**Diary Entry**
I saw the bruise under my daughters eye, and with one phone call, I made sure her husbands life would never be the same.
Emily stood in the doorway, greeting us with her usual cheerful smile. Only the dark shadow beneath her eye betrayed the truth she refused to speak about.
“Mum, its nothing, dont worry,” she said quickly, noticing my lingering stare.
Margaret sighed deeply. “Its your life, love. You have to live it”
Her father, Thomas, didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He walked slowly to the window and stared blankly outside, as if he hadnt heard Emily muttering something about tripping in the dark.
“I just stumbled last night. Honestly, Mum, everythings finewith me and with James!”
Fine? Emily remembered perfectly what had happened. James, always so quick to anger, hadnt just shouted at her. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown so hard it tore at the collar.
“What, you stupid cow, dont you remember who kept you alive when you were nothing?!” hed screamed, shaking her. “Forgotten how I dragged you back from those pubs when you ran off with that Daniel? Forgotten who loved you, you ungrateful bitch? I carried you in my arms!”
And thena sharp, brutal slap. Stars flashed before her eyes, pain seared through her, and James kept roaring obscenities.
“Yes, love, I understand. Tripping in the dark,” Mum murmured, though she knew exactly what had happened.
And she felt guilty. She was the one whod pushed Emily into marrying James. She was the one whod driven Daniel away, convinced he was a bad influence.
“And your wardrobe, love, judging by the look of things, has fists,” Margaret said pointedly, glaring at her son-in-law.
Thomas never turned from the window. He stepped onto the balcony to smoke. Unlike his wife, hed never approved of James. The man was hollowa selfish, spoiled brat from a wealthy family with a flashy car and connections. But rotten inside.
Now that rot had surfaceda bruise under my daughters eye.
Of course, Thomas couldve grabbed James by the collar and given him a proper thrashing. But that wouldve only caused a scene. So he stayed silent. Barely holding back.
He knew how to handle this differently. And he already had a plan.
Hed spent a long time on the phone out there.
Meanwhile, Emily made her mother tea, chatting about nothing. Half an hour later, her parents left.
James, whod braced for shouting and drama, finally relaxed. He slumped onto the sofa, cracked open a beer, and even smirked. To him, their silence meant approval. Family sticks together, bruises are just part of life. No one crosses him. Ever.
“See, Em? Told you itd blow over,” he drawled, satisfied. “Your parents are decent. Not like you Yesterday, you bloody wound me up! So I had a few drinkswhats the big deal?”
He took a swig and reached for crisps.
His relief didnt last.
Not even half an hour later, someone knockednot rangon the door. Firm. Authoritative. The sound made James freeze mid-sip.
He opened the door a crack, peered through and paled.
Daniel stood there. His rival. Emilys ex. The one whod nearly married her before walking away. Tall, confident, in a sharp suitthe kind of man who made women weak and men want to punch him.
“What dyou want?” James growled, opening the door just enough to sneer.
“Move,” Daniel said calmly, shoving past him with a shoulder.
James stumbled like a ragdoll.
Emily shot up from the sofa, eyes wide.
“Daniel?”
“Pack your things,” he said briskly. “Youre coming with me. My place, your parents, wherever. But youre not staying with this waster.”
“Who you calling a waster, you prick?” James spat, but stayed rooted in the corner. He had his reasons to fear Daniel.
“I called you, Jimmy boy,” Daniel smiled coolly. “Didnt want to interfere. But when your father-in-lawa decent bloke, by the wayrang me and said youd hit her? Game over.”
“What what are you on about?!” James croaked.
“Not my style to fight dirty,” Daniel chuckled. “But the space your club leases? Owned by a mate of mine. A very good mate. Youll be getting noticeyour lease wont be renewed. Got it? Its already on your desk.”
James slumped like a deflated balloon.
“Oh, and those unpaid rent hikes from six months ago? The ones you forgot to read? Penalties, interest Want me to name the figure?”
Daniel leaned in.
“And we both know you cant pay it. Shouldve spent less on booze and birds.”
James crumpled into a chair, drained.
“This this is a setup!” he wheezed. “Youyou planted those papers!”
“Think what you want,” Daniel shrugged. “You could sue. But your lawyer? Resigned. Or did you sack him? Wholl defend you now? Your barman with the nose ring?”
James gaped, wordless.
“Emily, lets go. Dont bother with your things. Ill buy you whatever you need. Whats here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, wait,” 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 man who did it. Everything else is too slow.”
Daniel held out his hand, and she took it.
“You mad bastards!” James roared. “This is my house! My wife!”
“Wife?” Daniel scoffed. “Youre the husband who hits her, then cowers behind a beer and telly? Youre not a man. Youre a joke. Loud, bitter nothing. Cant even swing at me properly.”
James sputtered.
“Or maybe youd like to take this to court? Explain the wardrobe bruise? Or how your club failed because you drank instead of worked, riding your dads coattails?”
Emily followed Daniel without looking back. Only at the door did she pause.
“Sorry, James. Goodbye.”
“Piss off, then!” he snarled. “Yeah go on!”
And they left.
Two days later, James sat in an empty flat. His club was shut. Piles of eviction notices and debt demands covered the table.
Daniel wasnt just an ex. He was an ex with power. And hed struck perfectlyswift, brutal, flawless.
Back at her parents, peace settled. Her mother cooked, her father read the paper.
Then Emily walked in.
“Hi,” she said.
“Whereve you been, love? James looking for you?” her father asked sternly.
“Ive been with Daniel.”
“So you left James?”
“Yes. Im done.”
Her mother clasped her hands. Her father just nodded.
“Good. Bloody good, love. And know this,” he grinned, “if that tosser comes near you again, Ill rearrange his face myself.”
“Dad did you call Daniel?”
“Course I did. Who else?” He winked. “Hes a good lad. And a proper businessmanunlike that one.”
“Thank God you left that idiot!” her mother burst out. “Forgive me, EmilyI nearly ruined your life. At least theres no children with him”
“Margaret, for heavens sake,” her father laughed. “But shes right. Youve done the right thing.”
Outside, Daniel leaned against his black Range Rover, smiling. He knew. No one would ever hurt Emily again.
Well, maybe with love and surprises. But thats a different story.
