No one spoke up afterward, as though there was an unspoken agreement not to. Daisy was perplexed with everything going on but mostly with Ethan's behavior. She was mad at him but now more conflicted.
"Why don't you two continue why I treat my wife to this beautiful song?" The man suddenly stood and took the hand of his wife in his and started dragging her to the dance floor.
Daisy's heart melted. She used to dream of this while she was young. A husband that would love her so much he would admire every of her attributes. She knew she would model and always wished for her husband to support her dream. It's not like she wasn't willing to compromise, that was far from it. But she has hoped for a man willing to try.
But when she found him, it was as though Ethan only wanted her body and for her to be submissive to him but wasn't willing to put in the extra work. He let his mother dictate the onus of their marriage and even let her ruin it and in the process ruined her life.
"Can we dance?" His small voice distracted her thought.
"Why?" She asked instead.
"Because I -the..."
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" He asked, his eyes finding hers steadily.
"Why did you let her ruin our marriage?"
He huffed, his brow furrowing in guilt. "I'm sorry..."
"No, I want to hear it!" Her voice rose and she looked around, happy no one's attention was drawn to them.
He didn't seem to mind. He exhaled, his hand on the table falling to his lap. He didn't look like the confident man from before now. "I was stupid, Daisy. I was a stupid man who was so insecure that I let the best thing that has happened to me for so long slid away. I swear I regretted everyday and when I chose to marry Becky, it was to try to forget you, I swear it."
"You ruined my life," She controlled herself from falling apart. "You made my parents disown me, left me with a child you made me carry, and ruined the only dream I was able to achieve for myself..." How could she even start to enumerate everything this man is to her?
"I'm sorry," His voice broke. "I swear, I want to make it up to you, Daisy. Give me a chance and I will make it all come back."
She wiped a silly tear that fell down her face and shook her head. "That chapter is closed. I made something great out of the misfortune. All I need is for you to leave me alone. Maybe then I might think of forgiving you..." Her lips quivered with a faux smile when the couple smiled at them..
"But I can't, Daisy. Do you think I didn't try when I couldn't see you? When I thought I will never see you again? I can't now that I have seen you, all I think about is you! I-i left New York because I told my mother until I find you I'm never seeing her again...It was also part of the reason I wanted to marry Becky without her present... To spite her!"
The news shocked Daisy, but she didn't show it. Ethan and his mother were like bread and butter. None could do without the other. Often times in the past, she had jealousy in their relationship because she knew she didn't share that with her mother. His mother could literally do anything to make him remain loyal to her.
"That is not my business, Ethan." She proceeded looking at the couple still dancing and when that didn't help to distract her, she grabbed the glass on the table, poured herself a large quantity, and started gulping it down.
"The alcoholic content is much, Daisy. Be mad at me but please don't hurt yourself. I know you hate...."
She broke down in a gloomy mirth. "I hate alcohol? Let me tell you a little secret Ethan..."She flicked her crinkling orbs to him, "I'm a bit close to becoming an alcoholic now all thanks to you..."
"Daisy..."
"Yeah... After what happened, I needed something to help me forget, and be normal. I didn't like. Daniel was a miracle because to be honest, I somehow wished somewhere inside me that he... Left. Because I knew if I bore him, I will never forget you, I will have to stare at him every day of my life in reminder that his father thought me a whore and cast us out to the street. And you know what? I gave birth to him and to spite me, he was your replica! Can you beat that?" She began laughing again.
Ethan couldn't form words. When she began pouring another glass of scotch, he regained himself and made to snatch the glass away but she glared at him with one hand holding the glass away from him. "Don't do that. I came here today because someone named Santiago bought me this beautiful red gown, and invited me to this amazing opera, and then invested in my latest design, only to find out it's you!" She gulped down the second cup and from the way she was starting to act, he knew she was getting tipsy.
"How crazy can I get? What now? What are you going to do? Try to take my son from me? No, soon your mother would find out and then make you take him away. Is that why you are doing this? You think I will let you do that after what I went through with him?" She asked, tears brimming in her eyes.
"I will never do that, Daisy. I want us all together and nothing would make me take him away from you..." She stared lazily, at him, her head starting to tick.
"Then don't," A tear fell. "He's the only blood family I have, Ethan, and if you do that I will kill myself. I have suffered too much and I don't think I can anymore." More tears fell, breaking Ethan's heart. He never came back to cause her more pain. This time he wants to do things right and he is going to do it without causing her any pain. Never.
"I think we need to leave, you are getting..."
"No!" She broke out laughing, not even knowing why. Her left hand went to take his and stared at his ring finger, not knowing what she is doing anymore. "You removed your ring?"
"It's in my safe, Dee. I would never lose it," He said, knowing the ring she meant. On their wedding night, they had sworn that nothing was going to make them remove their wedding ring and despite despising him, she still wore hers.
She showed it to him. "I hate you so much, Ethan, but see, I am still wearing it." She dropped her hand. "Amanda thinks I'm crazy..."
"You are not. I'm the crazy one, Daisy, and I swear I will wear it tonight. I love you so much and I never stopped despite everything."
That sounded like a fool talking to her. "You loved me and you accused me, hurt me? Is that how you love from where you come from?"
"I messed up, Daisy, and I am ready to pay for it for the rest of my life, I swear." Her only response was to nod her head like a lizard, her body starting to lose focus and coherence.
The couples were done dancing, made their way to them and Ethan seeing them first cursed under his breath and reached out to cradle a perplexed Daisy's face in his huge hand and begged her with his eyes to understand before crashing his lips on hers. She was too shocked to react and only stiffened.
"Aww, look at them, baby," the woman purred. "You recall when we couldn't get enough of each other like this everywhere we go?"
Ethan wiped her face with his thumb and then they pulled apart. He smiled at her and said, "my wife was so emotional seeing you two so much in love at your age that she, you know," he indicated her expression.
The woman covered her face. "Don't worry, I believe you two would make it too."
Ethan took the chance and stood, gripping Daisy's hands in his to pull her up. "I think I have to see her home now, she is a little tired from the whole..." He gestured about while Daisy shut her mouth not wanting to give away how drunk she already was.
"Thanks for everything," she said in a small voice, most of her body already molding into Ethan for support. She came here and now she might as well be ruined for the second time by the same man.
"Thanks so much for allowing us to host you. It means a lot to us," The woman came to hug her and even though she didn't show it, Daisy knew she must perceive the alcohol stench she now harbors. By tomorrow, she knew the tabloid would drown with her gist!
When they reached outside, the Ferrari that came to pick her pulled up and Ethan helped her in. The minute he entered and shut the car door, she lost her senses being overwhelmed by everything that happened she couldn't hold it back and in a flash, she found herself puking all over the car and him, and then passed out.
...