Chapter 2
1131 Words
Damien’s POV
She stared at me, utterly surprised.
"Pardon?" she asked.
“ Please marry me,” I repeated.
And before I knew it, I felt her hand hit my cheek so hard.
"You must really think I'm a fool!" she said. "After ten years, Damien! And you think you can come back into my life, the life you once ruined, and ask me to marry you?"
"Mia, I—" , but she cut me off.
"Don't," she said, pointing a finger at me. "Not even a word, Damien. I wonder, what gave you the audacity to ask me to marry you? Have you forgotten how you cheated on me with my step sister? or….” She went on and on
I rolled my eyes. 'She's really going to bring this up.' I thought
"I was wrong, Mia, and foolish. I sincerely regret ever doing that to you," I said.
She laughed hard, wiping tears from her eyes. "Regret? Damien, you accused me of cheating, with your best friend! You made me the villain in front of my family while you played the victim and now you come here apologizing, I don't need your regret."
"Can you please at least hear me out?" I asked.
"No, you listen to me!" she screamed at the brink of tears, as she slapped me again and again. I caught her wrists.
"I know I deserve this, Mia. I deserve even worse. But you're making a scene," I said quietly, nodding towards the staring crowd.
"Bastard," she cursed, as I let go of her hand.
"You will pay for all of it, Damien," she said through gritted teeth. "Every single pain! Every torture you made me go through. I will make sure of it.” she said as she walked away.
My phone buzzed, and Ethan’s name lit up the screen. I sighed because I knew why he was calling. I knew better than to answer it otherwise he did just continue with the call. I picked it up.
“I’m heading home with the car,” I said flatly, cutting him off before he could speak. Without waiting for a response, I ended the call and walked to the car.
As I started the engine, my eyes caught sight of Mia in her car a few spaces away. Her face was buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking. She was crying.
I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her, it gave me a strange satisfaction. That despite her words or the angry slaps, there was something that told me she wasn’t entirely over me.
“She’ll come around,” I muttered to myself, as I drove.
The ten-minute drive felt longer than it should have. By the time I arrived, Ethan was already standing outside, arms crossed, waiting like some disapproving parent.
“You’re late,” he said, as soon as I pulled over.
“Fifteen minutes late,” I shot back, brushing past him as I got out of the car.
“How was the party?” he asked, his voice casual, but I knew what he was really asking.
“It was fine. Ran into some old faces. Becky’s back in town, working on a project before she heads out again,” I said, deliberately keeping it vague.
“And Mia? Did you manage to talk to her about it?”
“Yeah, I did.” I said.
“And?”
“With time, I think I can convince her,” I said.
Ethan turned to look at me in disbelief.
“Time? You don’t have time, Damien. You need to speed this up.”
Before I could respond, he took his car key from my hand and got into his car.
“I don’t need anyone to remind me how little time I have left,” I muttered, as he drove off.
I needed a drink.
Staying home felt pointless. I knew sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight, not with this state of mind. So I decided to head out to the nearest pub.
---
The pub was poorly lit and smelled of cheap beer. Thankfully, unlike other days it wasn't filled up.
I slid into a stool at the counter and ordered a whiskey, taking it at one go before signaling for another. The burn in my throat was a welcome distraction and I could already feel the effect of the beer
“Miserable night, huh?” the bartender asked, sliding the second drink across the counter.
“You have no idea,” I muttered, taking another sip.
While thinking of every stupid decision that had led me to this moment
“Damien,” someone called out
By the sound of the voice I already know who it was. I turned slowly, and there they were, the two men I have been desperately trying to avoid for weeks. The loan sharks.
One of them, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, moved closer, his lips curling into a smile. The other, leaner but no less intimidating, leaned casually against the bar, as if he owned the place.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Scarface said, as he drank my beer
“I’ve be…en busy,” I said, trying not to appear nervous.
“Busy?” The lean one chuckled
“Funny, because your payments haven’t been busy. You’re overdue, Damien. Way overdue.”
“I just need a little more time,” I said quickly. “I’m working on something—”
Scarface grabbed me by the collar, yanking me out of my seat. “Time’s up, Damien. You think we’re running a charity here?”
“I’ll get the money! just give me time.” I said while struggling to remove his hand from my collar. “I …just need a few more days, please!”
The lean one leaned in, his cold eyes locking onto mine. “A few more days, huh? You’ve been singing the same tune for months. Do we look like a joke to you?” he said as he punched my face.
Scarface held me as I stumbled backwards. “If you don’t have the money by the end of the week, Damien, you’re dead and we definitely won't be in the mood to listen to your stories.”
“ No matter where you hide, we will find you. Remember that” the lean one said as he slapped my cheeks.
They shoved me back into my seat, my heart pounding as they turned to leave.
“Enjoy your drink,” the lean one said over his shoulder.
I sat there, frozen, as I saw them walk out of the door.
The end of the week.
I had until the end of the week to fix everything.
But how?
- Writer
