I Can Be Your Nightmare, Mr. Ex

Chapter 16

It had been three days since Elsa left Sonny's office in tears.

Because of that incident, Sonny had not dared to go home. Every night he slept on the office sofa, ordering his secretary to buy new shirts, pants, and underwear for him to change into every day, but his face was getting duller and messier because he hadn't shaved, and his eyes were red from lack of sleep.

He buried himself in the financial report files, trying to find a loophole, a miracle, or anything that could save his company from destruction.

But the numbers kept showing the same thing, losses.

Sales dropped drastically, some clients started to withdraw, and operational costs continued to increase. And what was more painful, his good name in the eyes of investors began to collapse.

It wasn't that Sonny didn't think about Elsa and his daughter--Nina, but he was lazy to deal with Elsa's anger and Nina's fussiness, which was sometimes too spoiled.

He was also not sure what he would say to Elsa to defend himself, because he admitted to himself, the mistakes he had made.

Why did he bring up Wilona and even compare her to Elsa. That was one of the fatal mistakes he had ever made throughout his marriage with Elsa.

It was natural for Elsa to be very angry and hurt. He had gone too far.

That day, Sonny finally dared to go home. The house felt quiet. There was no sound of Nina who usually greeted him, no aroma of cooking from the kitchen, no Elsa who smiled and stretched out her arms to hug him every time he came home.

Sonny walked slowly into the living room, looked around, and found a letter on the dining table.

Elsa's handwriting.

Dear Sonny,

I need time to calm down. I can't live in the shadow of your ex-wife and your explosive anger.

Even though it was only yesterday that you vented your emotions and brought your ex-wife into our fight, it was still too much for me and very painful.

You never did anything like that before, but without you realizing it, in our daily lives, you often bring your former life with your ex-wife into our household.

Your eyebrows would raise when I didn't clean up Nina's toys, your smacking of the lips when I protested a little because it didn't match my wishes, or when I asked for more money, you would sigh deeply. It all hurt me throughout our marriage.

Maybe, I shouldn't have entered your life and even after everything happened and we had Nina, I still couldn't win your heart completely, right?

I took Nina to my old apartment. Luckily I didn't agree to sell it when you asked me to. If you want to talk nicely, come see us. But if you still haven't changed and still want to maintain your romantic dream with your ex-wife, you better not look for us.

Elsa.

The letter felt heavier than the numbers on the financial report. Sonny flopped onto the sofa, staring at the silent ceiling. In the past, this house was always full of laughter. But now, everything is empty.

Why didn't he realize the embers trapped in the laughter and jokes that were not completely released in this house.

Why did he always think that Elsa was good with all his behavior that often compared her to Wilona in the past, even without words as clear as in their argument yesterday.

Sonny crossed one arm over his eyes. His cell phone vibrated. A message came in from an unknown number:

"Mr. Sonny, we want to discuss a meeting with the investor representative. Please be present at Mr. Wesley's office tomorrow at 10 am. We want clarity."

Sonny closed his eyes. His head felt heavy. Between the pressure of business and the rift in his household, he felt like he was being pulled from two sides that were both painful.

Out of nowhere, that night, Sonny reopened the old folders on his laptop. He found old photos that he had stored in a folder titled 'important things' and used a password and he hid them among the business folders.

There were so many photos of Wilona and Maya, from the wedding until a few weeks before his affair with Elsa was exposed.

Sonny closed his laptop with a wet face. Memories that he had previously kept deep inside now emerged without mercy.

He remembered the day when Wilona humiliated him at Maya's funeral. At that time he was very angry, especially because his mother was sick from the shock of the incident.

However, he had to admit with an open heart that what Wilona did at that time was very reasonable and still not comparable to the feeling of destruction she felt. Now, for Sonny, everything felt like a nightmare that was now demanding a price.

But, he had no one but Elsa and Nina as his companions. He shouldn't hurt them anymore.

Sonny hesitated for a moment, but then, his hand moved and he deleted the secret folder. Never mind, memories are just memories, there was no need to keep a source of fire that could burn down the peace that should have been formed and must be maintained.

After that, Sonny decided to leave. He knew the address of the old apartment where Elsa used to live, when she was still Maya's babysitter. When he arrived there, with no doubt, he knocked on the door softly.

Not long after, the door opened. Nina appeared with a sleepy face. "Dad?"

Sonny smiled bitterly and nodded. "Nina... Dad misses you."

Nina immediately hugged him. From behind the door, Elsa stood, her face flat but her eyes puffy. She didn't say a word, but her steps made room for Sonny to enter.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Elsa sat on a chair, Sonny sat across from her. Nina entered the room after Sonny coaxed her with a warm hug and promised to take her to school tomorrow morning. Besides, it was her bedtime.

"Baby..." Sonny began, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry. I've been too selfish. I'm tired... but that doesn't mean I can hurt you and Nina."

Elsa looked at her husband, still not saying anything.

“The company… might collapse. I don’t even know how to calm the investors tomorrow. But now I realize, the most important thing is not money or business. But you guys.”

“Why did you only realize it now?” Elsa asked softly. “After I endured a situation that was never in my favor because of a wrong start, after you threw all the blame on me? After you mentioned the names of your great ex-wife in front of me and made me feel insulted?”

Sonny lowered his head. “I have no excuse. I’m just… stupid.”

The atmosphere was silent again. Only the sound of the ticking of the wall clock could be heard. Elsa wiped her face.

“I love you, Sonny. But I also have to love myself. I can’t keep living with a man who keeps regretting himself for losing his ex-wife. Our affair in the past, I didn’t do it alone. You also played a big part, you were even the one who tore up my resignation letter when I felt guilty towards your ex-wife and intended to quit my job as a babysitter to get away from you.”

"Yes, baby, yes, I am fully aware of that," Sonny said softly. "I wronged you, but can we go back to the way we were? I promise to be better for you and Nina."

"Can you keep your word? I will also try to be a better wife, but you have to support me, instead of always criticizing and pointing out my weaknesses," Elsa said in a trembling voice. "And one more thing, please, stop comparing me to your ex-wife. She is indeed much better than me, but I am the one who is with you now."

Sonny nodded. "I will start the right way. If you allow me, I want to stay here for a while. Accompany Nina, help you... and start fixing everything."

Elsa stared at him for a long time, then finally stood up and pointed to the old sofa in the living room. "Sleep there. Don't bother me and Nina tonight."

Sonny smiled thinly. Although bitter, it was the first step of many wounds that he had to stitch up himself.

And that night, for the first time in a long time, Sonny slept with some peace, though still filled with regret.