THE USUAL HEART BREAK
1213 Words
Evelyn’s POV
As I tearfully watched Daniel walk away, I knew there was nothing I could do.
Ignoring my aching joints, I gently climbed the stairs and headed to our room, all the while ignoring Beatrice’s mocking gaze.
For the four years of my marriage to Daniel, I have tried everything I could to be a good daughter-in-law to Beatrice, but the harder I tried to please her, the more her hate for me increased.
Still, the love I had for Daniel kept me going.
When I got to the room, I didn’t dare to shower, fearing I would waste more time and then offend Daniel again.
The moment the door shut behind me, everything became silent and suddenly loud.
I could hear the music downstairs, glasses clinking everything. My breath hitched, why could I hear everything? And soon it stopped again.
I walked to my closet and pulled out the elegant black lace dress I had kept specially for this occasion. As my hands moved over the dress, a small smile crept onto my face.
“Everything is going to be fine,”
My body hurt with every movement as I struggled to pull the dress over my head.
My broad shoulders felt like they were being crushed from the pain.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I looked very pale, and could spot a bruise blooming on my arm where I had ripped the IV out, and my pupils were too narrow. I blamed it on stretch and reached for my heels on the vanity, but a sudden wave of nausea crashed over me and my vision blurred.
I could only let out a small scream as I lost my footing and tumbled toward the hard floor.
The world went black before I even hit the ground.
When I opened my eyes again, I was still on the floor. How long had I been out?
Minutes? An hour? From downstairs, the muffled sound of music and laughter reached me.
The party had started without me. I waited for a moment, listening for the sound of footsteps coming to check on me, but there was nothing.
No one had come, and Daniel hadn't even stepped into the room to see if I was ready.
I slowly pushed myself up, my breath hitching in a sob I refused to let out. The pain in my heart was nothing compared to the one in my joints, but I didn’t let out a sound. My knees shook as I finished my makeup, but I assured myself that it was probably nothing.
Daniel must have been caught up in the party so much that he forgot to check up on me.
There was lightning, it made me glance at the window and I noticed it was raining heavily, making me wonder how long I'd passed out for and the scent of the wet soil was too overwhelming.
I shook my head hard and hurried downstairs, pushing my pain to the back of my mind.
Daniel needed me.
When I got to the ballroom, it was filled with guests. People I didn't know. They were all Daniel’s guests with different scents but a peculiar fragrance, not till I perceived another different fragrance, it smelt of tension, instinctively, I scanned the room, but couldn't tell who it was.
My eyes fell on Daniel in the crowd and my heart stopped. He wasn't alone and had his arm wrapped firmly around a woman.
She was a petite, blonde slip of a thing who looked like the fragile flower Beatrice always wanted me to be.
Daniel always claimed they were business partners, but I always caught him looking at her with a tenderness he never showed me.
She was leaning against his chest, that sight sent blows to my already aching heart. I just knew.
Before I could stop myself, I was already hurrying toward them.
"Daniel?" I whispered as I reached them, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
I tried again, louder this time, my hand reaching for his sleeve.
"Daniel, I'm here."
He turned and his eyes ran over me, but they didn't hold a single spark of concern.
He didn't ask how I was or why I had taken time to come down, but just looked at me like I was a stain on the carpet.
"You're late for the toast, Evelyn," He didn't pull away from the woman, if anything, he pulled her closer.
"Who is she to you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Daniel, what is this?" I raised my voice a little this time.
“Oh right. If you had come earlier as planned, you would have gotten all the answers to your questions.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I cast a glance towards Sophie, who wore a delicate smile and acted like she was a fairytale princess.
He didn't answer me. Instead, he tapped on his glass loudly and everyone turned toward us.
"Friends, family," Daniel began, his voice filling the now quiet room.
"Tonight was meant to be an anniversary. But four years is long enough to realize when a mistake has been made. I am officially announcing my intention to divorce Evelyn Hart, effective immediately."
A collective gasp rippled through the room as I felt the air leave my lungs.
I looked at Beatrice, who was smiling into her wine glass, then I looked back at Daniel, searching for some sign of a joke, but there was nothing but ice.
"Sophie Lane is the woman who holds my heart," he continued, glancing down at the blonde woman with a warmth he had never once shown me.
"And I will no longer live a lie for the sake of a contract."
“Daniel….” I whispered, my heart aching painfully. Was this some sort of cruel joke?
“I know it is a lot to take in, but trust me, I’ve been through a lot as well and this is what is best for all of us,” he announced loudly.
The guests clapped and laughed. Even his best friend, who told me to keep loving him, cheered him on more.
“Why are you doing this?”
I didn’t care about the laughs and whispers from the guests anymore, I just wanted my husband back.
“Because I deserve a chance to be happy!” he snapped. I could tell he was getting angry, but I wasn’t going to back down.
“We can fix this, please,” I said, choking back a sob.
“Oh please, get a grip on yourself,”Beatrice said, coming to join us.
“Can’t you see this isn’t going to work out? Take a look at Sophie. Isn’t she all you’ve ever wanted to be?”
Quiet chuckles filled the hall as I felt thousands of gazes running through my not-so-feminine body.
The accuracy of her words hurt even more. I looked helplessly at Daniel, who also had a smirk on his face.
“Tell her about the good news, baby,” I heard Sophie say. Her sweet voice was a sharp contrast to my deep one.
“What news?” I dared to ask as I fought to even my breath.
“We’re expecting a baby.”
- Writer
