HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

His words struck her like arrows. The injustice was biting at her. Each word’s sting sharper than the last.

“I-” Emma began but the words just wouldn’t come out. Was he really saying those words?

“Jared was right the first time,” he said.

The words sounded so much worse, and Emma gasped. Before she could prevent herself, her hand connected with his cheek.

Daniel made no attempt to deflect the blow and she watched him, with a feeling of disbelief. The clear marks of her fingers would definitely show on the left side of his face.

She regretted it instantly. She didn’t do things like this. She didn’t hit people. But it was too late to have second thoughts. It wasn’t the words that hurt the most; it was the expression on his face. The pain, fear and resignation that told her he meant every one of them. He was broken, afraid and angry-and he blamed her entirely.

She inhaled deeply, remembering his sudden change of attitude when they returned from his mom’s house the first time they went there. “Daniel, Was that why you ended… Things with me when we got back from your mom’s house back then? Was that why you started acting weird and distant? Because Jared said something to you? You believe him. You really think I wanted this? Have I given you any reason to think that I wanted your money?”

He didn’t reply. He just stood there and stared at her. But she didn’t need him to reply. The look on his face was enough answer for her. She nodded slowly, then she left him there. She walked to the door, pulled her keys from her purse and let herself in, not looking back to see whether Daniel was following her. Why should he? He thought she was some gold digger… After his money. He would probably be glad to be rid of her.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Upstairs, she swept her clothes from a drawer with one hand while ordering a cab from her phone with the other.

She took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe that he’d accused her of trapping him on purpose. She didn’t even know he felt trapped. She couldn’t believe that this man, with whom she’d felt so close just weeks before… Just weeks ago they were celebrating Christmas together, could believe her capable of deceiving him. She didn’t care how angry about that incident with Jared he was. He had no right to treat her like that.

“You are leaving”.

Daniel’s voice came from the door. She started guiltily and finally she turned and raised her eyes to his. Angry because she allowed herself to feel guilt even for a second, she hardened her gaze as she stared back at him.

“Of course I’m leaving.. What the hell do you expect? There’s no reason for me to stay.” she said. “And I won’t be here again, so I wanna ask you one last time… Get out of my room”.

He grinned and walked inside instead. Emma wanted to throw something at his stupid head.

“Let’s talk,” he said.

“Talk?” she asked. “Oh so now you wanna talk… I wanted to talk minutes ago, but you wouldn’t listen to me. You insisted on saying those things… Well, it’s a good thing you got all that off your chest. It must have been really hard, keeping all that inside.” She swallowed hard. Tears threatening to fall anytime soon. She wasn’t going to let him see her cry. She sat down on the bed, her legs becoming weak suddenly. “Go away, Daniel. I hate you” she said.

“I’m sorry, Emma. I shouldn’t have said all that. I was really upset. Come with me into the living room,” he said, holding his hand out to her. For a long moment she simply stared at his outstretched hand. She should refuse, but something in his voice made her comply and she slipped her hand into his much larger one.

He pulled her up from the bed and led her into the living room. Sitting on the couch, he pulled her down beside him. He ran an agitated hand through his hair. “I’ve been an ass and I’m sorry. You’re in no condition to bear this stress and pressure and I’ve only added to your burden.”

“It’s fine,” she said.

“Are you just saying that?” he asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “But I have to leave. I’m going to be okay. I don’t need this… My baby doesn’t need this… I’m leaving. I can’t stand being around you right now. I will take care of myself. And when the baby comes… We will figure this out… And like I told you before, it’s going to be on my terms. I see that I made the right decision before. This… Me coming to live here… Was never going to work out. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place”

He glared at her. “You’re pushing me out.” he said. His shoulders were up and his face tense. Emma looked away.

“We are going to find a way so that we are all happy. All three of us.” she said.

“And how exactly are we going to do that when you hold all the cards and get to call all the shots?” He almost hissed the words, and then sat back in the chair and crossed his arms.

“I don’t know what you want, Daniel,” Emma said.

“You know exactly what I want. I have been clear about it from the beginning”. He ground the words out through gritted teeth. “I want to be there. I want half the time, half the responsibilities. Half the holidays and Christmases. That’s right. And oh… Just so you know, you are sure as hell not leaving. You are staying right here with me. You know you can’t leave”

Emma ignored him. “Let’s start from the beginning,” she suggested. “I go into the hospital and the baby is born. When do you want to visit?”

“Visit? I don’t want to visit.” he said.

Was there nothing that they were going to be able to agree on? She wondered.

“I want to be there for the birth. I want to be a part of everything. I thought I’d made that clear.” he said.

She viscerally recoiled at the thought of it, of him seeing her groaning and exposed. “No way. I know we’re going to share a lot, for the rest of our lives, in fact. But can’t you grant me a little dignity? Of course you won’t, what’s the point? You already think I got pregnant on purpose.”

He winced. He hadn’t meant that. He was angry and he snapped. This whole baby stress was finally getting to him, and somehow he always found a way to screw things up between them.