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 cheerful smile. Only the dark, swollen eye betrayed the truth she refused to speak of.
“Mum, its nothing, reallydont fuss,” she said quickly, catching her mothers sharp gaze.
Eleanor Whitmore sighed. “Its your life, love. You must live it as you see fit…”
Her father didnt even acknowledge his son-in-law. He walked slowly to the window and stared blankly, as if deaf to his daughters muttered excuse about a cupboard and the dark.
“I just… tripped last night. Honestly, Mum, everythings fine with me and Edward!”
Fine? Marion remembered all too well what had happened. Edward, always simmering with rage, hadnt just shouted at her. When shed dared to say shed had enough, hed grabbed her dressing gown so violently the fabric tore.
“What, you stupid cow, dont you remember who kept you alive when you were throwing yourself at that Daniel?” hed snarled, shaking her. “Forgotten how I dragged you back from the pub when you ran off to him? Forgotten who loved you, you ungrateful little? I carried you in my arms!”
Thenthe punch. A proper, full-force blow. Stars exploded behind her eyes before the pain swallowed her whole. And Edward kept shouting, his words ugly and crude.
“Yes, love. Cupboard… dark,” her mother murmured, though she knew perfectly well what had happened.
And she felt sick with guilt. Shed been the one to push Marion into marrying Edward! Shed been the one to drive Daniel away, convinced he was a bad influence.
“And your wardrobe, dear, seems to have fists,” Eleanor said dryly, casting a pointed glance at her son-in-law.
Henry Whitmore never turned from the window. He stepped onto the balcony to smoke. Unlike his wife, hed never approved of Edward. The man was hollowarrogant, vapid. Yes, he came from moneya nice flat, a car, connections. But he was rotten inside.
And now the rot had surfaceda bruise on his daughters face.
Of course, Henry couldve grabbed Edward by the collar and slapped him senseless. But that would only have caused a scene. And hed held back… So he stepped outside instead.
He knew hed handle this differently. And he already knew how.
Hed spent a long time on the phone out there…
Meanwhile, Marion bought her mother a coffee, and they chatted about nothing. Half an hour later, her parents left.
Edward, whod braced for shouting and drama, finally relaxed. He slumped back on the sofa, cracked open a lager, and even smirked. To him, their silence meant approval. Family sticks together, and bruises? Just part of life. No one would cross him.
“See, Marion? Told you itd blow over,” he drawled, smug. “Your folks are sensible. Unlike you… Last night, you were asking for it!” He took a swig and reached for crisps.
His relief didnt last.
Half an hour later, someone knockedfirm, decisive. Not the doorbell. A knock that made Edward freeze mid-sip.
He peered through the peephole… and went pale.
Daniel stood there. His rival. Marions former sweetheart. The one whod nearly married her before stepping aside. Tall, handsome, confidentwearing an expensive coat and that infuriating smirk that made women swoon and men want to hit him.
“What dyou want?” Edward growled, opening the door just enough to glare.
“Out of the way,” Daniel said calmlythen shouldered past like Edward was nothing.
Edward stumbled back like a ragdoll.
Marion shot up from the sofa, eyes wide.
“Daniel”
“Pack your things,” he said simply. “Well go to mine, or your parents. But you dont need this failed lump.”
“Whore you calling failed?” Edward spatbut he stayed rooted in the corner like a coward.
He had his reasons to fear Daniel.
“I called you, Eddie boy,” Daniel said coolly. “Didnt want to interfere, but when Marions dada decent man, by the wayrang and said youd hit her? Well. I took over.”
“Whatwhat are you on about?” Edward croaked.
“Not like that, of course,” Daniel smirked. “But that club you rent? Belongs to a mate of mine. A very good mate. Youll be getting a noticeyour lease wont be renewed. Understand? Its already on your desk.”
Edward swayed like hed been punched.
“Plus, I did the mathssix months back rent. Remember how they said itd go up once you turned a profit? That was six months ago. The notices been on your desk foreveryou just never read it. Me and Mike kept quiet, let the debt pile up. Late fees, interest… Get it? You owe a lot. Should I name the figure?”
Daniel leaned in.
“And I know you havent got a penny to pay it. Shouldve spent less time drinking with your floozies.”
Edward crumpled like a deflated balloon.
“Thisthis is a set-up!” he wheezed.
“Think what you like,” Daniel shrugged. “You could sue. But your lawyer resignedor did you sack him? Wholl defend you now? Your bartender with the nose ring?”
Edward opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
“Marion, lets go. Dont bother packingIll buy you whatever you need. The rubbish here isnt worth keeping.”
“Daniel, wait,” Marion said, dazed. “This is all so… sudden. I dont understand”
“Sudden is taking a fist to the face and making excuses for the man who did it. Everything else is too slow.”
He held out his hand. She took it.
“Youve all lost it!” Edward shrieked. “This is my house! My wife!”
“Wife?” Daniel scoffed. “Youre the husband who hits her, then hides behind a beer and the telly? Youre not a man, Edward. Youre a joke. Loud, bitter… nothing. Cant even hit me properly.”
“But II” Edward stammered.
“Going to court? Tell them about the cupboard that bruised her? Or how your club failed because you drank instead of workingliving off Daddys connections?”
Marion followed Daniel without a backward glance. Only at the door did she pause.
“Sorry, Edward. Goodbye.”
“Piss off, then!” he snarled. “Finego!”
And they left.
Two days later, Edward sat in an empty flat. His club was closed. Papers demanding unpaid rent and debt notices littered the table.
Daniel hadnt just been an exhed been an ex with a plan. Waiting for the right moment to strike. And when he did, it was flawlessswift, brutal, and final.
Meanwhile, at her parents home, peace reigned. Her mother cooked, her father read the paper.
Then Marion walked in.
“Hello,” she said.
“Whereve you been, love? Edward bothering you?” her father asked, stern.
“I was… with Daniel.”
“So you left Edward?”
“Yes. For good.”
Her mother clasped her hands. Her father simply nodded.
“Good. Thats my girl. And remember,” he said, smiling, “if that wretch ever comes near you again, Ill knock his teeth in.”
“Dad… did you call Daniel?” Marion asked.
“Course I did. Who else?” her father winked. “Hes a good lad. And a proper businessmanunlike the other one.”
“Thank God you left that fool!” her mother burst out. “Forgive me, MarionI nearly ruined your life. At least youve no children with him…”
“Oh, Mum, listen to you!” her father laughed. “But the important thing is she knows nowshe made a mistake.”
Outside, Daniel leaned against his black Range Rover, smiling. He knewno one would ever hurt Marion again.
Well, perhaps with love, and pleasant surprises. But thats another story entirely.
