Contract With The Ex That Left Me

SARAH PIERCE

“Mummy, look!” Raya pointed at the red brick building. “Lego house!”

“I see it, baby,” I whispered, wishing I could also view the house as just an innocent replica of my daughter’s favourite toy.

But this house was hell for me while growing up.

Yet, ironically, I have returned to this hell because I want to protect my daughter.

And now, I’m about to find out if that will turn out to be a good decision or not.

“Raya.” I faked a grand smile and knelt before my three-year-old, whose eyes are like mine. “Can you be a good girl for Mummy?”

Her curly hair fell to the side. “Mummy busy?”

I nodded and spread my fingers. “Five minutes. Can you give me that?”

“Yes.”

Her quick response was saddening because it showed she had grown too used to being lonely among our former neighbours whenever I had to work for hours.

“Thank you, my beautiful baby.” I kissed her forehead and got up to take one more look at the house.

When I realised that some unwanted thoughts were about to be unlocked, I took a deep breath and walked closer to the front door with Raya’s hand firmly clasped in mine.

The chill that greeted us was not as intense as it used to be years ago.

I chose to see that as a good sign.

So I dropped our little luggage and walked us further down the very empty corridor, which curved at the end to reveal the living room.

And there he was.

Nolan Pierce.

My father.

He was seated in his usual spot with joy in his brown eyes.

My heart wrenched at that sight as I stepped further into the room.

Then, I halted and from where I stood, I loudly called, “Dad.”

Something dark filled my father’s eyes when he looked away from the other person in the room.

“You’re still alive?” he asked. “That’s surprising.”

“Dad.” I pressed my lips tight for a second. “I-”

“Leave, Sarah. You’re old enough to know you’re not welcome.”

“I’m moving back in,” I insisted.

“Listen to yourself.” He frowned. “You ran away without a word and clearly…” His eyes lowered to Raya, and I quickly pulled her behind me. “You have been whoring around and disgracing this family on top of it. Why would I take you in?”

“Because I’m your daughter.”

A stiff chuckle jumped out of him.

I released a shallow breath and forced my heavy feet closer. “Just for some months, I-”

“Mr. Pierce, is this how you treat your visitors?”

That voice startled me. Not because I had not paid attention to the person, but because the impatience in his voice was very familiar.

Too familiar.

“You seem quite comfortable with giving me reasons to consider calling off our arrangement,” he continued.

I couldn’t hold back from turning this time.

My breath caught the moment I confirmed my fears.

Cold sweat beading on my forehead, I kept staring, unable to fathom that my ex-boyfriend, Nathaniel Storm, was here and didn’t seem to care that it was me standing before him.

He simply brushed a finger past a loose strand of his slicked-back hair, crossed his arms and stared back without an ounce of emotion behind his eyes.

“Mr. Storm,” Dad laughed nervously, “please, let’s continue our discussion.”

Lifting a brow, Nathaniel turned to my father. “Isn’t she someone you know?”

“Nathaniel,” I whispered in disbelief, because of all the questions that he could have asked, he shouldn’t have asked that one.

With a slight squeeze of his lips, Nathaniel frowned at me. Then he briefly parted his lips.

But he said nothing.

Seeing that he wasn’t willing to do the needful, I grabbed a fistful of my skirt and stared harder, daring him to lie that he didn’t know who I was.

But Nathaniel Storm still fucking looked unbothered instead of apologising and explaining why I had to spend the last four years without him.

“Eh ehm, Mr. Storm? She’s nobody important,” Dad answered. “Sarah? Sarah, will you stop staring at him?!”

I finally tore my eyes away from Nathaniel.

“Listen, move in if you want to, I don’t care,” Dad said. “Just don’t ruin this special meeting. He’s your sister’s fiancé and-”

“Fiancé?” I definitely heard that wrong. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Nathaniel didn’t deny it when I whipped my head to him. Just like that, everything about this moment became more confusing.

“Nathaniel,” I groaned. “Do you not-”

“Are you out of your mind?” Dad rebuked. “Why are you striking up a conversation with him?”

“Dad, he is-”

“Wait a minute. I never mentioned his full name.” Dad got up, fire in his eyes, his wrinkles more apparent. “Have you been spying on us? ”

“Dad, I-”

“Shut up!”

“I…”

“I said shut that trap!”

The little jolt I felt dismantled my resolve to stand my ground. And as I covered Raya’s eyes, I quickly recognised that I had no shield to protect myself.

Nathaniel, in fact, remained silent, focusing his gaze elsewhere as if I were not worth listening to.

The Nathaniel I loved wouldn’t have remained quiet for this long.

Clenching my fingers harder to the point of numbness, I darted my gaze to the ground. “I…”

“I have nothing else to say to you. Go to your room!” Dad pointed me out. “And don’t come out until I tell you to. Take that bastard with you and go inside!”

Perhaps it was my rapidly growing shock, or the tears I was yet to shed, something made me do as he ordered.

Tightly, I reached for Raya’s hand and slowly headed past the dining, a million thoughts running through my head at once.

But, when I got to the room, all I did was stare at nothing.

And I remained like that for many seconds.

Until something inside me decided that replaying the past would be the best next move.

“Oh!” I keeled over in pain, clutching my chest and realising that I had been lying to myself.

Nothing about my past had been sorted out. I was still stuck in the pain of being abandoned, of having to survive alone, of having to endure the worst.

Now, that pain was about to overpower me.

“Fuck,” I whispered under my breath. “Nathaniel, why are you doing this to me? God… Why?”

“Mummy?” Raya was concerned as I dragged my fingers through my hair.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

“Baby…”

“What is a basturd, Mummy?”

I sat up straight away. “Huh?”

“Bas-”

With haste, I covered her mouth and shook my head. “No, Raya.”

“Bad word, Mummy?” she muttered against my hand.

“Yes, baby.” I removed my hand and caressed her hair. “Bad word.”

As she nodded, I was immediately reminded of why I came back here.

I had promised myself that I wouldn’t fail.

I still don’t want to fail.

Despite what’s out there, I need to do something.

Like right now.