Lucas paced the floor like a wild, caged animal. He had plenty enough to do at the Den but his mind was far from work. He couldn't stop thinking about Haley. Sure they were getting divorced and sure it was all his fault for neglecting and cheating on her. He had no right or further claims to her and she had made that clear. His head could comprehend the message but his heart would have none of it. Perhaps it was more ego than heart but whatever the case, the rage fueled jealousy was eating him alive inside.

"Lucas, what do you want me to do?" Christina asked impatiently for the umpteenth time.

"What?" Lucas repeated, distracted.

He hadn't heard a word the girl had said.

"The customers over in booth 4. They're pretty pissed. Said their food is taking way too long to come out. And they're not regulars either. The lady asked to see a manager and tonight that's you."

Lucas rolled his eyes. That was him but he was not in the mood to deal with dramatic customers and managerial duties.

"Um, whatever. Just…I don't know. Give them a round of drinks from the bar. Tell them it's on the house and apologize and say the food is on the way and go in the kitchen and tell Ronnie or whoever is on grill tonight, to move their fucking ass!"

Christina shrugged as the response was good enough for her. She went back to work as Lucas tried to concentrate on something other than his soon to be ex wife. But he couldn't. It was impossible. He wondered where she was and what she was doing…who she was with.

He shook his head. The image of her and Nathan talking so seriously and intimately early in the morning. It was something about the way their hands touched and the way they looked at each other. It bothered Lucas. It made him sick. He knew deep down how his brother felt. Could his wife feel similarly?

And the "mystery man" Brooke had previously spoken of. Who the hell could that be? A stranger? A local? Someone to keep the lonely nights warm? Lucas shuddered just thinking about it. It was a double standard and not only did he know about it, he didn't care. Sure he had slept with other women throughout their relationship and marriage but so what? It had meant nothing. But not Haley. No way! She belonged to him.

"Credit card machine thingy is broken", Brooke came over to him.

"It's not broken. It's just a piece of shit. You have to reset it."

"Oh…"

"Brooke, you'll do me a favor?"

"Depends", she shrugged.

"You ever close before?"

"Not alone."

"Think you could?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess. I know how and I have keys and…"

"Good enough", he said, grabbing his keys and jumping over the counter.

"Hey. Wait", she called out. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"I've got important business", he called out from the door.

Lucas jumped in the truck, cranked it and headed in the direction of his old home. His heart pounded as he drove. He had no idea why he was going and what he'd do once he got there but some inner force was pushing him to go.

Pulling up to the front, he could see all the lights on in the apartment. It was late for it to be so lit up. Haley didn't go to bed particularly early but she usually kept the place emitted in soft candlelight. It was definitely out of character but maybe it wasn't all Haley. Maybe she wasn't alone.

Opening the door, he practically ran upstairs. Remembering he had a spare key, he let himself inside. It was quiet except for low volume alternative music coming from the CD player. Lucas clenched his fists. Haley didn't listen to that type of music.

He saw that the bedroom door was closed but even from the living room, he could hear voices on the other side. Haley was talking to someone. He didn't recognize the voice but it was low and deep…and definitely belonged to another man. On the verge of explosion, he stormed towards the back but before he could forcefully enter, the bedroom door opened. Haley looked up and gasped.

"Lucas!" she put her hands over her chest. "Oh my God! You scared the crap out of me!"

"I bet", he folded his arms.

"Wait…how did you get in here? Why are you here? Lucas…"

He gave an innocent shrug.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was just in the neighborhood?"

"No", she frowned. "Or better yet, yes, considering you seem to be everywhere I am lately. What gives, Luke? You know, you're really starting to creep me out. Why are you acting like this?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions. Maybe it's my turn."

She could tell he was angry.

"I think you should go."

"Why? You busy?"

"As a matter of fact, I am."

Lucas nodded playing along.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Actually, you did."

He laughed a sinister laugh out loud.

"Forgive me. Maybe I should have called first."

"Maybe you should have…"

"But on second thought, why? Since when does a man have to call his own house just to walk through the front door?"

"You no longer live here and that's your choice. You made your bed and you may as well lie in it, considering you already have with every slut from here to Timbuktu."

"Aren't you throwing a stone from a glass house, little Miss Perfect?"

"Excuse me? I'm not the one who cheated."

"Really? And how am I supposed to know that?"

Haley rolled her eyes and angrily shook her head.

"I'm not doing this with you anymore, Lucas. I'm not playing your stupid little damned games. You need to leave before I…"

"Before you what? Go get your little boyfriend?"

"Luke…"

"I'm not stupid! I know what's going on here."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you have another dude here."

"Lucas Scott!"

"Who is he, Hales? Huh? Tell me. Who is this time? Is it Nate? Or let me guess, your new guy, the mystery man."

"Luke!"

He was growing angrier by the second.

"You're a fucking slut, you know that", he sneered.

Haley's mouth fell open in shock. She had never seen him like that. The stranger was in front of her.

"Lucas…"

With the swat of his hand, he knocked over some of the knick knacks she had collected over the years from yard sales. They were her prized possessions, stacked neatly on little shelves. But he had no regard for them…just like Haley had no regard for him. She was playing him for a fool.

"I don't know who the hell you are but you got exactly ten seconds to get your ass out here!" Lucas screamed towards the still closed bedroom door.

"Luke, please. Stop it!"

"You might think you're real cool laying up in my house, eating my food, sleeping in my bed, fucking my woman but we'll see how cool you are when I beat your ass to a bloody pulp! Divorce papers or no divorce papers, I'm Lucas Scott and she's still my wife!"

The door opened and Lucas was ready to throw hands. But the man that emerged was no stranger and it wasn't his brother. It was his brother on law.

"Dude, are you on crack?"

"Adam?" Lucas asked.

"What the hell is your problem? What are you doing here?"

"I…"

"Did my sister ask you to leave?"

Tears fell down Haley's cheeks and she tried to wipe them away.

"Look, man, I…"

"No. No excuses. I think you need to leave…now!"

Lucas nodded, feeling like a fool as he looked around and surveyed the physical damage he had done to the inside of the apartment and the emotional carnage he had done to Haley. She was a trembling, crying mess.

"Adam, I…"

"Luke!" he said more forcefully stepping up.

Lucas conceded and put his hands up in an act of surrender.

"Okay, okay. You're right. I'm sorry. I just…I just lost control, alright?"

"Whatever", Adam muttered as he opened the door for his still frazzled brother in law. "Just leave!"

Lucas bit his lip as he realized how crazed and unfounded his actions had been. He turned to her, his eyes watery and pleading.

"Hales, I'm sorry. I…I'll pay for this…"

"Just go", she whispered.

And that was all he could do. With his head hung in shame, he walked back to the truck. The clouds that had been threatening the whole day finally gave promise on their warnings and let loose, pouring rain from the dark night sky. The heavy drops drenched him as thunder clapped loudly followed by bright flashes of lightening. His face was wet from the weather but the rain only mixed with his own tears. He was a sad, pathetic excuse for a man out of control and he knew it. Sitting in the truck clutching the wheel, he could only sob, ashamed of what he had had done…ashamed of who he was.