CHAPTER FOUR- DAVE'S RETURN

ELLA'S POV

The house was quiet, too quiet, after Dave stormed out. For days, he didn’t return. Not a call, not a message—just nothing. I should’ve been relieved, maybe even glad to have some peace. But instead, I felt the silence creeping up on me like a heavy fog. Each passing day only made the knot in my stomach tighter.

I spent most of my time at Lily’s place. She didn’t ask too many questions, which I appreciated, but the concern in her eyes said enough. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her everything. How could I? How could I say out loud the mess I’d gotten myself into?

The shame of last night’s memories still clung to me. Collins. His name alone made my chest tighten. What happened shouldn’t have happened, but it did. And no matter how much I tried to push it away, it kept coming back to me like waves crashing against the shore.

I stayed up late every night, pacing the room or staring blankly at the ceiling. My thoughts wouldn’t let me rest. “What now, Ella?” I kept asking myself. “What are you going to do?”

A week passed, and just when I started to think Dave might never come back, the sound of the front door opening shattered the silence.

I froze, my heart racing. He was back.

Footsteps echoed through the hall, and soon enough, there he was, standing in the living room like nothing had happened. His suit was perfectly pressed, his tie neatly done. He looked calm, composed, as if he hadn’t been gone for days.

“Ella,” he said, his tone cold but direct, “we need to talk.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to meet his gaze. “Now you want to talk? After disappearing for a whole week?”

He didn’t flinch. Instead, he walked over to the couch and sat down, loosening his tie as though he were settling in for a casual chat.

“I’ve been busy,” he said simply.

“Busy?” I snapped, my voice rising. “That’s your excuse? Busy with who, Dave? Another one of your ‘business meetings’?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond to my jab. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“There’s an important banquet coming up,” he said, ignoring my anger. “My family will be there, and I need you to come with me.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Are you serious right now? You disappear for days, no explanation, no apology, and now you expect me to play the perfect wife at some stupid banquet?”

“It’s not just any banquet,” he said firmly. “It’s for my family. It’s important.”

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Unbelievable. You really think I care about your family’s banquet? I already told you, Dave. I’m done. I want a divorce.”

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then he stood up, his presence looming over me.

“Ella,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “don’t do this.”

“Do what, Dave? Speak the truth? Admit that this—us—has been broken for a long time?”

“You think you’re so innocent?” he shot back, his voice rising. “You’re no saint, Ella. Don’t act like you’re above it all.”

I flinched at his words, the guilt creeping in again. But I pushed it down, refusing to let him twist this around on me.

“This isn’t about me,” I said, my voice firm. “It’s about you. It’s about how you destroyed everything we had.”

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “You think walking away will solve everything? You think you can just leave and start over?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “I do. And I will.”

His expression hardened, and for a moment, I thought he might lose control again. But instead, he took a deep breath and stepped back.

“Fine,” he said coldly. “You want a divorce? Go ahead. But not yet.”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean, not yet?”

“You’ll come to the banquet,” he said, his tone final. “You’ll stand by my side and play your part. After that, we can talk about your so-called divorce.”

My blood boiled at his words. The audacity of this man, to think he could still control me after everything.

“And what if I say no?” I challenged.

He smirked, a cold, calculated expression. “Then I’ll make sure you regret it.”

His threat hung in the air, chilling me to my core. I wanted to fight back, to scream at him, to tell him he couldn’t control me anymore. But the truth was, I wasn’t ready. Not yet.

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll go to your stupid banquet. But after that, we’re done. For good.”

He didn’t respond, just gave a curt nod before turning and heading upstairs. The sound of his footsteps fading was like a weight lifting off my chest.

I sank onto the couch, my head in my hands. What was I doing? Why was I letting him pull me back in, even for a moment?

I needed a plan. A way out. And fast.

Over the next few days, I started looking for jobs. Something, anything, to get me on my feet. I couldn’t rely on Dave anymore. I needed to be able to stand on my own, to build a life without him.

The banquet loomed closer, each day feeling like a countdown to some inevitable disaster. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong.

And then, the night of the banquet arrived.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the dress Dave had insisted I wear. It was a deep shade of red, elegant and striking, but it felt like a costume. Like I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

As I stared at my reflection, my mind raced with doubts and fears. What will happen tonight? Would this be the final breaking point?

Dave’s voice called out from downstairs. “Ella, let’s go. We’re going to be late.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This was it. The beginning of the end.

As I walked down the stairs, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap.