“Nothing,” Daniel drawls, spearing a tomato with his fork. “Just that Gianna and I arestill marriedand I don’t know that I like mywifegoing out getting drunk in the city with a known hussy.”
“Excuse me! I’m sitting right here!”
Tony goes to speak on my behalf again, but I cut him off.
“Myfamilydon’t need to be okay with what I’m doing,” I snap, slamming down my fork. “I can do what-ever the hell I want to do. No one owns me, I’m twenty-eight years old forChrist’s sake! And don’t speak about Anna like that!” My chest heaves. “We maytechnicallybe married, but that went out the window for me when I found outyouwere fucking someone else!” I stab my finger towards Daniel’s chest, as if there’s any question who I’m talking about. “I guess in your eyes I’m the only one of us that has to abide by our wedding vows!”
I’m so angry right now I can barely think straight.
Mum chooses that moment to re-enter the dining room. “Gianna, what are you yelling about in here?”
I look past her to see if Dad is joining us, but he doesn’t show, which makes me even angrier. Daniel’s driven my father out of his own family lunch! Mum, sensing this reunion isn’t going as well as she hoped it would, tries to diffuse the situation by dragging Tony into a conversation with Daniel. I stare at my plate and attempt to calm down.But how dare he come in here like he owns the place and practically call me a slut in front of my family!Tony doesn’t even pretend to make an effort as Mum directs the conversation towards football, which was previously a pretty lively topic amongst the two. After a few minutes of stunted conversation, the only noises in the room come from forks scraping across plates and the news anchor’s voice floating in from the tv in the kitchen. I don’t speak another word as I continue to seethe over Daniel’s audacity to accusemeof being a cheater. Tension hangs so heavy in the air I can taste it.
“That was delicious as always, Mrs M,” Daniel says when he’s finished, having reverted back to his pleasant facade. He places his cutlery down neatly on his empty plate. This was always the part where the boys would retire to the couch to watch whatever football game was on TV while Mum served dessert and I helped clean up. Today, no one moves an inch,except Mum, who pats Daniel on the hand in thanks for his compliment.
“Tony, help me clear the table,” Mum says, standing to collect the plates. Tony doesn’t move and I realise he’s waiting for my go-ahead. While I appreciate his support, I know I have to face Daniel alone at some point and it may as well be now while there’s other people in the house. I nod my head in silent approval and Tony picks up a dish and follows Mum out of the room, throwing Daniel a warning glare before he disappears through the door.
Daniel and I stare at each other for a few moments, and I see his mask slipping now that we no longer have an audience. I’m reminded of the last time we were alone together, and a cold shiver runs down my spine.
You’re not alone. He can’t touch you here.
“I can see you wasted no time slutting yourself about,” he leers, leaning back in his seat and stretching an arm across the back of the empty chair next to him. “Should have known Anna would stick her claws in at the first chance possible.” He then casts his gaze around my face once again and wrinkles his nose in disgust. “You look like a dirty whore.”
Ah, there’s my Daniel.
“Even if I was a dirty whore,” I retort, surprising even myself, “I wouldn’t touch you again with a ten-foot pole.”
I never would have said that to Daniel six months ago. I would have taken his insults quietly. In fact, I’m actually surprised I had the courage back then to leave him.
“Whoareyou fucking, then?” he asks with a menacing grin that doesn’t touch his cold eyes. That grin, so familiar, makes my hands tremble. I shove them in my lap. Daniel notices and grins wider, getting a kick out of knowing he still affects me, no doubt. Part of me wants to throw mynight with the stranger in his face, but a greater part of me wants to keep that night to myself.
That night wasn’t fuelled by revenge, but Daniel will paint it that way. Also, I admit, a part of me is actually scared about how Daniel would react to me being with another man. Even though we’re separated, and I’ve done nothing wrong, I know Daniel won’t see it that way.
“If Iwassleeping with someone, my ex-husband would be the last person I’d swap notes with,” I reply as casually as I can.
Daniel’s brows rise marginally as he inspects my face. It hits me then that he was expecting an outright denial.He doesn’t think I would touch another man.Both fear and satisfaction surge through me.
“Ex? Don’t remember signing any divorce papers,” he drawls, cocking his head to the side. Yes, because I haven’t had my meeting with the divorce lawyer yet. But I need there to be at least ten kilometres and a locked door between us when Daniel finds out aboutthat.
“Which means,” he continues, interrupting my thoughts, “that if youwereto fuck another man, it would becheating.”
A barking laugh escapes my throat before I can stop it.How dare he!The absolute nerve on this man, to accusemeof cheating when was the one burying his dick inside other women while I was at home crying over endless negative pregnancy tests! Anger curls hot and unstoppable in my gut, but I swallow it down, desperate not to let even a drop of it free. He doesn’t deserve my anger, or anything at all from me anymore.
“We’ve been separated for six months,” I say through gritted teeth. There’s no way he’s been celibate since I left either, but I guess his logic only applies to me, as usual.
“We’re on a little break, not divorced. You’re still mine, Gianna.”
A spark of light catches on Daniel’s wrist. As my gaze zones in on the familiar gold Rolex, I feel the heavy, cold touch of its weight pressing against the hollow of my throat. My hand flies to my neck, grasping at the pressure that isn’t really there. Daniel, tracking my movements and reading the sudden flare of panic on my face, smirks with cruel understanding.
I push air past the tightening of my throat.
You’re not alone. He can’t touch you here.
“What the hell are you doing here, Daniel?” I manage to gasp. “Trying to get to me through my mum won’t work. I’m done with our marriage. I’m done with you.”
Daniel rests his forearms on the table and leans in towards me. The smirk vanishes from his face, forcing a fresh wave of panic through me. His blue eyes bore into mine as he regards me coolly.
“You don’t get to tell me when this is done,” he says, voice low and menacing. “I’ve given you time to get over what happened, and now it’s time to come home before you really do something stupid. Enough is enough.”
