What Loving You Cost Me

Chapter 5- What Loving you Cost me

Elizabeth

It had been two days and I’ve been trying not to think about him.

And this was all thanks to the woman he brought into this house.

I let the water cascade down my body as I got ready.

Hayley was coming by later to style me for the gala she had invited me to. My first night out in four years. I had missed my youth being a hostage in a loveless marriage.

In just two days, Hayley had become the closest thing I had to a friend. She sent me videos and podcasts about women choosing themselves. She looked at me like I was someone worth saving. And for the first time in four years, I started to believe it.

When I stepped out of the shower, Daniel was already in my room.

He never came there anymore.

"You're not going," he said. No hello. No asking how I was. Just an order.

I pulled my robe tight. "Hayley already asked you. You told her it was fine."

"I changed my mind." He paced by the bed. "The sister lie is one thing, but parading you around a gala where someone might recognize you? It's risky. You're going to tell her you have a headache and stay home."

I looked at him in the mirror. He looked stressed, but I didn't feel the urge to fix it for him. For the first time, I felt a slow-boiling rage under my skin.

"Risky for who, Daniel? For you?" I turned to face him. "We haven't even talked about the fact that you forced me to be your half-sister to a woman you're supposedly marrying. You're ignoring that massive lie, but you're coming at me because she wants to take me out for one night?"

His eyes darkened.

"Don't play games with me, Elizabeth."

"Games?" I cut him off. "You brought her here. You threw us together, and now you're blaming me because we got along? You can't have it both ways."

He stepped toward me. "Elizabeth, I am reaching a point in my life I don't want to miss. I can't afford a single mistake right now."

"Then divorce me."

The room went silent.

"Just get it over with," I continued, my voice shaking. "Go be with Hayley. Be free. I'm tired, Daniel. I'm so tired of pretending."

"Everything I do is for us," he hissed.

"Stop." My voice broke, but I didn't look away. "You said I had to prove I love you. Fine. I'll keep your secret. I'll play your sister. I will keep your secret because clearly your business is more important to you than our marriage or me."

I took a breath.

"But you need to prove to me that I'm not being lied to. You let me be. I'm tired of the constant reminder of the pain you put me through every day."

I was crying now, but I didn't care. This was the first time I had ever stood my ground, and I saw genuine surprise on his face. He was waiting for me to crumble, but that girl was slowly erasing.

"You can't do this, Elizabeth," he said, his voice dropping to that low, controlling tone. "I am all you have."

I laughed. A jagged, ugly sound.

"I used to believe that." I wiped my face with my hand. "I was so blinded and stupid. I thought you were my whole world. But I'm tired, Daniel."

My breath hitched from the sobs.

I walked to him until we were inches apart.

"I gave you my all just for you to say 'I love you' to someone else." I looked deep into his eyes and saw nothing. Devoid of any emotion.

"I do not want the pain you cause me to be the death of me."

The tears ran down my face uncontrollably.

I walked past him and grabbed the dress Hayley had bought for me.

"So here it is. Either you divorce me, or you let me be. But tonight, I am going to that gala with my sister-in-law. And all you have to do is act like the brother you created."

My heart raced. This was so unlike him.

I expected him to yell. To grip my arm. To remind me again that he owned me and my entire existence.

But I didn't see that arrogance.

I saw nothing.

He just stood there.And then walked out.

It didn’t take long for Hayley to show up.

Hayley stood back, beaming with pride. "You look perfect," she said, finally turning me toward the mirror.

I didn't recognize the woman looking back. I hadn't touched makeup since high school because Daniel made it clear he preferred me natural which really just meant plain and invisible. But tonight,I felt different and my eyes finally had some spark in them.

"Thank you so much," I whispered, genuinely stunned.

Hayley just brushed it off like it was nothing.

"I’m so f*****g surprised your husband never let you wear makeup. What is this, the eighties?" She started pulling my dress out, already fully glammed up herself. She looked radiant in a deep red gown.

"Yeah," I said softly.

"And I’m honestly disappointed that Daniel allowed it," she added, her brow furrowing.

"Considering the fact that he has such major daddy issues..."

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. This was the first time I had ever heard about Daniel having dad issues. In four years of marriage, he had never once mentioned his family to me.

"He’s too busy to notice stuff like that," I said. "Plus, I never really tell him anything about my husband.”

Hayley rolled her eyes as she zipped up her own bag. "Let’s not talk about that dickhead of a husband... wait, I meant ex."

I actually laughed. It was so much funnier than it should have been. I was standing there watching Hayley insult her own fiancé, and she had absolutely no clue.

"So, you know what Adele would say," Hayley said, putting on a posh accent and winking at me. "Divorced, baby. Divorce!"

We both burst out laughing. And for a moment, I almost forgot why she was here.

Almost.

"Now let’s get ready for your first outing as the gorgeous woman that you are always meant to be!" she exclaimed.

Daniel was waiting for us downstairs in a full black tuxedo.

Hayley walked ahead of me, radiant and confident. But when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I felt his gaze land on me.

I was wearing a deep green dress that Hayley had picked out. It hugged every curve and revealed more cleavage than I had ever shown in my entire marriage. For a moment, no one spoke.

Hayley broke the silence first. "Okay, I'm not the only one taken aback," she said with a grin. "Daniel, close your mouth."

I couldn't meet his eyes.

Daniel blinked and cleared his throat, forcing himself to look at her. He muttered some stiff compliment about her red dress, but I didn't stay to hear it. I couldn't meet his eyes. I walked straight past him and climbed into the passenger seat, staring out the window until we pulled away.

If he said this two days ago ache in my chest would’ve lingered longer.

During the drive, every time I looked at the mirror, I caught Daniel’s eyes on me. He didn’t say a word, his jaw was clenched so hard I thought it might snap.

Tonight is going to be a long night.