Retaliation of the God of War

Chapter 2: Surprises

Hours had gone by after Holly had ripped Damien’s heart out of his chest and by that time, he was crest-fallen.  It was 7:11 am in the morning, a handful of hours after the confrontation, when Damien chose to check his phone only to come across a message that was left by his assistant hours earlier. He hadn't been able to fall asleep and chose to just sit on his side of the bed and stare at the wall. He wanted to ignore it but when his phone rang again, he gripped it loosely and answered the call. 

“Good morning, Lord Damien. Happy one year anniversary to you and your wife Holly. I hope that I haven’t caught you at a bad time, but I was hoping that I could stop by your home later to drop off all the gifts that the generals and royals procured for your coming out to your wife. I have recorded about thirty gifts so far and would be willing to keep the rest for when you and your wife arrive at the villa for the celebration. The empire’s greatest would like to celebrate you. Not only on your marriage but on your one-year anniversary of victory against the raging nations that sought to destroy us. They have requested that you please join them for the evening out. Should I tell them that you accept their invitation?”

Damien groaned and rubbed his eyes. He had forgotten that he had told everyone he would tell his wife who he really was. Now, there was a celebration being held for him and Holly. He couldn't accept that.

“Send them my apologies Heather. I won’t be attending the celebration in my honor.”

Heather’s once perky voice dropped a pitch as she questioned his choice hesitantly.

“Why sir?”

“I won’t be attending the celebration because my wife and I are having a divorce.”

Silence was all he could hear as Heather didn’t say a word, uncertain of what to say. What do you tell a man who just lost something for the first time in his life?

“Uh, I’m sure that...”

“Don’t bother Heather. Tell everyone the reason why I can’t make it and apologize for my absence. Tell them that I’ll make out time to come see all of them in person.” 

“All right sir.”

“Thanks.” With that Damine ended the call and set his phone aside on the bed, his room returning to its darkness as the curtains were drawn.

In that darkness, like his worst thoughts were being realized, Damien’s phone lit up the room with a blue hue, showing that he had received a notification. It was a message from none other than Holly. Damien picked the phone up and tapped on the screen. The message was short but effective in the hurt it was meant to cause. 

BE AT THE MARRIAGE COMPLIANCE AGENCY BY NOON 

LET’S GET THIS OVER WITH 

Damien dropped his phone back on the bed and frowned. She wanted to get rid of him so quickly that she couldn’t even wait a few months to send him this message. He clapped his hands and the automated curtains of his room pulled back, allowing the warm and bright sunrays to fill the room. Damien winced at the sudden light but stood up all the same. If Holly wanted to leave him so badly then he would grant her wish. And who knows maybe she might change her mind. At least that’s what Damien told himself as he went into his bathroom to take a shower. 

•••• 

The hour had come and as Holly had wanted it, Damien was at the agency by noon sharp. He stood outside the building waiting for his soon to be ex-wife to show up. Soon enough a cab pulled up to the building and Holly stepped out and when her eyes landed on Damien her face twisted into one of scorn. 

“You’re here early. Good.” She muttered as she moved to walk past him. 

Damien was quick. He cornered her and sighed. 

“Holly. Please reconsider this.” Damien plead with saddened eyes, but she was having none of it. She scoffed in his face and took a step back.

“Reconsider what? Do you see how poor you’ve made me? I had to come here using public transport like some commoner when my colleague and classmates move around the city in style and class. Thier husbands unlike you provide for their every need so that they do not go wanting whereas I have to beg for the little I have. Thinking that I will give you a second chance is absurd and very much ridiculous at this point.”

Damien felt that sharp tug at his heart like last night, but he chose to try again. He took her hand in his.

“Holly, listen to me. I may seem this way now but if you choose to stay with me then you’ll see that I am much better than the poor man you think I am. You don’t know the whole truth about me.”

“Then tell me.” Holly said with a straight face, not buying into what he was saying.

“I can’t tell you yet due to some hinderances, but you have to promise to come back. That’s the only way that I can finally tell you the truth.” He told her, the emblem of his true nature weighing heavily in his pocket. He had brought it with him to show her immediately she called off the divorce. Anything to make her stay.

Holly laughed in his face. 

“A secret that you wish to tell me but can’t unless I swear my life to you. Wow. You really must take me for a fool Damien. Why in the world would I stoop so low to your level as to get back with you?”

Holly pulled her hand away and casually rubbed it against her polka dotted gown.

“I meant everything I said last night. I am a queen. You are the scum beneath my shoe. The filthiest of all the trash in the city. One that you do not deserve to touch let alone look at. I do not love you. I’m here for the divorce and nothing more. The sooner you get that into your head, the better for the both of us.” 

Damien watched Holly storm away from him and walk into the agency building seemingly in search of their lawyer who would annul their marriage. He sighed, feeling the last ray of hope evaporate into thin air and anger replacing it. How could she say those things to him again? And to even add salt to the wound, tell him that he, the hidden lord, was trash. 

“If that’s how you want it then,” He spoke under his breath as he had resigned to give her the divorce and cut off all ties from this woman who had played him like a fiddle. 

Damien strode into the building and immediately spotted Holly speaking to the lawyer. He walked closer to them and spoke.

“Wellings.”

“Mr. Murdock.” The two men greeted one another as they shook hands.

“I hear that you want to have a divorce.”

Damien glanced at Holly who seemed more than enthusiastic about their separation.

“Yes.” He answers.

Wellings’ face went blank, but he resigned to what they wanted. 

“Very well. Follow me to my office then.”

The lawyer led the way with Damien and Holly following close behind. When they got to the office, the trio filed in, and each had their seats. Wellings began.

“Is there a reason for this sudden choice in divorce?”

Damien opened his mouth to speak but Holly beat him to it. Her face turned sour, and her lip quivered. An expression that Damien was shocked to see when she was arrogant and rude when they were alone together.

“I just... My husband has chosen to move on with someone new.”

Damien eyed her as she told blatant lies. It was the other way around. What the hell was she saying?

“Is that true Mr. Murdock?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Any children?” The lawyer asked again after a healthy dose of silence. 

“God forbid.” Holly spat while Damien balled his fists feeling pissed.

Holly wanted to break up with him so there was no need for her to behave in such a way. Either way, he was not going to allow himself to be painted in an unflattering light. Wellings glanced between them, feeling the tension in the room.

“It seems that there are wounds that are far too deep here. I’ll just ask the important question for now. Mrs. Murdock, do you wish to have this divorce?”

Holly gave him a nod and a smile before Welling turned to Damien.

“And you sir?” He asked.

“Yes.” Damien answered, not willing to put up with the monster that Holly was turning into.

“I’ll have you know that since this is a divorce, your wife will get half of all you own.” Wellings pointed out but Holly cut him off.

“I don’t need whatever he has. It wouldn’t amount to anything anyway.”

Welling and Damien shared a look before Welling continued.

“Since both parties have agreed to the divorce then you may sign the divorce papers.” Welling said as he brought out some papers from his desk and passed it to them for their signatures.”

Holly grabbed the papers and signed them before shoving them in Damien’s face for him to do the same. Damien hesitated for a second but in the end signed the papers and handed them back to the lawyer. 

“As of today, you are no longer husband and wife.” He said as he stamped the papers and kept them in a folder.

Holly squealed and got up from her seat ready to book it. Damien gave Welling a nod and did the same. Holly swayed as she moved through the halls, excited that she was now free while Damien just felt nothing. They weren’t going the same route but Damien and his now ex-wife ended up outside the building at the same time. 

Just then a flashy Lamborghini Aventador SV pulled up to the front of the building and Damien could see Holly visibly shaking with joy. He wondered what it was all about when the door of the car opened up and a familiar face came down. Jeremy Malford. A short, big, bellied man with crooked teeth who was the scourge of women but a decent man when it came to business. Damien wondered what the man was doing here since he had no wife to speak of but was floored when he heard Holly speak.

“Jeremy, you finally made it.”

Holly ran over to the man and kissed him passionately on the lips. Damien’s jaw dropped. What the hell was that?