When Diamonds Shatters

Danielle: The clatter of dishes echoed through the small, dimly lit kitchen as I scrubbed at a pot with my hands raw and trembling. The sound of raised voices in the next room made me flinch that I could hear Frank Devon's sharp, mocking tone, as he barked orders at his mother and sister, both of whom treated me no better than a servant. "Where's the tea, Elle?" Mrs. Devon's voice cut through the air. "Do you plan to let us die of thirst?" She continued furiously and the sound of the teapot whistling jolted me from my thoughts. "I'm coming," I called, my voice strained and weary. My hands trembled as I grabbed the handle, pouring the tea into the chipped cups that had become a symbol of my life here cracked, forgotten, and barely holding together. I hurriedly wiped my hands on the edge of my tattered dress, as I grabbed the chipped tray holding the teapot and cups. My steps were careful and my shoulders hunched under the weight of their disdain. As I entered the living room, Frank, my husband, lounged on the threadbare couch with his legs sprawled arrogantly across the floor. His sister, Gina, smirked as I set the tray on the table as gently as possible. His one arm slung over the back as he looked at me with that same sneer he always had. Gina sat perched on the armrest, her painted nails tapping against her phone. "Finally," Mrs Devon sneered. "Took you long enough. What were you doing all these while? Just to make an ordinary tea.” she continued. I lowered my gaze so as not to attract further trouble for myself because It was always safer not to look them in the eye. “I… I am sorry, Mother.” I apologized with my voice shaking like that of a leaf in winter. Gina scoffed. “Mother, why bother yourself with her? We all know she can't do anything. For God’s sake, she can't even do the one simple job a woman is supposed to do, you know, like having a baby. Ugh! ” she said with a smirk, not even glancing up. The words hit like a slap, even though I’d heard them a hundred times before. I pressed my lips together, willing myself not to cry in front of them. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction. Today was a special day for me and Frank. It was our fifth anniversary together and I wasn't going to let any of them ruin it for me. This was the only day I had a reason to smile, the day I chose love above everything else. I dashed my face towards Frank and wore a big smile on my face even though my appearance over the years in our marriage wasn't appealing to his eyes anymore. My white blonde hair had lost its shine and I was already looking so pale on the skin. One could say I haven't been taking proper care of myself. I sat beside him with my hands all wrapped around his shoulder. “ Happy anniversary babe. I assume you may have forgotten because you have been so busy lately but not to worry, I have got it covered.” Frank’s eyes traced me from my head down to my toe. “ Forgotten? No, No Elle, I didn't forget. I just didn't care.” He said plainly, removing my arms from his shoulders. My eyes welled with tears as Gina and Mrs Devon giggled at Frank’s reply as they patiently watched what was going to happen next. However, my voice faltered as I gathered the courage to speak again. “Frank…I was thinking ” I hesitated, watching his disinterested gaze flick to the television. I swallowed hard and pushed forward. “I was thinking we could do something special today. You know… it’s our anniversary.” Frank didn’t even glance in my direction. His mother, Mrs. Devon, snorted derisively. “Anniversary? What’s there to celebrate, Elle? A marriage that has brought nothing but shame to this family?” Gina laughed, a high, mocking sound that made my stomach churn. “Please, Mother, don’t waste your breath. I bet she thinks a handful of burned meals and her constant moping deserve a celebration.” Frank chuckled, his laughter grating against my nerves. “That’s enough, Gina. Don’t be too hard on her. After all, she’s doing her best, pathetic as it is.” He leaned forward, picked up his cup of tea, and took a slow sip. His eyes, cold and calculating, flickered over me like I was nothing more than an insect under his gaze. I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms to keep the tears from spilling over. I couldn’t break in front of them. Not again. “Is she, though?” Mrs. Devon drawled, stirring her tea. Her tone was deliberately mocking. “Sometimes I wonder if we’re keeping her out of pity. Imagine Frank, a man like you, stuck with her of all people. I told you she was only marrying you for your money, she has nothing to offer. Probably her womb was damaged long before she met you and now she's trying to make your lineage end.” His mother continued but my pinned lips escaped a whisper as I stood up to my feet. “ Frank, you know that's not true.” Frank set his cup down with a smirk. “Well, Mother, someone has to keep her in line, at least someone has to give her a last name. It’s a favor. Not many would take in a poor barren woman such as herself with no family and no name. How do you expect her to survive society?” He asked rhetorically and his piercing eyes fell back on me. “And what is not true, Elle?” He asked intensively. I blinked my eyes twice in fear as I coughed lightly. “I never married you for your money, neither was my womb damaged. ” I muttered. Frank’s eyes met his mother's as they all chuckled loudly, making an absolute mockery of me. The sound of their laughter echoed in my ears. “ Can you hear her? She didn't want your money.” Mrs. Devon spoke out loud as she tried to contain her laughter. Frank rested his body on the couch, crossing his legs with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “ You are a liar Elle. We both know that you had nothing when I met you, you came from nowhere!” He spat and a shock ran through my spine. I couldn’t stop the flash of pain that crossed my face, and Gina caught it. Her smirk deepened as she leaned closer, her voice a venomous whisper. “ You're just another part of my brother’s furniture. No children, no resources, no significant support, what is your use exactly, Elle?” The words sliced through me like a blade, reopening the wound of not being able to bear an heir for my husband. I grabbed the empty tray and turned away, my heart pounding in my chest. “Excuse me,” I muttered, retreating to the kitchen before the dam inside me could break but Frank was quick enough to pull me back. “ Hold on, babe. You said you planned something special for us. We can't let that go to waste right?” Frank said with a sweet approach in his voice. “ Yes, maybe she rented the whole of the famous Diamond suite just for you two. Like she can. Gina mocked sarcastically. I ignored the sting of her words, focusing on Frank. “It’s been five years, Frank,” I said softly, forcing a smile. “Maybe we could…” “Five years too long,” he cut in sharply, his gaze still glued on me as he cupped my cheeks into his large arms. “What do you think there is to celebrate? A life stuck with you? Don’t fool yourself, Elle.” The room fell silent except for the sound of the television. My chest tightened as my forced smile wavered. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Mrs. Devon grabbed her cup of tea and took a sip. “I should’ve known you’d ruin today for my son,” she said coldly, setting the cup down with a loud clunk. “Why don’t you do something other than being a killjoy?” The words cut deep, but Mrs Devon wasn’t finished. She leaned forward, her smirk widening. “ You know what, if there is an anniversary next year, maybe you can gift Frank the one thing you’ve failed to give him all these years… a child.” The comment hit me like a physical blow, the weight of their scorn dragging me down. “I didn’t mean to ruin anything,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I just thought…” But before I could finish, Mrs. Devon suddenly stood, her movement quick and deliberate. She grabbed the teapot from the tray, and my heart dropped as I saw her smirk. “Maybe a little reminder will help you learn your place.” The next moment, I felt the scalding liquid splash across my cheek and down my neck. A sharp, searing pain exploded, and I stumbled back with a cry, clutching my face. “Mother!” Gina exclaimed, but her tone was filled with amusement, not concern. “You’re too kind. Maybe next time, aim for the other side.” I pressed my hand against my burning skin, tears spilling over as I looked at Frank, silently pleading for him to intervene. But he didn’t even turn his head. “Stop whining, Elle,” he muttered, reaching for another cup of tea as though nothing had happened. “It’s pathetic.” The pain wasn’t just physical, it was deeper, cutting into my very soul. I backed away from the room, my vision blurred by tears, the sound of their laughter echoing in my ears. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I stumbled into the kitchen and sank to the floor. My hand hovered over the burns on my face, the sting was unbearable. Suddenly my phone began to ring, slowly answering the call, a masculine voice spoke through the phone. “ Ms. Diamond, the VIP suite is perfectly put in place to your taste, when should we be expecting you?” He asked. I wiped my eyes with my palm as I sucked in my tears. “No need, Cancel the arrangements.”