IN THE STILLNESS, HER NAME

Rain tapped lightly against the windshield as Annabelle parked her sleek black SUV outside the penthouse. The city lights reflected dimly on the wet pavement, bathing the world in a melancholic silver glow. She sat silently for a moment, the engine humming softly beneath her. Her fingers curled around the steering wheel, steady but tense. Her heart whispered warnings, but she silenced them. Tonight was supposed to be different. Clutching her red leather purse, she stepped out into the cool night. The rain had softened into a drizzle. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished stone walkway as she approached the tall, glass-panelled entrance. The building loomed above her—modern, cold, and quiet. A perfect shell for the secrets it held. Inside, the elevator ride felt endless. Floor after floor passed in silence, broken only by the soft ding as she reached the top. Suite 19C. She slid the key into the lock, her hand trembling slightly. The door creaked open. At first, it was just stillness. Then the smell hit her—a strange perfume. Sweet, heavy, and unfamiliar. She stepped in. Her eyes scanned the dimly lit room. And then she saw them. Him. Her. Their bed. Blake. With another woman. A brunette, half-dressed in black lace, curled against him like she belonged there. Annabelle stood frozen. The colour had drained from her once beautiful face. Her vibrant green eyes, once full of life, now darkened with something deeper—something broken. "Blake?" "How could you do this to me, Blake?" Her voice cracked, barely more than a whisper. It wasn’t really a question. She was speaking more to herself than to him. Blake rolled off the bed at the sound of her voice, his eyes narrowing. He stood—naked and unbothered. “What’s your problem?” He mumbled, running a hand through his hair as if trying to calm himself. Annabelle’s breath hitched as tears gathered in her eyes. She fought them back, but they still spilt, trailing down the soft curves of her face and chin. “What now?” "I wasn't expecting you here tonight, so how come you knew I was here huh?" He paused and continued. "Don't tell me you've been monitoring me?" He questioned coldly. "Blake!" She called his name again, this time sobbing. “What? What have I done this time?” Blake snapped Her heart clenched, as though a dagger had been thrust into it. She looked at him, confused and crushed. Was this really the man she once loved? “I told you... I wasn’t ready for this. For us,” Blake said, gesturing wildly. Then he pointed a finger at her, gritting his teeth. “But you, Annabelle—you forced me into it.” There was a sharp thud. Annabelle’s red leather purse hit the floor. She stared at him in disbelief. “What are you even saying, Blake?” "The proposal you made, the ring you gave me. Was it all just for show?" Annabelle screamed at him, holding back. If she isn't careful, at this rate. She might do something really bad. She ends up hurting herself. Blake scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Oh please. Don’t start crying now. I hate when you do that manipulative crap.” He avoided her eyes. From the bed, a woman’s voice cut in—soft, seductive, impatient. “Sweetheart, how long are you going to keep me waiting?” "By the way, who is that woman?" She was a brunette, lounging half-naked in nothing but a black bra and G-string. Blake turned to her and smiled. "Oh, she's....huh, my wife." He said. "Give me a second, babe. I’ll sort this out.” Then he looked back at Annabelle, his tone completely different—cold, dismissive. “Look, I’m busy. We’ll talk later.” “Blake…” Annabelle tried, her voice trembling. But he raised his hand, cutting her off. “For God’s sake, can’t you hear me? I said I’m busy!” She flinched, stunned by the harshness in his tone. “You’re a fool,” She said in a voice barely above a whisper. “You’ll regret treating me like this.” “Oh, now you care?” Blake sneered. “You married me for my money, remember?” His words were daggers, piercing deep. Annabelle gasped. Her lungs felt frozen. Her heart was unravelling with every word he hurled at her. “Since money’s all you ever wanted,” he continued, “just keep pretending this marriage is working like you always have.” “You think I married you for your damn money?” She shouted suddenly. It wasn’t anger that fueled her voice—it was heartbreak. “To hell with you and your money.” She stepped forward, eyes burning with pain as she looked at the other woman in their matrimonial bed. “I’m done.” Her voice shook as she slid the wedding ring off her finger and tossed it at him. “I’m leaving you. Tonight.” Blake caught the ring and smirked. “Well, thanks for returning it. You do realize this ring is worth millions, right? If I were you, I’d have sold it.” Annabelle clenched her jaw, gathering what was left of her dignity. She picked up her purse and turned to leave. But Blake wasn’t finished. “You really want to make a rash decision like that?” He called after her. “Fine. But I’ll make sure every account connected to you is frozen. And that’s not all—I'll use every connection I have to make sure you’ll never work in this city again.” Annabelle paused at the door, then slowly straightened her shoulders. Blake was a monster. A coward. A bully. She turned her head slightly and whispered one last thing before walking out. “Go to hell.” Then she opened the door—and disappeared into the night.