Impossible, Ian Blake muttered, staring at his former wife across the polished window of the upscale bistro on Oxford Street. Hed lost his voice.
Surely it cant be her. I cant believe Daisy would change so much, he whispered, frozen in front of the restaurants display case, watching his exspouse from a safe distance.
The glamorous blonde sat by the window, typing intently on a sleek laptop. A waiter set down a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a petitfour crowned with raspberries and strawberries.
How does she look so flawless? And that chic bracelet on her wristmust have cost a fortune, Ian thought, biting his lip and edging away so she wouldnt notice him.
***
Ian and Daisy first met six years earlier. Hed just graduated from university and landed a junior position at a wellknown construction firm. His career took off quickly.
At a trade show in Birmingham, Ian struck up a conversation with a pleasant young woman manning a booth.
What do you think of these excavators? Fancy a coffee instead? the gentleman in charge suggested cheerily.
They chatted, and the shy, brighteyed Daisy immediately caught Ians eye.
Exactly the type I needagreeable, never objects, he mused. Shell make the perfect, obedient wife. He imagined a life where shed cook, tend the house, raise the kids, and obey without question. The thought made him puff up with pride.
Later, as they walked out together, Ian asked, What brings you to the show?
I write short stories and dream of becoming a screenwriter, Daisy replied, flashing a bashful smile and her striking blue eyes.
Im just starting out in literature myself. Still learning the ropes, but bills still need to be paid, Ian shrugged, already picturing her as a domestic dream.
He thought, Shes a blank canvasno car, no garden. I could shape her into anything I want.
***
Ian bought a coffee from a stall across the street, perched on a bench, and kept watching Daisy. When she emerged, his jaw dropped. She glided in a sleek fur coat, her stride graceful as a runway model. In the three years since hed known her, shed transformed beyond recognition. When she slipped into a gleaming sports car, Ian was left speechless.
She must have landed a rich bloke, he muttered, gulping the hot coffee and clutching the cup as if it might protect him from the shock.
That evening, sleep eluded him. After their breakup, Daisy blocked him on all social networks. In a fit of desperation, Ian created a new account just to stalk her photos.
Jealousy, envy, furyby the time hed downed half a litre of vodka, the whole gamut of negative emotions had visited him.
How could you become like this? You were nothing, and I took you in with no money, no flat, no looks. Where do these luxury hotel shots and designer bags come from? he fumed, watching her pose elegantly at fivestar resorts.
Did you shed ten kilos? Are those sculpted curves from plastic surgery or a gym? he snapped, his grip on the phone tightening.
***
The next morning, Ian recalled a conversation with Daisy.
Just nonsense, who reads that? he said, shaking his head after she sent him a new short story.
Theres no accounting for taste, Daisy replied shyly. I already have admirers.
Admirers? Ian smirked. People with no brain might enjoy your scribbles.
How can you be like this, Ian? Daisys voice trembled. Weve been together a year, yet you cant accept that I have my own passions. Im not criticizing your work, even though you disappear into it for days.
Thats exactly it, Ian shouted. If you helped me with the business, Id spend less time in the office.
So what, thats a brilliant idea, Ian snapped, jumping up. Stop doing useless writing and start assisting me properly.
What do you mean, stop writing? Daisy froze at the window, shock evident.
Exactly, Daisy. Playtimes over. If you want to keep our family and improve our life, youll quit the pointless prose and start doing real work for me, Ian snarled, eyes blazing.
But my stories are my soul I cant just bury my lifes work, she sobbed.
I dont care. No one else needs it. Right now youre useless, so start being useful. Ill give you a daily task list, and youll follow it, he declared.
I dont understand any of this Why are you taking away what matters to me? Daisy sniffled.
Ungrateful. Ive supported you for a year. You live in my flat, I buy you gifts, I took you to the seaside. Either help me or get out, Ian blurted, pointing to the door.
Fine, Ill go, Daisy muttered, wiping tears. She turned off her computer, and Ian never saw her pick up a pen again.
***
A year later, Ian had amassed contacts and capital, partly from selling his late grandmothers house. He launched his own construction firm. From dawn till dusk, Daisy (now his fulltime assistant) handled paperwork, presentations, managed crews, and arranged meetings.
Another year passed, and he built a gated estate on the outskirts of Surrey, earning a tidy profit. He liked everything about his life with Daisyexcept her look. The constant stress had turned her into a sweettooth, and she rapidly gained weight.
Where am I going with this piglet? Im embarrassed to take her out. She was already plump before we married, but now shes unbearable, Ian complained to his mate at the local pub.
My mate, its a sad sight, his friend replied, scrolling through a photo on his phone. Time to bench Daisy and find a replacement.
Ian downloaded a dating app while nursing his pint. Hed thought about a side fling after Daisy had a child, but seeing her now was revolting. A sporty new lover, Olivia Reed, agreed to a first date and quickly became his secret companion, even joining him in the restroom of a trendy London restaurant.
Olivia was far more demanding.
You love the way I look, dont you? she cooed in his plush flat with a panoramic view of the night skylinerooms hed rented for discreet rendezvous.
Of course, Ian murmured, trailing a featherlight touch across her back.
Ill need about three grand for hair, nails, a cosmetic routine, and a gym membership, Olivia listed, eyes gleaming. Ian, however, simply admired her beauty, knowing he could now afford a higher tier of success.
Within a month, Olivia had edged Daisy out of his thoughts. He spent hardly any evenings at home, where Daisy would still be waiting with a plate of pasta in pesto sauce.
I made your favourite, love, Daisy greeted him after a week away with Olivia. How was the business trip?
Fine, Ian grunted.
No thanks, Im not hungry, he snapped.
Lets talk work then. How are we doing? Daisys tone shifted to that of an employee. Though she worked unpaid, Ian demanded more from her than from any other staff.
A month later, Ian grew sick of seeing Daisy in the office. His own projects stumbledperhaps because he was distracted, perhaps because his personal expenses ballooned. Contracts fell through, partners quit. In every setback, Ian blamed Daisy and, in a hasty divorce, ensured she walked away with nothing. He even had her out the door in a single day.
Three years later, Ian could barely believe his eyes.
The GPS tags on her Instagram photos placed her in Chelsea, in a billionaires townhouse. I have a meeting with an investor nearby. Daisys house is on the way Something feels off. A drab mouse cant just sprout into a rose, Ian muttered, sipping his coffee.
A message pinged from Olivia, who was supposedly holidaying in the Maldives.
I think we should break up, Ian. Ive found someone else. Nothing personal. Ill have a friend collect my things, she typed.
And you expect me to foot the bill for that trip?! Ian erupted, his hands trembling as he typed a furious reply, slurring expletives he hadnt used since school.
Listen, Ilya, Olivias voice message said, Im hurting my own skin with this drama. Ill block you for a while. Passion and fights ruin my complexion. She then hung up.
After being turned down by the investor, Ian, in a foul mood, drove to the posh Surrey estate where his exwife now lived. He idled for a couple of hours, chainsmoking, until a sleek black car pulled up.
What are you doing here? Daisy asked, bewildered, after Ian knocked three times.
Just wanted to see how youre doing, Ian mumbled.
Seeing her hesitation, Ian softened. Actually, Im here to apologise. Ive had a lot of time to think while you were gone. Things got messy.
Apologise? Daisy chuckled, shaking her head. You forbade me from writing, while I worked for you for free for two yearscooking, cleaning, looking after the house. I believed in you when no one else did, and then you threw me out in a day.
Fine, Ilya, apologise away, Daisy sighed, hugging herself.
Maybe you could let me in? Its awkward out here, Ian said, kicking a small stone.
Maybe, Daisy replied, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. Youve got a nice home. Whos paying the bills? You cant build stone castles on honest work.
No one, Ilya. I bought it all myself, she answered, heading to the kitchen.
Dont lie, Ian shouted, following her.
Whats so surprising? Do you think Im unworthy of my dreams? Daisy placed a glass of water on the table.
How could you change so much in three years? How do you afford this lifestyle? Ian whirled the glass.
I returned to writingactually screenwriting. I penned a few pilots for production companies, but they thought my work was rubbish, Daisy smiled, fixing her hair.
Now Im one of the countrys top screenwriters. My scripts are on the main channels, she added modestly.
So youre here to apologise? Daisy sat opposite him.
The best revenge is to outshine your enemies with success, Ian muttered, feeling crushed. The breakup with Olivia, the investors rejection, and Daisys soaring career all boiled over into a fresh surge of anger. He needed a target.
You were a drab mouse, ugly and talentless. All this you achieved is because of meI taught you the ropes, gave you a place in the world, Ian whispered. Half of your success is mine.
Apologies sound more like demands, Daisy replied, smirking. The only thing you taught me was how duplicitous people can be.
Youll get nothing from me now, she said, standing. Its time you left.
Youve got a safe, right? Open it and hand over the money, Ian roared, lunging for her elbow and dragging her toward the living room.
Let go, it hurts! Daisy shrieked.
The mouse stays a mouse, Ian snarled, shoving her onto the sofa.
Talk quicklywheres the safe? Or you wont get out alive, he threatened, grabbing a log from the fireplace.
Single women get cats, Daisy said, rubbing her elbow, eyes twinkling. Im not just any woman.
Give me the cash or Ill kill you, Ian hissed, brandishing the log.
Dont bother, Daisy chuckled. I have dogs nowChilli and Willy.
Ian turned. Two massive Dobermans stood a metre away, eyes gleaming. Chilli drooled on the polished marble, while Willy stared, ready to pounce.
Chilli, Willyofficers! Daisy shouted.
If anyone had seen Ians face at that moment, theyd have burst into laughter. He sputtered, swallowed hard, and stared pleadingly at Daisy.
The Dobermans were famished and Daisy was about to feed them when Ian tried to flee, only managing a halfmetre shuffle before the dogs lunged. A chaotic scene of retribution unfolded, complete with police, ambulances, and a flurry of stitches.
CCTV in Daisys house recorded everything. Ian ended up with a suspended sentence and never found his way back to his former life.
These days Daisy is thriving. Rumour has it shes married a talented director, is expecting a child, and is living happily.
They say every successful woman has a man who broke her heart, and the sweetest revenge is proving she can do without him. Whether thats true in our modern world is up to you. One things clear: if you truly believe in yourself, youll get there.
