Chapter Seven
913 Words
The Night of Tears
The rain began shortly after sunset.
Heavy drops struck the mansion windows, turning the outside world into a blur of gray and black.
Elena sat alone in the living room.
The house was unusually quiet.
Adrian hadn't come home yet.
Again.
She already knew where he was.
Vanessa.
The answer was always Vanessa.
A servant approached carefully.
"Mrs. Hart, would you like dinner?"
Elena forced a smile.
"No, thank you."
The servant nodded sympathetically before leaving.
As soon as she was alone again, Elena wrapped her arms around herself.
Lately, the loneliness felt heavier than ever.
The mansion seemed larger.
Colder.
Emptier.
She glanced at the clock.
9:30 PM.
Still no sign of Adrian.
Her phone remained confiscated.
She couldn't even call Mira.
Not that Adrian cared.
As far as he was concerned, Elena existed only when he wanted her to.
The sound of thunder shook the windows.
Elena flinched.
Storms always reminded her of the orphanage.
Back then, whenever thunder scared her, Mira would sneak into her bed and tell silly stories until she fell asleep.
Those memories felt precious now.
Because they were among the few happy memories she had.
Hours passed.
Finally, around midnight, headlights flashed through the front windows.
Adrian was home.
Elena stood automatically.
Part of her still hoped.
Still waited.
Still wanted something from him.
A smile.
A kind word.
Anything.
The front door opened.
And immediately, her hopes died.
Vanessa entered first.
Laughing.
Adrian followed behind her.
His arm wrapped around her waist.
They looked happy.
Comfortable.
Like a real couple.
Elena felt invisible.
Vanessa noticed her immediately.
"Oh look."
She smirked.
"The wife is still awake."
Adrian didn't even glance at Elena.
Instead, he helped Vanessa remove her coat.
A simple gesture.
Yet Elena couldn't remember the last time he had done something so thoughtful for her.
Vanessa turned dramatically.
"Adrian, I'm thirsty."
"I'll get you something."
And just like that, Adrian walked into the kitchen.
For Vanessa.
Not for his wife.
For Vanessa.
The humiliation burned.
Vanessa approached Elena slowly.
Her expensive perfume filled the air.
"You know," Vanessa said softly, "I almost feel sorry for you."
Elena remained silent.
"I said almost."
Vanessa smiled cruelly.
"Because honestly, if a man treated me the way Adrian treats you, I would be too embarrassed to stay."
The words hit their target.
Perfectly.
Vanessa knew exactly where to strike.
She always did.
A few moments later, Adrian returned carrying a glass of water.
Vanessa accepted it with a bright smile.
Then she kissed his cheek.
Right in front of Elena.
As though she were nothing.
As though she didn't exist.
As though she wasn't his wife.
Something inside Elena finally broke.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
Like fragile glass cracking beneath too much pressure.
Vanessa eventually left.
The moment the front door closed, Adrian headed toward the staircase.
But Elena stopped him.
"Adrian."
He paused.
Slowly.
Annoyed already.
"What?"
Her hands trembled.
Her heart pounded.
Yet somehow she forced the words out.
"Why?"
He frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why do you hate me?"
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Painful.
Honest.
Adrian stared at her.
For a moment, she thought he might answer seriously.
Instead, he sighed.
As though she were exhausting.
"I don't hate you."
The words should have comforted her.
They didn't.
"Then why do you treat me like this?"
Silence.
Then Adrian laughed softly.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
Coldly.
"You always make yourself the victim."
Elena felt tears sting her eyes.
"I've done everything for you."
"I never asked you to."
The answer stole her breath.
Every sacrifice.
Every tear.
Every year.
Dismissed in a single sentence.
"I loved you."
Her voice cracked.
For the first time, Adrian's expression shifted.
Not to guilt.
Not to regret.
To irritation.
"That's your problem."
The words struck harder than any slap.
"Love doesn't magically make me love you back."
Elena froze.
The room seemed to spin around her.
Adrian took a step closer.
His voice low.
"I told you before we got married."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I never loved you."
The same words.
The same knife.
Six years later.
Still cutting just as deeply.
Then Adrian turned around.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving Elena standing alone in the hallway.
Again.
---
Hours later, Elena sat on the floor beside her bed.
The room was dark.
Only moonlight illuminated the space.
Tears streamed down her face.
She wasn't even trying to stop them anymore.
For years, she had convinced herself things would improve.
That Adrian would change.
That love would be enough.
But tonight, something felt different.
For the first time, she wasn't crying because Adrian didn't love her.
She was crying because she finally realized he never would.
The truth hurt.
But there was also something strangely freeing about it.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Elena quickly wiped her eyes.
The bedroom door opened slightly.
A maid stepped inside.
"Mrs. Hart?"
"Yes?"
The woman hesitated.
Then quietly handed her a folded note.
"It's from Miss Mira."
Elena's heart warmed instantly.
After the maid left, she unfolded the note.
Inside were only a few words.
You deserve better. And one day, you'll believe it too. Love, Mira.
Fresh tears filled Elena's eyes.
But this time they weren't entirely sad.
Because somewhere deep inside her heart...
a tiny spark had finally begun to wake up.
And once hope awakens, even the darkest nights cannot stop the dawn.
- Writer
