Love in Reverse

Chapter Two: Leave her?

A black sedan furiously drove through the evening highway mimicking its owner's internal conflict. Peter, utterly frustrated, sigh and gripping the steering wheel a couple times as soon as he entered the car. He couldn't fathom how he felt witnessing his wife's crazy tantrums.

Although, he couldn't deny her for acting like that. ‘But why would she overreact to something trivial like that?’ He thought.

He watches the wilting bouquet of flowers perching on the passenger seat and feels another rush of frustration upon seeing it. Earlier that day, he was hoping to make things clear for his wife and make it up for her. So he spent an effort rescheduling his appointments and asked his assistant to buy a bouquet of flowers—roses specifically— because that's what Dani would love.

He was smiling when he got up to his car and excited to see his wife’s smiling face as well but what he doesn't expect is to spend another round of quarrelling.

‘This should be a night where I could make it up to her.’ He thought. ‘What a waste.’

After a while, out of frustration that clouded his mind. Peter didn't know how he got his way to Teresa’s apartment—his apartment because he was the one who paid for it. Either way, Peter makes his way to her room and takes a long deep breath before he knocks two times.

He can hear a clicking sound and eventually the door swung open and a woman wearing nothing but a thin layer of fabric of what could’ve been a night gown appeared in front of Peter.

Shocks plastered on her face, “Peter? Why are you here in the middle of the night?” She gasped as she looked at Peter's right hand, "You are bleeding!”

Peter looked at his hand unconsciously and was also surprised to see his hands were bloody red. He didn't even notice that he scratched himself for breaking the glass out of frustration and completely abandoned his well being.

Teresa, nurse Peter inside the apartment and let himself perched on the sofa in the living room where she treated him. Peter looked like a confused child while he was being treated with Teresa. He had always been mesmerized by her brown hair and hazel eyes that he instantly compelled her to help when she first arrived at the city.

Six months ago, Peter met her when she was in the cafe shop he always went to when grabbing for coffee. He witnessed how utterly distressed she was at the moment and asked if she was okay. The woman smiled at him and that made his heart flutter for a while that he almost lost the grip of himself.

From that moment on, he felt pity on her and eventually he helped her find a job around the city and they became good acquaintances where he would always rant to her about his thoughts. For him, she is the only person who could understand how he felt and was completely heard that he never once experienced.

He was concerned about her well-being because his wife constantly confronted her and that made him feel guilty. That also made him go mad at Daniella for not understanding the situation. How could she? When everything she wants was given to her. The reason he's keeping her is because of his wife.

After his mother passed away, his life was controlled and dictated by his father. All his actions are monitored, feeling like he was shackling his way to life. He was very furious about it and even more when he found out that Daniella—the girl he once treated as a younger sister— conspired with his father for a marriage. Locking him all completely. But now that he owns the company and his father has no more power to control him, he can't allow anyone anymore to go against his free will.

After treating his wound Teresa thought to offer him a glass of champagne that she prepared in advance if he would ever come to visit. Never thought that would come in early. She was smiling when she she return to the kitchen and felt a triumph jump as she hold two glass and a champagne on her hand.

“What happened Peter? Did you have another fight with your wife?" She asked.

Peter didn't answer and was still momentarily lost in thought. He can't deny how utterly disappointed he was when his well-thought out plan was a disaster he never wished to happen. When he looked at Teresa and met her gaze, for a moment felt utterly compelled to disclose everything to her, but something was pulling him to say no. Instead, he remains silent.

Teresa cares his face tracing the defined jawline, “You know you can always confide with me, Peter."

He felt a rushing feeling he couldn't fathom when her hands were on his face. Something unsettling. So he avoided her touch.

“You can leave her if you want Peter, you have every right to do so." She continues.

And something boiled in Peter’s blood as soon as those words reached his ears. ‘Leave? My wife?’ He thought. Never once crossed his mind on leaving her, sure, he didn't love her but she was his friend once before they married each other. They were very close and they shared a bond like no other. He couldn't let another man touch her.

Peter stood up and sighs. His inside is in turmoil. He is utterly distressed in a moment and he thought that maybe, coming here would ease something but somehow the feeling is unsettling.

“Coming here was a mistake,” He said.

He walks through the door, not giving another glance to Teresa who is shocked about the event. Eventually he halted as Teresa’s hands clasped on his and that made him look at her.

“Peter, is something wrong? You know you can stay here as long as you like, it was yours to begin with.” She uttered, hoping that would make him stay.

But Peter made up his mind. He doesn't want to spend another second here and for the first time, he thought about his wife.

Without any second thought he removed his hands from her gripped and made his way out of the apartment. Leaving Teresa infuriated that her plan for tonight is ruin.

‘Patience, Teresa, patience. He will soon leave that leech and you can have him all you want.’ She thought and smile.

Meanwhile, Peter was once again in his car raking his hair into a mess. Even his suit was a mess. His tie is crooked and loose and two button was unbuckle on his shirt. Every turn of events tonight made him feel completely distressed.

He rang his phone and call for his assistant. After a while a voice can be heard.

[Good evening sir, is something the matter?] His assistant, Mike, asked over the phone.

“Prepare my room at the office, oh and while on your way, check on Daniella in the house.”

[Yes sir, I will.] His assistant replied.

The thought of leaving Daniella somehow made him unsettled and he can't help himself to be worried about his wife.