↳ 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵 - 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙮

♧

word count; 1559
warnings; injury

Tonight was supposed to be peaceful. Tonight was supposed to be family spending time together outside of business, a rare occasion that slips through your fingers quicker than sand.

Everything was perfect. Jokes were shared, laughter filled the house, smiles were worn until rosy cheeks ached. Then it all came crashing down in an unstoppable wave.

"Linda!" Arthur bellows. "Stop this, please! Justーjust come back inside. Okay? We can talk about this."

"I don't wanna talk! What good will it do anyway? You never listened before, you won't listen now."

"You have my attention." He holds a hand up in surrender.

Your gaze flickers between the two of them, darting from him to her like a battered ping pong ball. It's nothing new to witness an argument unfold between them, but it's never escalated like this before. No one dares to intervene, not you nor the others grouped together in the driveway.

"I'm listening. You have my attention."

"But look at what I had to do to get it!"

"Linda just put the fucking gun down!" You blurt impatiently, wishing for all of this to dissolve.

Tonight was supposed to be peaceful. Thomas had endured so many complaints from his own family about them never spending time together and always fighting, he took it upon himself to solve things.

So he arranged a small get together, nothing serious, but it was supposed to be special given the amount of conflict everyone has been burdened with these past few weeks. God knows you've needed a night off alongside them.

Everything was perfect up until now.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this, but I'm done fighting. Arthur, you may have had feelings for me in the beginning, but they're gone now. Because you love her." All eyes land on you. "It's always been her. Even though we're married you would still choose her!"

Your gaze drops to the floor.

Before Linda came into the picture, you shared a bond with Arthur that you never wanted to let go of. What you had was special. While most view him as an animal due to his temper and rugged edges, you saw the real him. From the very beginning. You saw the troubled man who needed somebody that wasn't another Shelby.

You helped him more than you realised, and he'll be forever grateful for it. You were kind and patient with him when he felt he didn't deserve it. You reminded him of who he was. When he was trapped in his own dark and twisted mind, you broke down the walls and freed him.

Almost two years you spent together. Each moment was treasured. His family accepted you instantly, everyone loved you in their own way. If an issue arose regarding Arthur, you were the first to know since you could always defuse the situation.

Not everything could be fixed. Eventually your relationship took a different course along a rocky path, and the only way you both could survive was by separating. It wasn't easy for either of you, it always felt bittersweet despite the split delivering a breath of fresh air.