Episode. 2
718 Words
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*THE WIFE WHO NEVER FOUGHT BACK*
_by Ilyasu H.S_
*Chapter 2: THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO ASK*
_∼1900 words_
*LONDON. KENSINGTON TOWNHOUSE. 24 HOURS AFTER DIVORCE PAPERS*
The house was too quiet.
Damien sat at the dining table.
Two plates. Set for two.
Habit.
The jollof was cold.
Zara was gone.
He called his PA. "Where is Mrs. Hartley?"
"Sir, she moved out. To a flat in Peckham.
She said not to contact her unless it’s legal."
He hung up.
Stared at the empty chair.
For 3 years he had everything.
A wife who never complained.
A home that was always warm.
And he never once said "thank you."
Now he had £4 Billion.
And cold jollof.
*HOT: DAY 3 - THE FIRST c***k*
Damien didn’t do groceries.
Damien didn’t do laundry.
Damien didn’t do... feelings.
But at 7PM his stomach hurt.
Not from hunger. From silence.
He walked to the kitchen.
Opened the fridge. Empty.
Opened the cupboards. Her spices were gone.
He googled: "how to make jollof rice".
2 hours later: burnt rice, smoke alarm,
and £5000 of kitchen repairs.
He called the one person he could.
"Mother."
"Damien? What’s wrong?"
"I... I think I made a mistake."
A long pause.
"Took you 3 years to see it, son."
*HISTORY LESSON #1: HOW HE WAS RAISED*
Damien’s father died when he was 12.
His mother told him: "Hartleys don’t feel. Hartleys provide."
So he provided.
Money. Houses. Security.
Never love. Love was a liability.
Until a 25-year-old girl from Lagos
taught him what provision _with_ presence looked like.
*SWEET: WEEK 2 - THE CHASE BEGINS*
*ATTEMPT 1: MONEY*
He sent £50,000 to her account.
Note: _For groceries._
She sent it back.
Note: _"I have a job now. Thank you, Mr. Hartley."_
*ATTEMPT 2: APOLOGY*
He showed up at her Peckham flat.
Flowers. Apology speech.
She opened the door in scrubs. Nurse uniform.
"Damien. I’m late for shift. Please don’t."
Closed the door.
*ATTEMPT 3: HELP*
He found out her hospital was underfunded.
Donated £2 Million anonymously.
Next day: News headline.
*"MYSTERIOUS DONOR SAVES PECKHAM A&E"*
Zara texted: _"Was this you? Don’t."_
*THE TWIST: THE HOSPITAL NIGHT*
2AM. January. Snow.
Damien collapsed.
Not physically. Panic attack.
First one in his life.
Board meeting went bad. £200 Million loss.
He was alone. In his £10 Million penthouse.
And he couldn’t breathe.
He didn’t call his doctor.
He didn’t call his mother.
He called her.
Zara picked up on ring 3.
"Damien? What’s wrong?"
Voice sleepy but steady.
"I... I can’t..."
20 minutes later she was there.
No questions.
Sat on the floor next to him.
Held his hand.
"Breathe with me. In. Out. Like we practiced."
When he could talk again:
"How did you know what to do?"
"Because I watched you," she said.
"For 3 years. Even when you weren’t watching me."
She stayed until sunrise.
Made tea. Left before he woke.
On the counter: a note.
_"You’re going to be okay. Love, Your Wife."_
She crossed out "Wife". Wrote "Friend".
*END OF CHAPTER 2*
*1 MONTH LATER*
Damien did something he’d never done.
He asked.
He showed up at Peckham A&E with takeout.
Not for her. For the staff.
"I heard you’re understaffed," he said.
"I brought dinner."
Zara watched from the nurse’s station.
He looked tired. Human.
After shift she walked him out.
"Why are you here, Damien?"
He looked at the ground. The Ice King.
"Because I’m tired of eating alone."
Pause.
"And I’m tired of pretending I don’t need you."
Zara’s heart broke. And healed.
"That’s not in the contract."
"I know," he said. "That’s why I’m asking."
He held out his hand. Not to sign.
To hold.
"Can I... take you to dinner?
As two people. Not husband and wife.
Just... Damien and Zara?"
Zara looked at his hand.
3 years of obedience.
3 years of choosing him.
Maybe it was time he chose back.
She took his hand.
"Yes."
*TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 3: DINNER FOR TWO*
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*WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW:*
1. *POWER SHIFT*: She’s not chasing. He is.
2. *HEALING*: He’s learning to ask, not command
3. *ROMANCE*: First real date loading...
4. *TENSION*: Will she trust him again?
women are going to SCREAM at this chapter ðŸ˜
*From "Sign here" to "Can I take you to dinner?"*
- Writer
