He lost me when he chose her

After the applause

ANIYA’S POV

The rest of the award ceremony passed in a blur.

Aniya sat in her seat with a polite smile on her face, applauding when everyone else did and nodding along to conversations she barely heard. Her chest felt tight, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop replaying Corbin's words in her head.

"There are some people who come into your life and change it forever."

"Kenzie, thank you for being that person for me."

The applause that had filled the ballroom moments ago had faded, but the ache those words left behind remained.

Beside her, Corbin seemed completely unaware of the storm raging inside her. He carried on conversations with colleagues, accepting congratulations and discussing upcoming projects as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Aniya felt as though something important had shifted inside her.

For the first time in years, she found herself wondering if love alone was enough to save a marriage.

As the ceremony came to an end, guests slowly began making their way around the ballroom. Conversations filled the room as people celebrated the night's achievements.

Before Aniya could say anything, several people approached Corbin.

"Congratulations on the award."

"Your speech was incredible."

"The project was a huge success."

Corbin thanked each of them politely, quickly becoming engaged in conversations about future opportunities and upcoming events.

Aniya stood beside him quietly, feeling more like an observer than his wife.

Then she saw Kenzie approaching them.

"You were amazing up there," Corbin said, a genuine smile appearing on his face.

Kenzie laughed softly. "I was terrified."

"You couldn't even tell," Corbin replied.

Aniya watched the easy conversation unfold between them.

The smiles.

The familiarity.

The way Corbin seemed completely at ease around her.

For a moment, she wondered if she had ever looked at Corbin the same way Kenzie was looking at him now.

Or perhaps more painfully...

If Corbin had once looked at her that way too.

A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her.

"Corbin," she interrupted softly.

His attention shifted to her.

"You okay?" he asked.

Aniya forced a small smile.

"I'm just tired."

Concern flashed briefly across Corbin's expression.

"We can leave if you want."

Aniya glanced at Kenzie before looking back at him.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I'd like that."

The drive home was quiet.

Aniya stared out of the car window, watching the city lights blur past as silence filled the space between them.

Beside her, Corbin loosened his tie before glancing in her direction.

"You've been quiet ever since the ceremony ended," he said.

Aniya kept her gaze fixed outside.

"I'm fine."

Corbin frowned slightly.

"Is this about the speech?"

The question made her heart ache.

Slowly, she turned to look at him.

"What do you think?" she asked softly.

Confusion flashed across Corbin's face.

"Aniya, I was just thanking Kenzie," he said. "You're not upset because of that, are you?"

Aniya held his gaze for a few seconds before looking away again.

"I'm tired, Corbin."

The exhaustion in her voice made him sigh.

"I didn't mean to upset you," he said after a moment.

Aniya wanted to ask him if he truly understood what had hurt her.

She wanted to ask him if he realized how lonely she had felt for months.

Instead, she remained silent.

Because deep down, she was beginning to understand that the problem wasn't just the speech.

The problem was that she had spent years feeling like she was no longer the person Corbin chose first.

And somehow, he had never noticed.

The drive home was quiet.

Aniya stared out of the car window, watching the city lights blur past as silence filled the space between them.

Beside her, Corbin loosened his tie before glancing in her direction.

"You've been quiet ever since the ceremony ended," he said.

Aniya kept her gaze fixed outside.

"I'm fine."

Corbin frowned slightly.

"Is this about the speech?"

The question made her heart ache.

Slowly, she turned to look at him.

"What do you think?" she asked softly.

Confusion flashed across Corbin's face.

"Aniya, I was just thanking Kenzie," he said. "You're not upset because of that, are you?"

Aniya held his gaze for a few seconds before looking away again.

"I'm tired, Corbin."

The exhaustion in her voice made him sigh.

"I didn't mean to upset you," he said after a moment.

Aniya wanted to ask him if he truly understood what had hurt her.

She wanted to ask him if he realized how lonely she had felt for months.

Instead, she remained silent.

Because deep down, she was beginning to understand that the problem wasn't just the speech.

The problem was that she had spent years feeling like she was no longer the person Corbin chose first.

And somehow, he had never noticed.