One Night Before Goodbye

Chapter Four – Morning Hope, Evening Storm

(Zara’s POV)

The coldness between us had started small.

It started with Roman leaving the bed in the mornings without kissing me. Then, the little touches stopped, his eyes no longer lingered on me when I wore a new dress and turning our backs to each other at nights became a habit.

Even though there had not been any heated disagreement, both of us could not deny knowing the reason behind this. No child.

Roman was born carrying the wealth of an empire that he never asked for.

His father has a strong voice that can crack walls and his heart is as strong as steel. He takes bloodlines seriously.

Roman is his only son and only heir. His mother died young and his father remarried. The new wife gave birth to two daughters and the older daughter had given birth to a boy.

At every family gathering, the boy would sit on his grandfather’s lap. Roman would sit across the table with me, our empty hands reminding everyone of what we didn’t have. A child.

The tests said nothing was wrong. I was healthy and Roman was healthy too. But year passed after year and there are no cries of a baby in our big house.

The rocky relationship between Roman and his father became worse. At any opportunity, he would speak of properties and shares with the boy in mind, hinting that Roman’s inheritance was not guaranteed.

Roman never blamed me with words, but his silence was louder than the accusations. Gradually, I saw the warmth and love he had for me reduce each passing month.

When I woke up, my face was still pressed against his chest, the same way it was when we slept off and one of his arms was stretched across the sheets.

I listened to his heart beat as I traced the line of his chin with my eyes first and then my fingers.

He moved, half-asleep, tightening his arm around my waist. It felt like before when everything was fine. If last night had been a dream, then I never wanted to wake. I imagined telling Tessa later with my voice rushing with excitement.

“Roman,” I whispered, pressing my lips to his neck.

He hummed with his eyes still closed.

I raised my head up and kissed his chin. “Happy anniversary husband.”

This time, he opened his eyes. The hardness in his eyes was softened with sleep. He held the back of my neck in his palm, pulled me close and kissed me. Not on the forehead like he had been doing for months but full on the lips.

My heart rang with joy and I wanted the moment to stay forever.

“I have to be in the office early,” he murmured after the kiss, brushing his lips once more against my lips before getting out of bed.

He went into the bathroom and a few seconds later, steam clouded the mirror.

I laid back on the bed, holding the sheets to my chest and smiling. “Maybe we are finding our way back,” I whispered to the empty room.

He dressed quickly and left. I also showered and left for my gift boutique.

Today wasn’t just any day. It was our anniversary, and I was determined to mark it.

By mid-morning, I was at a boutique on Victoria Island, standing before a glass counter glowing under soft lights.

“I’ll take this,” I told the attendant, pointing at a vintage watch with a black leather strap and a face like liquid silver.

I slid my card across the counter to get my receipt printed and the watch in its box was placed in a glossy bag.

I silently prayed that his face would soften tonight the way it used to whenever he unwrapped my gifts.

As I walked out of the boutique, my phone vibrated. I looked at the screen and paused. Mother-in-law.

“Zara.” Before I even greeted, Evelyn called sharply, with an authority that has always disturbed me. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well mother,” I answered, changing the bag from one hand to the other.

“What about Roman?”

“He’s fine and as busy as always.”

There was a pause before she spoke again. “Zara, you know we are not getting younger. The matter of children… what are you doing about it? You’ve been married for five years now. Do you know how shameful this is for Roman?”

I held the phone tighter. “We are trying.”

“You’ve been trying and nothing has come out of it. Claudia’s son is already running around the house.”

My throat burned, but I made sure my voice stayed calm. “We’ll handle it, mother.”

She hissed. “I hope you do. You know what’s at stake.”

The call ended.

This wasn’t the first time Evelyn would mock my failure to give birth. She didn’t even want me to have a child, since it gives her daughter’s son a chance at inheritance.

“Oh Zara,” she said one day, at the long dining table at The Vale’s Estate, smiling with a fake sweetness. “Are you eating enough? You’re looking thinner these days. You know you need to take care of your body in order to get… pregnant.”

The table went silent and every eye suddenly looked at me. Roman shifted uncomfortably beside me, but he didn’t say anything.

As if that was not enough, Claudia’s little boy chose that moment to shake the table playfully and adoration followed him like a royal prince.

Evelyn bent down and carried him on her lap. “Now, here is proof that our bloodline is secure…” she started kissing his cheek loudly. “A healthy grandson,” she finished, looking in the direction of Roman’s father.

Roman’s father smiled, and his face brightened in a way they never did for me.

That day, I just sat there with my face burning, holding my fork tightly.

By evening, I had it all. The gift was in my hand, my dress hugged my curves and my makeup was soft but noticeable. I wanted him to look at me and remember.

The driver dropped me in front of Roman’s office building. My heart pounded with excitement, fear and hope.

Again, I said a silent prayer. This time, I prayed that we would leave this building together tonight with Roman’s arm around my waist as we headed to the restaurant I reserved for dinner, where I would also give him his present.

The receptionist smiled politely as I walked in. She knows who I am. Mrs. Vale. Everybody here does.

I got into the elevator, and it hummed as it carried me up. My image on the elevator glass walls looked composed and perfect, but inside me, I was trembling.

I walked into his office. The lights were on, and his jacket hung over his chair, but he wasn’t there.

“Roman?” I called softly, putting the gift bag on his desk.

There was no response. And then, I heard a faint laughter, coming from the closed door of his inner office.

I froze. The laugh came again. Bright, familiar and unmistakable.

Tessa.