+2
Budging In
I walked into the dining room and found Emerson already seated with dishes laid out before him. He was waiting, arms resting on the table, looking out toward the windows. I moved towards him and placed my hand on his shoulder, before sitting down on his right.
“You haven’t started eating yet?” I asked, surprised.
“How could I eat without the woman of the house?” he replied playfully, reaching for my hand across the table.
I leaned in, letting our fingers touch, as a smile crossed my face. His playful charm was always there, but now it felt different, there was a warmth that I hadn’t noticed before. Our eyes met, and I looked at him, feeling something settle between us.
We ate silently for a while, exchanging smiles and throwing each other knowing glances across the table. There was no need for words. The silence felt comfortable, even intimate. I felt happiness in that moment I hadn’t expected. A sense of peace that I had been craving for so long.
I was happy. I didn’t think I would ever use that word when I saw Rita’s message on Eric’s phone. But here I was smiling, happy…even if it was for a while. I was still happy. I just hoped it would last.
I should have known it was wishful thinking, because in the middle of lunch, Eric stomped into the house.
We could both hear his voice booming from the door as he called out for his father,
“Dad! Dad!”
Thomas was trying to calm him down, telling him he was going to call Mr. Blackwind, but Eric wasn’t having any of it. The doors opened and slammed, stairs. creaked as he ran up and down, and the food that was once appealing lost all its charm as we waited and dreaded his entrance.
After what felt like hours later, Eric finally walked into the dining room. Thomas was right behind him, calm and composed as always. He looked towards Emerson for guidance, and with a single nod, Emerson gave him permission to leave the three of us alone in the dining room. Thomas nodded and made himself scarce,
The moment Eric stepped into the room, his eyes pointed from his father to me, and his whole demeanour shifted. He was still dressed in his wedding tux, though now it was dishevelled, wrinkled, and stained.
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Budging In
He appeared to be either a little drunk or a lot angrier than usual. I had never seen him in this state before, I would have felt bad for him had he not hurt me so badly.
His gaze tried to pierce through me, just like it always had. That look, the one he used to make me back down, the one that forced me to apologize even when I had done nothing wrong. But today, that look had no effect on me. I didn’t feel threatened or scared at the least.
I wasn’t his anymore. We weren’t married anymore, and I wasn’t here to soothe or please him. He was going to have to learn to check himself.
I met his stare with a glare of my own, raising an eyebrow in defiance. His eyes darkened as he grew more furious. He turned his attention back to his father, pointing a finger towards me.
“What the hell is she doing here?” Eric shouted at his father.
Emerson leaned back in his chair, relaxing into it as though Eric’s outburst was nothing more than an inconvenience.
After a moment, he looked calmly at his son, not a trace of fear or anger in his gaze.
“What do you want, Eric? How can we help you?” Emerson asked, his voice calm. I didn’t miss how he used the word we instead of I.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Eric shouted, louder this time, his voice filled. with rage.
I widened my eyes at him. He looked crazed, more unhinged than I’d ever seen him. This was new for me.
Emerson pointed him with a glare, it looked like he hated having to do this, dealing with an annoying fly.
“You are in my house!” Emerson said slowly and calmly. He leaned forward in his chair, his face calm but with an
with an edge of authority.
“You grew up in this house, Eric. And you left this house when you got married. This is not your house anymore. You don’t live here. You know the rules of coming in’here. Stop shouting, and say what you want. As you can see, we’re in the middle of lunch. If you’re hungry, take a seat and eat. And shut up while You’re at it.
“I’m not here for fucking food!” Eric snapped with disdain. He shot an angry look my way. “I want to know what this bitch is doing here.” He said pointing his finger at me again.
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Fucking In
Emerson’s gaze hardened. His posture didn’t change, but there was an unmistakable. shift in the air.
“If you cannot talk to my fiancée with respect, I advise you to get out of my house before I have you thrown out.”
Eric’s face twisted in disbelief. “You’re going to throw me out because of this woman? Because of this skank?” His voice was filled with disbelief, but I could sense the desperation in his voice.
“Thomas,” Emerson called out calmly.
A few moments later, Thomas appeared at the door, awaiting his orders.
“Take him out of our sight,” Emerson commanded. Not leaving room for doubt or questions.
I had never seen anyone thrown out of the house before. I didn’t expect Emerson to say that, I was also caught off guard.
$ going
Thomas was old… he had been in the house for years. I wondered how he was to manage the order to take Eric out of the house, But before I could think too much about it, the air grew even more tense as two security guards appeared at the door, standing on either side of Eric.
Eric’s face shifted from rage to surprise, shock flickering in his eyes as he glanced between his father and me. Then, that surprise turned to pure hatred as he stared. directly at me.
He raised his hands, surrendering to the situation, his voice dropping.
“Okay, okay. I’m going. I’m leaving.” He turned to walk away, the guards following closely behind him.
As Eric reached the threshold, his father called after him, his voice filled with finality.
“Do not come back into this house if you do not know how to act like a Blackwind.”
Without another word, Eric disappeared from sight, escorted out of the house.
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