My Ex-wife, My Destination

Present TimeBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Luke’s P. O. V.

I still remember the day after protecting her, how I treated her with cruelty just to show myself that I hated her and didn’t care for her.

Flashback

Five Years Ago

I stand under the shower, loathing myself for getting soft with Daisy last night. I didn’t know what happened to me when I saw her drowning in the water. Although I have a soft spot for Daisy, I can’t show it to her.

She deserves one thing, and that is my hatred. I can’t be soft with her like before. Just as Olivia cheated on me, she cheated on my best friend, Max. Because of Daisy, Max died in a car accident. Although I care for Daisy, I’ll never forgive her for snatching my best friend away.

Whenever I even think about forgiving Daisy, I feel like I’m betraying Max.

All women wear the mask of innocence to hide their wickedness and fool men. I can’t let Daisy make me the person I was before, someone who trusted women. No matter what, I can’t fall for her facade and won’t let myself break again.

We returned from the yacht to my mansion early in the morning. As we entered the room, I went to take a shower, leaving Daisy alone.

I’m still not aware of who pushed Daisy into the water last evening, but I’m certain the person wanted to harm me, not her. I’ll find out and won’t let that person get away with it.

***

I stand in front of the mirror in my dressing room, calling out for Daisy to help me with my tie. A frown appears on my face when she doesn’t respond.

“Daisy…” As I return to the room, I halt when I see her engrossed in writing in her diary. She looks so beautiful with a smile on her face, lost in her thoughts, her hair tucked into a messy bun. I can’t take my eyes off her.

Luke, just stop staring at her. This is the right time to correct last night’s mistake. Shout at her for not listening to you. Treat her the way she deserves. Don’t let your emotions weaken you.

Yes, I will never let her know what I truly feel for her because she doesn’t deserve it.

I march towards her and grab her diary, causing her to look at me in confusion.

“Daisy!” I bark, my voice laced with anger as I tower over her. “How many times do I have to tell you to listen to me?”

“Luke-”

“I don’t want your excuses, Daisy,” I say, fixing my dark gaze on her. “I think after last night, you have forgotten your place.” My tone is cold, devoid of any warmth or kindness.

She shakes her head, tears trickling down her cheeks, melting my heart, but I can’t show her.

I turn towards the drawer and take out the lighter from it, causing her eyes to widen in fear.

“No. Luke. You can’t do this.”

Ignoring her protests, I hold the lighter close to her diary. “This is what happens when you disobey me,” I growl.

“No…” she begs, sobbing. “Luke, please… don’t do this.”

Listening to her screams, I feel like dropping the lighter, but making my heart of steel, I ignite the lighter with a flick of my thumb. She sheds tears of agony as she watches her thoughts and memories go up in flames. I can see the pain and anguish in her eyes, but I harden my heart, refusing to show any mercy.

As I drop her burning diary on the floor, she kneels and tries to stop it from burning with her bare hands.

I feel a pang of guilt seeing her condition, and my heart urges me to stop her from hurting herself. However, I remind myself that she deserves it.

“You brought this upon yourself, and you deserve this.” After saying this, I turn to leave because I know if I stay here any longer, I’ll weaken.

Her sobs intensify, echoing in the room, and a lone tear trickles down my cheek as I exit. She may never understand why I did what I did, but it’s better this way. I can’t let her get too close to me.

I’ll continue to be cold and cruel, to punish her, even though every fibre of my being longs to hold her close and confess the truth. But I can’t. Not now, never.

***

Daisy’s P. O. V.

“Yesterday, I was over the moon that Luke risked his life to save me.” I gulp down the entire glass of alcohol to suppress the heartache before slamming the glass back on the bar counter of the club. “And now, I’m shattered.”

As always, Sofia advises, “Daisy, it’s high time. You must look beyond Luke.” She sits on the stool beside me.

I know I should look beyond him, but I can’t. It’s not that easy.

“Sofi, I can’t.” I shake my head as tears trickle down my cheeks. “And he is taking advantage of it.”

She places her hand on my shoulder. “Please, Daisy. I can’t see you suffering every day. It’ll be difficult at first, but you’ll get better with time. Divorce that bastard and move on.”

I bite my lower lip to stifle my cry. The pain in my chest feels unbearable. Divorce Luke? The thought alone sends a wave of anguish crashing over me. Despite everything, I can’t imagine a life without him. He has become such an integral part of my existence that the idea of severing ties with him feels like tearing my heart out.

Whatever he’s done, I still can’t bring myself to hate him. I’ve tried to hate him, to resent him for all the ways he’s hurt me, but beneath the anger and betrayal, there’s still a flicker of love. A love that refuses to die, no matter how hard I try to extinguish it.

“But what if there’s still a chance to bring him back?” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. “What if, deep down, he still cares for me?”

Sofia gives me a sympathetic look. “Daisy, sometimes we must accept some people are just too broken to be fixed. Luke may never change, no matter how much you love him.” She grasps my wrist and shows me the burn marks on my hands, still fresh from trying to save my diary from burning. “See what he has done to you, Daisy? He’s not worth your love or your tears.”

I look down at the burn marks, and flashes of Luke’s cruelty cross my mind, causing fresh tears to trickle down my cheeks. In the morning, I was so happy because, for the first time after our marriage, Luke became soft with me. I was so lost in sharing my happiness with my diary that I didn’t listen to him, and he punished me for that. Although I begged him to stop, he burned my diary to ashes in front of my eyes.

How can he be so heartless?

But today, I’ll make him spit out the truth of his hatred and cruelty towards me. It’s time to confront him and demand answers.

As I stand up from the stool, Sofia enquires, concerned, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going home. Today, I’ll confront Luke and demand the truth,” I answer, my head spinning because of the alcohol.

“Wait… Daisy.” Sofia tries to stop me, but I stumble out of the club, determined to know what I did to deserve his hatred.

Flashback Over

Present Time

I didn’t know the night I got drunk was going to change my entire life.