Three months to forever

SHATTERED. I stood at the balcony staring at the wilting flowers, the fallen leaves mirroring the broken promises and fallen dreams and hopes I had. My life had been wilting away slowly since I found out Noah cheated on me. And even worse, it was not just infidelity, he had a child with her. I stopped tending to the garden after he asked for a divorce, so they were also holding on for their dear lives just like I was, except I was fighting for my mental health. It still did not seem real and was beyond me. Why would someone that loved me so much suddenly switch on me, and act distant to me? At first, I thought it was because I was pregnant, and I was beginning to look ugly like the tales of the women I’ve heard about. Sometimes, I’d tell myself I was just overthinking, and considering the way he loved me, I was just letting the insecurities get to me. I sighed, subconsciously clutching my stomach, wondering what I did wrong to deserve all he did to me. I was a fool, and I turned a blind eye to the glaring signs. “Madam, your breakfast is ready,” Madam Claire, the mansion’s keeper brought me out of my reverie. “Thanks Madam Claire,” I muttered, turning to follow her to the dining. I could smell Noah’s perfume, letting me know that he was home. But as usual, I was a sore sight he’d always avoid. It was pathetic and annoying to say the least. I stared at the dish in front of me. These days, his best foods were the only thing I ate, because that was the only way I could somehow be with him. A tear streaked down my left cheek as a memory surfaced in my mind. “C’mon Noah, it’s not that spicy.” I bounced around in front of him trying to get him to take a sip from the soup I made him. I tried making his favorite food, and after taking a spoon, he jokingly said it was too spicy. “Lyn, you don’t belong in the kitchen my love,” He added jokingly, causing me to stop and cross my arms. My face schooled an angry expression, and I hmphed. “No problem then, starve to death,” I muttered, carrying the bowl of soup to my side of the table to eat it. He came to my side with another spoon and grinned at me. “What do you think you’re doing mister?” I quizzed, genuinely confused as to why he was grinning. What was so b****y funny? “You look so hot when you’re angry, my love.” He said and then kissed me when I opened my mouth to retort. I remembered my cheeks flushing till they were almost red while his tongue swirled against mine. He slowly grabbed my neck with his hand and brought me closer to him, deepening the kiss. Then he looked me dead in the eye and smiled. “If you’re to feed me, this is the only way I want you to do it.” He said with a cocky smile. I was still in shock from the earlier kiss so I could not form any coherent words. “By, b, by-” I tried and he nodded his head. “Yes Lyn, Kiss me.” I widened my eyes in shock and almost choked on my saliva. He simply chuckled and ruffled my hair like I was a cute pet dog he owned. Well, he owned me. Used to own me… Not anymore. I wiped my tears as Noah entered the dining room, his cologne filling the air. I glanced up at him, my heart squeezing at the fact that I still thought he was beautiful. I still loved him. So much. He sat down on the other end of the table, completely ignoring my presence. I smiled sadly; it wasn’t something surprising to me anymore. I was the unwanted wife anyway. The clinking of silverware pulled me back to the present. My stomach rumbled, but I had lost my appetite. A choked sob escaped my lips, barely audible. He didn't even turn his head. The air crackled with unspoken words, a heavy tension that suffocated me. A pang of longing shot through me, a ridiculous notion considering everything. I remembered the times we used to have breakfast together, laughing over silly things, stealing bites from each other's plates. Now, the air hung heavy with an unspoken tension that suffocated me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched him eat with a practiced indifference. It was like watching a stranger inhabit his familiar body. The way he held his fork, the way he sipped his coffee, all these tiny details that used to be endearing felt alien now. Suddenly, he looked up and our eyes met. A flicker of something, maybe guilt, maybe annoyance, crossed his face before it vanished, replaced by his usual stoic mask. "I'll be at Lisa's tonight," he announced, his voice flat. The raw sting of his words ripped through me. Lisa. The name that had become synonymous with betrayal, a constant reminder of his infidelity. Why did he have to tell me? Didn't he understand that every word, every action, was a fresh wound on my already shattered heart? Fury, despite the crushing despair I felt, bubbled up inside me. "Why are you telling me?" My voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper. He turned to look at me and stood up from his chair, towering over me. I met his cold and distant gaze with teary eyes. Didn’t he see that I was already broken? "Because you're my wife, Evelyn, and apparently, you need reminding." he said, his voice dripping with a mockery that sent a fresh wave of tears down my face. "Apparently not wife enough to keep you faithful," I spat back, the words laced with venom. "So why does it matter where you spend the night or the day?" A muscle in his jaw clenched. "Don't act like you don't care," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't," I lied, my voice cracking. "Go to hell for all I care!" Regret clawed at me the moment the words left my lips. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of hurt crossing his face before it was replaced by an indifferent expression. "That's what I thought," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. "That's why I asked for a divorce six months ago, Evelyn. But you refused." The way he said my name was different now, painfully different. He called it like it disgusted him. And with the little humor I had left, I thought that he probably fires or rejects every Evelyn that comes to apply for a job at any of his companies. No. EVELYNs. Allowed.