Coming out of the restaurant, they were surrounded by paparazzis. It was a familiar scenario, one that had become routine in their lives as a married couple in the public eye.
Nathan, effortlessly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. The warmth of his touch burned her skin through the fabric of her dress. She could smell the faint hint of his cologne—a luxurious blend of cedarwood and bergamot.
"Smile Eve." The smooth timbre of his voice fanned against her ears, sending a warm shiver down her spine. She managed a smile, but the joy didn't reach her eyes.
All around them, cameras clicked rapidly—their sparkling smiles, a loving embrace, a picture-perfect couple who had it all figured out. But inside, Eve felt like a fragile shell, vulnerable and exposed.
Nathan looked every bit of a doting husband, his blue eyes glinting with charm as he leaned into her. This was all for show, and deep down, he was someone else entirely.
Once they slipped into the sleek black car, the atmosphere shifted. Nathan's demeanor transformed from the affable, loving husband to his usual cold, distant self. He pulled out his phone. The glow of the screen illuminated his face.
Eve turned her gaze towards the window, watching the cityscape blur by, her heart heavy with questions. Where had she gone wrong? Why couldn't she make him love her the way she craved? The haunting memories of her miscarriages replayed in her mind, each one a deeper wound in their already fractured relationship.
What would she say to him about this miscarriage? Would he even care to listen, or would he dismiss her feelings as he often did? She longed for his understanding, yet here they were, merely two strangers seated side by side, each wrapped in their own world—him lost in the glow of his phone, and her drowning in a sea of longing.
The silence in the car felt suffocating to her. Eve closed her eyes, her thoughts spiraling into despair, as the city lights faded into darkness outside, mirroring the shadows growing within her heart.
The sleek car was pulled up to their sprawling mansion. The lavish exterior belied the turmoil brewing inside her heart.
Eve had hoped for a peaceful night, a small celebration of their three years together, but as they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
"Juliet! You made it back just in time!" Nathan's voice rang out cheerfully. His gaze lit up with joy as he rushed past her, throwing his arms around a woman who stood in the grand foyer.
The moment felt like a stab to her heart.
Juliet Amato, Nathan's mistress—the other woman. The sight of them, wrapped in each other's embrace, sent a wave of nausea through her.
Juliet's laughter echoed in the hallway, bright and melodic, filling the space that had always felt so hollow in her marriage.
"Happy anniversary, Nathan!" Juliet cooed, her voice dripping with affection as she leaned in to place a kiss on his lips. "I've missed you so much!"
Eve stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. The joy radiating from Nathan was palpable. How could this be happening on such a day? The day she was supposed to feel loved and cherished?
Instead, she felt like the other woman, watching as the man she loved celebrated with someone else.
She turned away, feeling the weight of her heartbreak press down on her. His laughter rang through the air. She could hardly bear the thought of being in the same room with them. What were they saying? Did they even think about her at all?
Eve hurried to her bedroom. The distance she felt from Nathan had grown unbearable. She had fought so hard to keep their marriage intact, but how could she continue to do so when he was so clearly in love with someone else?
As she entered the bathroom, she turned on the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her.
Instead, a sharp pain seized her abdomen, and her breath hitched.
She glanced down and saw blood pooling at her feet. "No, no, no…" Eve gasped, panic rising within her. She pressed a hand to her abdomen, feeling the familiar sensation of a loss that she was finally beginning to process.
The realization hit her like a freight train—this was the aftermath of her second miscarriage. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the water as it dripped down her skin. She sank to the floor, cradling her abdomen, feeling utterly defeated.
"Why is this happening?" Eve cried.
The sounds of Nathan and Juliet's laughter seeped through the walls, a reminder of everything she lacked—love, attention, and the simple joy of being wanted.
"Why can't I be enough?" the question echoed in the emptiness of the bathroom.
Eve felt lost, trapped in a cycle of pain and yearning, and all she could do was hold onto the fragments of her shattered heart.
After a few minutes, Eve finally stood up, her body trembling, both from the cold and the overwhelming emotions swirling within her.
She turned off the shower. Taking a deep breath, she wiped her tears and stepped out, her heart heavy knowing that the woman who stood in her home, laughing and hugging her husband, had everything she wanted—Nathan's love and attention.
Eve heard their conversation drifting through the door, punctuated by the sound of their playful banter.
"Remember our getaway last summer? I can't believe we almost got caught!" Juliet giggled, and Eve's heart sank further.
"Yes, that was the thrill of it all! I love how we make our own rules," Nathan replied, his voice filled with a warmth that had long been absent in their marriage.
Eve clenched her fists, the pain in her abdomen forgotten for a moment.
The longing for a love that was never hers threatened to consume her. She felt trapped in an unfaithful marriage, tied to a man who had never truly belonged to her.