New Year’s Crush

Chapter 1: Under the Fireworks The rooftop is buzzing with energy as the countdown to New Year’s Eve begins. I stand at the edge, the cool winter air stinging my face, but I don't care. The city below sparkles with a thousand lights, reflecting the excitement I’m supposed to feel. It’s supposed to be magical tonight—a fresh start, a new year, and the perfect moment to share the news I’ve been holding in for weeks. “Annabelle, you look stunning!” A voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. I turn to see Kate, one of David’s colleagues, smiling at me with a glass of champagne in her hand. “Thanks,” I force a smile, holding my glass but not taking a sip. I try to act like everything is fine, but my stomach churns with nerves. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. Tonight, under the fireworks, I’m going to tell David that I’m pregnant. This is our moment. This is going to change everything. “David’s been talking about you all night,” Kate continues, glancing around the crowded rooftop. “He’s so excited.” “Yeah, he’s great,” I say, but my words feel hollow. I want to believe it’s true, but the doubt gnaws at me. David’s been distant for a while now. We’ve hardly had any time together—he’s always working, always distracted. I push the thought away. Tonight is about us. It has to be. As the countdown to midnight continues, I spot David across the crowd. He’s laughing with some people, looking more at ease than I’ve seen him in weeks. He’s dressed in a sharp black suit, his blond hair perfectly styled, and the confident smile I fell in love with lighting up his face. I should be happy—this is the man I married, the man I thought I’d grow old with. But something feels off. I take a deep breath and walk toward him. As I move closer, I see a woman—young, beautiful, and flirtatious—standing beside him. Her laughter rings out, a little too loud, a little too familiar. She’s leaning in closer than she should, her hand on his arm. I freeze. David’s eyes meet mine, and for a second, they flicker with something—guilt? I can’t be sure. “Annabelle!” David says, his voice warm but slightly strained. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer, but I feel the tension in his touch. “This is Lindsay, one of my clients. Lindsay, this is my wife, Annabelle.” Lindsay smiles at me with a practiced, almost too-perfect grin. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she says, but there’s something in her eyes. I don’t like it. David’s hand lingers on my back, but it’s not the affectionate touch I crave. It’s stiff, detached. He’s trying too hard, as if I’m a part of the scene he’s playing out, not someone he truly wants to be close to. “Nice to meet you too,” I reply, my voice calm but tight. My heart pounds in my chest, but I force a smile, trying to hide the unease that’s spreading through me like wildfire. “Annabelle, come on, have a drink,” David says, pushing a glass of champagne into my hand, but I barely register the gesture. My mind is spinning, my thoughts racing. The countdown is at ten seconds now, and everything around me seems to blur. The noise, the laughter, the bright lights—they’re all a distant echo in my ears. All I can think about is the woman in front of me, her hand still resting on David’s arm, her smile still directed at him like she’s trying to claim a piece of him. “Five… four… three…” The crowd chants, the excitement building as we all prepare to ring in the new year. But it feels like the world is moving in slow motion for me. My breath catches as David turns back to Lindsay, his hand brushing against hers. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but it doesn’t matter. My heart sinks. “Two… one…” “Happy New Year!” the crowd erupts, and the fireworks burst into the sky, their vibrant colors lighting up the night. The explosion of sound and light should be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, but all I can hear is the pounding in my chest. David leans in, as if to kiss me, but before our lips can meet, he glances back at Lindsay, offering her a smile that’s too familiar, too comfortable. The moment is gone. I pull away from him. “I’ll be right back,” I say, my voice strained as I turn and walk away, not waiting for his response. I can hear him calling after me, but I don’t stop. My feet take me towards the door, to the staircase leading down to the quieter part of the rooftop, where I can breathe. But I’m not alone for long. “Annabelle, wait!” David’s voice cuts through the noise, and I feel his hand on my arm. He spins me around to face him, his expression now a mix of confusion and concern. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like this?” I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but it’s impossible. The tears are already burning behind my eyes. “I thought we were having a moment,” I say, my voice breaking. “You were supposed to kiss me, David. To be here with me. But you were too busy with her.” His face falls, and for a second, I see the man I married—the one who used to hold me and whisper sweet things in my ear. But it’s only for a second. “You’re overreacting,” he says, his tone sharp now. “It’s nothing. Lindsay’s just a client. You know how these things work.” I shake my head, disbelief washing over me. “It’s not nothing, David. It’s never just nothing with you.” I look away, unable to meet his gaze. The hurt is too much, too raw. “Annabelle…” David starts, but his voice is too distant, too defensive. I don’t want to hear it anymore. “I can’t do this anymore,” I whisper, my voice shaking. I pull away from him and reach into my clutch for the envelope I’ve been carrying all night. I hand it to him, my heart pounding. “I’m done.” David stares at the envelope, his eyes widening as the realization hits. “What is this?” “Divorce papers,” I say flatly. “I’m signing them. I’ve waited too long for you to see me, to care about me, and I can’t keep waiting for someone who isn’t there.” His face turns pale. “Annabelle, don’t do this. Please. We can work things out.” But I shake my head, my resolve hardening. “It’s too late.” I turn and walk away, my feet carrying me down the staircase and through the quiet hallway. The cool air hits me when I step outside, but it feels like a release, like I’m finally breathing again. The weight on my chest lifts, even though I feel more broken than ever. I sit on the edge of the building, the sounds of the party fading away behind me. The fireworks continue to light up the sky, but I don’t see them. My thoughts are with David, with the betrayal I never expected. “I can’t believe it,” I whisper to myself. “I can’t believe this is happening.” A voice breaks through the silence, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. “Annabelle?” I turn to see Zara standing there, his face filled with concern. “Are you okay?” he asks softly, his deep green eyes searching mine. I blink, unsure of how to answer. I want to tell him everything, to explain the hurt that’s coursing through me, but I can’t find the words. “I…I don’t know,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. Zara sits beside me, his presence steady and comforting. “I’m here for you, Annabelle. You don’t have to say anything. Just know that you’re not alone.” I nod, leaning into his warmth, feeling an unexpected sense of relief. For the first time tonight, I feel like I’m not completely drowning. But I know the road ahead is going to be hard. I just hope, somehow, that Zara can help me find my way out of this mess.