obviously,” Daniel chuckled. “But the lease for your club? Belongs to a mate of mine. Very good mate. Youll be getting a notice terminating your rental agreement. Its already on your desk.”
Oliver sank onto the chair like a deflated balloon.
“Oh, and those unpaid rent hikes from six months ago? You rememberthe clause about increased rates once the club turned profit? Yeah, that kicked in ages ago. You just never read the fine print. Me and Mike kept quiet, let the debt pile up. Penalties, interest… You get the picture? Now youre officially in the red. Big time. Want me to name the figure?”
Daniel leaned in.
“And I know you havent got a penny to cover it. Shouldve spent less time boozing with your floozy mates.”
Oliver crumpled like a wrung-out dishcloth.
“Thisthis is a setup!” he wheezed. “You planted those papers!”
“Think what you like,” Daniel shrugged. “You could sue. But your lawyer just quit. Or did you sack him? Either way, wholl defend you now? Your bartender with the nose ring?”
Oliver gaped like a goldfish.
“Emily, lets go. Dont bother packing. Ill buy you whatever you need. The junk here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, hold on,” Emily said, dazed. “This is all… so sudden. I dont understand”
“Sudden is taking a fist to the face and still making excuses for the bloke who threw it. Everything else is just overdue.”
Daniel held out his hand, and she took it.
“Youve all lost it!” Oliver shrieked. “This is my house! My wife!”
“Wife?” Daniels smile turned icy. “You mean the woman you hit, then hid behind a six-pack and the telly? Youre not a man, Oliver. Youre a loud, whinging nobody. Cant even throw a proper punch.”
“But II” Oliver stammered.
“Spare me. Fancy taking this to court? Explaining that shiner as a wardrobe accident? Or how your club tanked because youd rather drink than work, riding Daddys coattails?”
Emily followed Daniel without a backward glance. Only at the door did she pause.
“Sorry, Oliver. And goodbye.”
“Piss off, then!” he snarled. “Yeah… go on”
And they left.
Two days later, Oliver sat in an empty flat. The club was shut. Papers demanding unpaid rent and debt notices covered the table.
Daniel wasnt just an ex. He was an ex with a plan. And hed struck perfectlyswift, brutal, flawless.
Meanwhile, Emilys parents home was peaceful. Her mother cooked, her father read the paper.
Then Emily walked in.
“Hi,” she said.
“Whereve you been, love? Oliver been bothering you?” her father asked sternly.
“I was… with Daniel.”
“So you left Oliver?”
“Yeah. Im done.”
Her mother clasped her hands. Her father simply nodded.
“Good. Thats my girl,” he said, smiling. “And rememberif that wanker ever comes near you again, Ill knock his teeth in.”
“Dad… you called 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 blurted. “Im sorry, loveI nearly ruined your life. At least you didnt have kids with him…”
“Oh, Margaret, must you always say the quiet part loud?” her father laughed. “But the main thing is she figured it out.”
Outside, Daniel leaned against his black Range Rover, grinning. He knew. No one would ever lay a hand on Emily again.
Well, except maybe with love and the odd pleasant surprise. But thats another story.
