Becoming A War God: Rise Of Darius Holloway

Chapter 2: The Biggest Mistake Of His Life

CHAPTER TWO (2)

Later that night, after Lisa had gone to bed, Darius went to the deck for air. The moon was a thin slice, the stars smeared across the sky like spilled salt. The Sea splashing hard against the ship. 

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.

“Trouble sleeping? Me too?”

Harry. Of course. He leaned against the railing next to Darius, close enough that Darius could smell his cologne—expensive, woodsy. 

“What a sight! I never expected to enjoy the cruise this much when your wife invited me!” Harry began, 

“I don't think it's good to be seen with you,” Darius said. “I don't want to have a conversation that might lead into a fight!" 

Harry smiled. It was not a friendly smile. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here to thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking care of her all these years while I'm away. Keeping the seat warm.” Harry pulled out a pack of cigarettes, tapped one out, and lit it. The flame briefly illuminated his face.

“You know, I dated Lisa back when she was broke. She was damn pretty but I saw no future between us. I had ambitions. So I left her for a billionaire daughter. Thought I’d marry up.”

Darius said nothing. His blood was already running cold.

“But that didn’t work out as planned,” Harry continued, blowing smoke into the night. “The billionaire daughter was quite boring and she caught me cheating with another lady. She looked enraged and broke things up with me!

So I came back, and what do I find? Little Lisa, the girl from the wrong side of town, is now a millionaire. Her little tech startup blew up, controlling millions of dollars. She’s worth more than that billionaire daughter ever was.” He chuckled, low and satisfied. “Funny how life works, right?”

Darius turned to face him, his jaw tightened. “You’re only here for her money.”

Darius backed out a sinister laugh. “Don't be dumb, Darius. What do you mean why am I here? Can't you see how she clings onto me? I’m here because she still loves me,”

Harry said. He took a slow drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and smiled directly into Darius’s eyes. “Besides, I am here chasing my goals and ambitions. And you? You’re just t. The mistake she’s too polite to throw away.”

Darius’s fist moved before his brain caught up.

The impact was solid—a crack of knuckle against cheekbone. Harry stumbled back, hand flying to his face, but he was laughing. Blood seeped between his fingers, and he was laughing.

“Is this all you've got? Go harder bro!” Harry said. 

And then Lisa’s voice, sharp as broken glass: “Darius!”

She had come up for water. Or maybe she had followed Harry. It didn’t matter. What mattered was the look on her face—pure disgust, pure disappointment, pure I-knew-you-weren’t-good-enough.

“What is wrong with you?” she shouted, rushing to Harry’s side. Her hand cupped his face. Her eyes, when they lifted to Darius, were full of venom.

“Are you okay, Harry? I'm so sorry for what happened.” 

Seeing how worried Lisa was, Harry feigned to be hurt and cried. “No, I should be the one saying sorry. Your husband told me how he had planned this cruise to be memorable and unforgettable for both of you but I'm hindering that from happening.

I'm so sorry, Darius! I never intended to spoil the cruise for both of you! I was just missing Lisa, and it's been a long time since we spent quality time together.” 

Darius was astounded by Harry's sudden antics. He had lied just to look innocent to his wife and Lisa, on the other hand, believed everything he said. 

"Lisa, your friend is lying. He told me—"

"I don't care what he told you! You're nothing but a jealous freak! I told you earlier, nothing is going on between Harry and I. How can you come so low as laying your hand on my friend? You really disappointed me, Darius!"

Darius opened his mouth to explain, but the sky chose that moment to answer for him.

The weather turned in an instant. One second, blinding sun. The next, a wall of black clouds and wind so fierce it knocked people off their feet. The ship groaned like a wounded animal. Rain fell sideways. Waves crashed over the deck, cold and violent, washing chairs and tables into the sea.

Then came the sound no one really expected—a deep, metallic crack from somewhere below.

Water began pouring into the cabin corridors.

Everyone ran. Past screaming children and crew members shouting orders that got swallowed by the wind. The ship was listing now, tilting hard to one side, and Darius could feel the floor dropping beneath him like the world was opening up.

“Run, Lisa! Run towards the lifeboat!” Instantly, Darius screamed but only to look and saw Lisa running with Harry already. 

His heart shattered into pieces. He never expected Lisa to ignore him just like that.

He reached the lifeboats. But there was only one left. 

Lisa didn't hesitate. She didn't look at Darius. She grabbed Harry's hand and shoved him toward the lifeboat.

"Get in, Harry! You're coming with me," she told Harry.

Harry climbed in without hesitation. He didn’t look back.

Darius grabbed Lisa’s arm. “What about me?”

Lisa pulled away. She reached into the emergency locker, pulled out a life jacket, and threw it at his feet. The orange vest landed with a wet slap on the deck.

“That’s for hitting him,” she said. Her voice was calm and unwavering. The voice of someone who had already made up her mind. “Consider it as a punishment.”

Darius stared at her in awe. The rain soaked through his shirt, plastered his hair to his forehead. “I can’t swim, Lisa. You know I can’t swim.”

She paused. For just a moment, something flickered across her face. Guilt? Doubt? He would never know.

Then it was gone.

“Put the vest on,” she said. “We’ll send help. You’ll be fine.”

She stepped into the lifeboat. Harry wrapped an arm around her. He looked over her shoulder. He met Darius's eyes. And he smiled. That same ugly, victorious smile. Then he gave a small wave, bidding him goodbye. 

The lifeboat dropped into the churning sea and disappeared into the rain.

Darius stood there for a moment that felt like an hour. His hands shook as he pulled the life jacket over his head. The water was already at his knees, then his waist, then his chest. He fumbled with the straps.

That's when he felt it.

The buckle was broken. Snapped clean in two, like someone had cut it with a knife. And the foam inside—when he pressed on it, his fingers sank straight through.

It was hollow. Destroyed. Useless.

It dawned upon Darius. He came to realize Harry had planned all of these. He had destroyed the life jacket when no one was watching. 

The water rose to his chin. He tried to swim  but his arms felt like lead, and the waves kept pulling him under, and his lungs were already burning. The life jacket did nothing. 

As the ocean dragged him down into the deep Sea, Darius thought of only one thing.

He thought of the years Lisa had kept neglecting him. He regretted hoping Lisa was going to accept and love him. 

“The biggest mistake of my life,” he thought, bubbles escaping his lips, “was marrying Lisa.”