8th October 2014;

Finishing her make-up, she turned to her husband who was struggling with his tie in front of the mirror. Standing before him, her hands rested on his shoulders.

"Twenty-seven years of marriage and you still don't know how to do it." She spoke softly as her fingers brushed his jaw warmly and slid to his tie. "Sometimes, I wonder if you're doing that on purpose." A playful smile graced her lips.

"I am," he replied fondly planting a kiss on her forehead. "I love you." She looked so beautiful in her dark blue dress and the light make-up she wore. Her hair styled to match the sophisticated gown she wore.

"I love you more." She tilted her head up and rose on her toes to meet his lips in a passionate delicate kiss.

Suddenly, the door bell rang and was followed by a quick strong knock on the door, which earned a confused look from the couple. "Maybe she decided to go with us," the father shrugged, "I'll go get it."

As soon as the door was opened, men with massive built bodies sprang in and surrounded them as he staggered backwards and hugged his wife trying to protect and shield her from them. Everything happened so fast, it was dizzying.

"Who are you?" She asked frantically her sweaty hands clinging to her husband's arms desperately.

"I didn't expect you to forget about me this fast, Madeleine." A man spoke as he entered the house. "Hello, Joshua. Missed you, baby-." He said turning to the, now, fuming husband who interrupted him.

"Don't call me that." Joshua spoke through gritted teeth. He despised this man.

"You're not in a good position to tell me what to do, now. Are you?" He laughed. What an unpleasant voice.

"What do you want, Mark?" Joshua snapped then calmed himself down a bit for the sake of his wife and daughter. "Please, I asked you to stay away from my family."

"You should've stayed away from mine, then." Mark barked. Confusion was written all over Madeleine's face as the two men glared daggers at each other. "I let you go, Joshua. I did my part of the agreement and kept my promise. God damn it, Joshua. Why are you so stubborn and annoying? Huh! I fucking let you go as peacefully as you asked!" Joshua was unfazed. He was so over this.

"Yeah, right." He scoffed then gestured to the men surrounding them. "I can see."

"Shut up." Mark muttered rubbing his eyes.

"Our last meeting was twenty years ago." Joshua reminded him.

"And I told you you'll hear from me soon."

"Your definition of "soon" worries me." Joshua shook his head, a bitter smile ghosting over his lips. "Mark, I don't want it to happen all over again. This time, I'm going to say it just once. Leave."

"You're the same. Nothing has changed about you. You're still as stupid and naive as ever. And you're still poor as shit. What do you even have? Huh?" He laughed. "I don't give a fuck. You've become a threat. You must be eliminated." His features hardened and Madeleine winced at his harsh words.

"Leave, Mark. Stay away from my family." His hands shook, gripping his wife's.

"Too late."

"Out, Mark. I don't want troubles." Joshua spoke calmly. He didn't want to push Mark's buttons further.

"You should've thought about that, when you left us behind!" He shouted, kicking a nearby chair. That man sure does hold grudges. "One does not simply just fucking leave, you ungrateful bastard!" He spat through clenched teeth then breathed heavily. "You asked for this, Joshua. You asked for this." Mark shook his head as he beckoned for one of the men to come closer and motioned for him to separate the couple.

"No!" Madeleine shrieked as she was torn away from her husband in a swift move. And before he could register anything, Joshua fell to the ground after a painful punch to his ribs. He growled and tried to get back up but they kept beating him. His face was covered with blood as it prickled from multiple injuries. His body bruised. he was unable to move a limb. Even breathing seemed hard at that moment.

Madeleine was sobbing and shouting. She tried to slip out of their hold. She clawed their arms. She tried to crawl on the ground. But, they always dragged her back. Joshua was not that far from her. Yet, he seemed too far away for all of her attempts to reach him and hug his broken body failed. "Joshua!" She cried harder. "Talk to me, honey. Please, say something. Say anything..." she pleaded cupping a hand over her mouth. "Please..." she whispered.

Mark burst into a raucous laughter and motioned for the men to let her go. As soon as they released her, Madeleine sprang to Joshua, tripping on her own feet as she staggered for balance.

She held him carefully, tears running down her mascara-smudged cheeks. "Oh, baby..." She kept repeating. "Talk to me, Joshua. Say something, honey." She cradled his face as his head rested on her lap, running her hand gently in his hair. He groaned, painfully blinking, his eyes swollen.

"Maddy..." He whispered tilting his head up, "I'm really sorry." He wheezed.

She shook her head violently wiping her tears and pressed a kiss to his lips then gave him a sad heart-breaking smile. Realization finally sinking in. "I don't regret any single moment of it."

He tried to smile at her but it came out lopsided. "Neither do I." He grunted while her eyes twinkled with tears and longing to be in his arms. "I just hope she understands."

"Are you done, there?" Mark interrupted grinning for he was amused. "I have a soft spot for romance. Couldn't stop you."

"Fuck you." Joshua muttered as he insisted on standing up leaning on his wife for support. His knees wobbled barely holding his weight. The ugly laugh came back.

"No, Sweetheart. I'm gonna fuck her." Mark smirked gesturing to Madeleine.

The poor thing, she whimpered and tightened her hold around Joshua's torso. He winced but said nothing.

"Don't you even dare." Joshua gritted out.

But, his wife was torn away from him in a blur. And, before he could do anything about it, a blow was delivered to his already damaged head. His vision hazy, he fell down as Madeleine's shrieks and yelps became distant. He shuffled to turn to his wife when he noticed a silhouette by the door. Rho.

Joshua shook his head when she attempted to step forward. Hide, he begged. He knew it was her and he prayed with every cell in his body that they didn't and wouldn't see her. She covered her mouth repressing any voice from coming out. Rho hesitated for a bit, tears flowing abundantly.

Then, she backed away slowly at the desperation clouding her father's eyes.

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