"Ms. Ekta, who're you so familiar with? Are you having fun parading around with another woman's husband? If I were you, I'd at least have the decency of finding myself a bag to hide my face in shame, and yet you would even go as far as to flaunt it in front of me? True, the one that Nolan loved may not be me, but it was my name that was signed on the marriage documents. If you are truly serious about it, why not try doing something about changing that name from mine to yours?"
Shyla didn't raise her voice to become as loud as a scream, but it was just enough that everyone in the store was able to hear it with crystal clarity. Slowly, the eyes of the store clerks and passersby that fell on Ekta became those of despite and scorn.
Feeling the eyes of everyone around us, Ekta immediately retreated behind Nolan, playing the part of a frightened little rabbit.
"Nolan, I... I didn't mean to... I just saw that Ms.Shyla was all alone picking presents by herself and..." Then, as if the tap had been turned on, tears began rolling out of Ekta's eyes.
Nolan saw that Ekta felt hurt, and then turned around and saw Shyla's dauntless and fearless tranquility. Nolan's eyes changed and he shouted, coldly, "Enough! Shyla! Ekta was only trying to care for you. How could you be so cruel as to wrong her for her kindness?"
Care for me? Which woman in their right mind would ever need, or want, such a "care"? Unfortunately, the ability to discern women of these particularly shameless types only seemed to women, and non-existent in men. Even more unfortunate, is that somehow these types are almost always popular among laugh, "Who needs such 'care' from some strays there? If she truly 'cared' for me, she wouldn't be playing third fiddle here, causing dissensions in others' families! Heh, those types of dramas, those third wheel types never end well!"
Ekta's face turned white immediately. She grabbed Nolan's sleeves tightly and sobbed. Nolan's eyes grew cold. And mere moments later, in front of every onlooker's eyes, he slapped Shyla in her face. The slap was solid and heavy, and the sheer force of the impact knocked Shyla He a few steps backward, as well as forcibly turning her head to the other side. Her face began swelling immediately.
"Shyla, the gods must be blind to let such a venomous woman like you live in this world. If not for that scheming old bag of bones that you call father, if not for his dirty tricks and coercion, how would I ever be married to you in the first place? The one that I loved is Ekta. The only third wheel here is you!" Nolan said, coldly.
Like sharp blades, every single one of Nolan's words stabbed into Shyla's heart, again and again as he uttered them. Did he strike her down for the sake of another woman? In front of the public, would he not care even for the honor of his wife? Would he not care even for the honor of his family name? Would he give all this up for that Ekta? This is the second time he slapped me in front of others.
Shyla looked straight at Nolan and walked back calmly step by step. Suddenly, she extended her hand and caressed Nolan's chest softly. Nolan would not look at Shyla's face, so he couldn't see her expression.
Shyla lowered her head and set her eyes on a spot on Nolan's chest. She said, "What is it? Are you angry now, Nolan? What a man of man you are, striking your wife for the sake of a stray tramp. Rather than the rose in your greenhouse, must you take your pick from the stray weeds in the streets?"
Shyla felt Nolan's heartbeat, beating forcefully and strongly. The expression she had on her face was a smile, but the smile didn't touch her reddening eyes. This heart of his used to care for her, and only for her, but now it beats for the sake of another woman.
"Nolan, do you truly understand who this heart of yours loves?" Slowly Shyla raised her eyes to look at Nolan.
Shyla's words brought a momentary confusion to Nolan. In his uncertainty and doubt, Shyla looked deeply into his eyes, then turned and walked out of the jewelry store. She was at her limit. She was afraid that, if she didn't leave now, she would break down and be reduced to nothing but tears.
That heart that used to love her so deeply now loved someone else.
But Shyla never once regretted being married to Nolan. The only thing she wanted in the world, was to be with him, from the time when her hair was black, all the way to the end until her hair turned white and fell. It didn't matter if he loved her or not, it was enough as long as she could be with him.
After Shyla walked out of sight, Ekta stopped sobbing. Nolan pulled and loosened his tie in irritation. Why was it that, when he saw that woman's eyes looking into his, it almost felt as if his heart jolted and seized inside of him?
"Nolan, how about us? Looking at Nolan, Ekta began softly.
Nolan suddenly said to Ekta, "Ekta, let's go have some tea."
Somehow, something was making him frustrated and irritated. He felt like he needed some tea to cool off the heat inside his head.
At Nolan's suggestion, Ekta suddenly widened her eyes in surprise and shock, "Nolan, we've known each other since young and you've always hated tea. You've always refused to even touch tea. Why would..."
This time, it was Nolan's turn to be startled by Ekta. Yes, of course, how could he forget? He hated tea. But why did he have a strong urge inside his heart right at this moment, telling him that he should drink tea as if it was the only thing in this world that could calm his mind? Just what was going on?
He shook his head, as hard as he could. Nolan quickly took Ekta away from the jewelry store, without having signed for True Love, naturally, after all the commotions.
As soon as Shyla left the jewelry store, she rushed to the nearest restroom immediately and began coughing violently. On the paper towel, she used to cover her mouth were splatters of blood. At the sight of her blood, Shyla's already pale face whitened even more. Quickly, she found a trash bin and dumped the blood-soaked paper towels into it and out of her sight.
She was sick, very sick. It was gastric cancer at its final stage. Her time remaining in this world grew thin as each second on her watch ticked away.
That night, after Nolan left, he never came back to the villa again. Shyla knew that he must be spending his time at Ekta's place, but there was simply nothing she could do. After all, he didn't love her.