Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 50

For the upcoming week, Dariel was avoiding me. It was giving me a strange crushing sensation. Our home without our talks was painful, I was used to our bickering.

And this silence was killing me.

I didn’t expect this would affect him this deeply to the point he would start keeping his distance with me.

“Welcome-”

I was waiting for him in the hall, when he came, I tried to greet him happily but he stopped me like everyday.

“Missus Cannedy. I am busy.”

My jaw clenched when his cold tone came out. Using my words on me to hurt me.

‘Damn you, Jacey, you left but you stole my relationship.’ I thought angrily, watching him entering our room as I went after him.

“Dariel, please, are you going to remain angry with me forever?” I questioned sorrowfully, closing the door and walking to him.

He was about to take off his coat as I took it and moved to the front, opening his waistcoat.

He averted his gaze from mine, holding a stoic expression. Not his usual intense stare or smirk which pricked me.

“Don’t avoid me, please.” I whispered, tightening my grip over his waistcoat, pulling him closer.

He pulled away roughly, loosening his tie and moving back from me.

“Why? Talk to you so you could tell everyone and make a show?” He mocked.

The fact he was melting for me too and I hurt him was shattering his patience brick by brick. I could tell he was disheartened.

He was hurt…

“Dariel…” I called but he put his hand in the air to cut me off and walked away, leaving me alone.

“Enough, Missus Cannedy, I don’t want to hear anything.”

Narrowing my eyes, I opened my mouth to call him but to no avail. He won’t listen. He was stubborn as well after all.

Sighing, I shook my head, putting my hand on my waist. There was no point in talking to him, he would come to his own self on his own.

The following week, my patience ended, when he was giving me silent treatment and I was so done with him.

“Are you going to remain like this always? Stop it. Talk to me. Okay, I am sorry, I shouldn’t have talked to Jacey about us.” I hissed.

It was Sunday, he was going down the corridor and I was following him furiously but seemingly he was not paying heed.

“Talk to you? About what?” He sighed, stopping in his tracks, done with me following him like a ghost.

“Dariel, please…” I mumbled, coming closer.

He stopped and narrowed his eyes on me. Alarmed by his stern looks, I held the hem of my dress, forming my lips in a thin line.

Resting his hands in his pockets, he took a large step towards me, hovering over me. My throat dried when his jaw clenched.

“Okay, let me make things clear.”

Pressing myself against the wall, I timidly looked up. Placing his one hand above my head, he held my chin with his other hand, beautifully breaking my heart.

“I only married you for revenge. You are not my wife nor will I ever consider you one.”

“What…? You can’t say that to me.”

My eyes widened, a stinging sensation traveling to my core upon hearing it. I agree he was mad but he couldn’t say this to me.

“Why not? You proved holding any feelings was wrong in the first place.” He scoffed, holding my chin in a rough grip.

“What…?”

“But, don’t worry, I won’t make this mistake again. I shouldn't have been lenient with you from the start.”

With a scoff, he moved back. All the emotions which started to flicker in his eyes began to fade away. I was not sure how to react.

His hands running through his thick locks, losing his breaths with a visible hint of misery. Staring at his hopelessness in disbelief, I took a step back.

“I am sorry. I am so sorry.” I spoke, almost whimpering along with a tear rolling down my cheek.

Exhaling sharply, he turned me, hands shaking. There was something he wanted to say but decided to change it.

“For a second… I.. I foolishly held pride in you.”

My eyes widened. When did that happen? How could the one who always wanted me to stop, to leave… he held pride in… me?

How? Why?

Why did he never tell me that?

“But you did what I never could. Thank you for reminding me that I am undeserving.” Growling, he curled his hands in a fist and moved back.

Refraining himself to not do something he might regret. He was controlling himself to not hurt me, to not treat me how he once treated his ex-wife.

“No, that’s not it-” I prayed to make him listen but none of my words were reaching him.

“Leave it. I don’t want to talk to you. I am tired.” He hissed, grabbing his pillow and phone charger.

“Where are you going?” I asked, on the verge of crying.

“To the other room.” He replied harshly.

“Dariel, please-”

Not listening, he left me all alone and rejected.

After he left, I fell on the bed, moving my fingers across my neck to breathe properly but couldn’t.

With a tear rolling down, I looked down at my other hand, sorrowful.

‘When did you attach such feelings to me?’