My Heartless Husband (Book 1 Heartless series)

The day she proposed him..

The next morning Sarah woke up with swollen eyes. Turning towards Anthony, she saw his back facing her. Still hurt by his last night insensitivity she got up from the bed and heeded towards the bathroom.

Looking at her swollen eyes and teared cheeks, she splashed water on her face. Wiping it with a towel , she came out of the bathroom. She saw Anthony awake and sitting on the bed starring at her. She wanted to avoid his gaze " I am going to prepare breakfast " she said without looking at him and left their bedroom as quickly as possible.

By the time Anthony got ready and came down, wearing his business formals, Sarah was already sitting in the dinning chair with a delicious breakfast being laid out on the table. She didn't start eating which meant that she was waiting for him. 

Anthony sighed and sat down quietly. They both had their breakfast in silence. After finishing his coffee, Anthony took his laptop bag to get going. Sarah too stood up  to clear the table.

Sighing Anthony said in a soft voice"Bye". To which Sarah replied without looking at him "Bye".

As he walked to the front door Sarah turned to look at his back. She kept looking at his departing figure secretly wishing him to turn back to her and take her in his arms. But Anthony never looked back. From the living room window she saw him drive away. 

Releasing a disappointing sigh , she went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of mint coffee. Mint coffee and a walk in the garden are the two things from her daily routine which worked as a therapy for her. With the hot cup of coffee she strolled bare foot on the white pebbled pathway of her garden. The beautiful fountain in her garden attracted many birds. As see watched the birds happily chirping and playing with the water, a smile formed on her face as she remembered her maiden days, when she was carefree and didn't care to please anyone. 

Soon memories from last night's engulfed her thoughts again. She walked to the Victorian gazebo which was placed in the middle of a small artificial water body. She sat down on the swing kept inside the gazebo and closed her eyes as she tried to remember the day she had proposed Anthony for marriage.

14 th February of last year. She was awaiting Anthony in a French terrace restaurant ,Le Cirque. Unaware of her intentions, Anthony arrived one hour late and was surprised to see a romantic setting. He saw Sarah dressed in a white fur jacket, black skinny jeans and black high boots, starring at the distant lights of the city. Her back was facing him, so she didn't notice him entering the restaurant.

Though it was Valentine's day, Anthony was surprised to find the famous restaurant empty. "What's up with people today." he thought to himself.

As he came behind Sarah , she suddenly turned and was delighted to see him. Without saying anything she hugged Anthony and wished him "Happy Valentine's day". Taken aback Anthony freed himself from the hug and replied " Wish you the same". He paused trying to analyse the situation, the romantic settings, the empty restaurant, Sarah's sudden show up in Boston, was giving him an uneasy feeling.

Clearing his throat he asked "What brings you to Boston all of a sudden? Are you on official work?"

Sarah was a bit disappointed at Anthony's reaction. She was hoping him to be excited to meet her as much as she was excited to meet him. Not letting him see her disappointment she said " Yup am on a personal business. Let's have dinner ,come." 

They sat down on a table that was lighted with scented candle. As he sat down , Anthony saw two glasses and a bottle of champagne already being laid on the table.A waiter came and opened the bottle and filled their glasses. 

Sipping the champagne, Sarah gave a teasing stare to Anthony. Feeling nervous Anthony gulped down his champagne avoiding Sarah's gaze.  

Another waiter came with two bowls of  Soupe à L'oignon , a famous French soup. Anthony was astonished as he did not remember them ordering for food. He said to Sarah " It seems you have already ordered on my behalf."

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders and answered in a joking manner " Thanks. See these are the perks that you get when you have a person like me in your life. And don't worry you wont regret your dinner."

 Anthony looked at her trying to read between her lines . "Is it so? OK lets see what all you had ordered." he said in a mocking tone. 

 After they had finished the soup another waiter came to clear the table. Suddenly as if remembering something Anthony asked Sarah " Why is the restaurant empty today? Normally it remains packed every single day. Isn't it strange?

Sarah nervously wiped her mouth with a napkin. " No idea. Maybe God is granting us some privacy, knowing that you hate crowds" she joked again.

Anthony narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. He was about to say something when another waiter arrived with their main course , Steak Au Poivre. He was surprised to see his favorite dish and looked up to see her happy  and satisfied smiling face.

They both completed their dinner talking about topics which were work related . Both being architects had many things in common to discuss. After finishing their main course , they were served with  Crème au caramel , Anthony's favorite French dessert.

By the time they were done with the desert, it was 10 p.m. Looking at his watch Anthony said " Let's get going. By the way where are you staying. "

Sarah lowered her gaze , fighting her emotions to not to  show up on her face. "In a hotel " she replied. 

"OK lets go" Anthony said and took out his wallet to pay the bill.

Noticing Anthony take out his card Sarah got up from her seat and said looking down at him " Its already paid Anthony". Turning her back to him , she walked up to the edge and leaned on the railings and stared at the distant sky.

Anthony grabbed his coat and walked towards her and asked in a soft voice "Shall we leave?".

Sarah turned and took his hand on hers and knelt down on  both of her knees. She released a sigh and gathered courage to look up to him and said "Anthony, I love you.I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me. Somewhere between laughing for no reason, stupid arguments, and making fun of each other, I fell in love with you.Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you.My heart to you is given; will you give yours to me?" 

She stopped to take a deep breath and then added "Will you please marry me Anthony?"

Anthony was shocked and  stood still not moving an inch. Sarah shook his hands that she was holding and asked again" Say something. Marry me please."

Swallowing hard , Anthony withdrew his hands from her hands. "No" he answered. Turning his back he tried to leave as quick as possible  to avoid her confrontations.

Sarah jumped up and stopped him by grabbing his wrist and made him turn to face her . Trying not to cry out she asked in a shaky voice "  But why Anthony? We had been seeing each other for the past 8 years. We are friends. You always knew that I have genuine feelings for you, then why are you walking away from me?"

Again freeing his hand from Sarah's grip, he answered her in a bitter tone "Seeing each other? c*m on Sarah just because we slept with each other on certain weak moments doesn't mean  that we are in any kind of relationship.  I never promised you  of any commitments. Don't act  a victim as if you don't know me. From the very first time that we slept with each other, I made it clear that I am not in love with you. Now don't make me break our friendship too."

He turned his back to her and started to walk out of the restaurant. Sarah stood in her spot , wiping her tears and trying to accept Anthony's rejection.

She smiled bitterly and thought to herself " Pretty much what I had been expecting. What made me think that Anthony would change his heart for me.  He just proved that am still no one in his life. No matter what I do he wont allow me to mend his loneliness."

Turning to the manager and waiters who gave her an apologetic look, she smiled at them and said " Thank you for your service. Good night."

She grabbed her handbag and left the restaurant. Back on the road , she got inside a taxi and instructed the driver to head towards the airport . As the cool February breeze blew across her face, she leaned on the back seat of the car  and thought " All my efforts to surprise him ended up giving him a shock instead. I have saved for months so that I could afford to pay  twice the amount , in order to book the entire restaurant for the  Valentine's evening as Anthony doesn't like going out in crowded areas. Instead he asked me whether I was here on business. Yes I was here for him." She closed her eyes and let her tears to fall down her cheeks.

 The intensity of the pain of a broken heart can only be compensated by the love from the person who had it broken in the first place.