The day started with a flicker of hope. Some foolish part of me hoped Nathan would remember. Maybe he’d show up with a bouquet, a hesitant smile, and an apology for the months of hell. Maybe he’d prove I wasn’t completely invisible to him.
But as the day wore on, that hope shriveled into bitter resignation. I sat in the grand dining room, the table set with my mother’s heirloom china, candles flickering against the gloom. Hours passed, and the chair across from me remained empty. By the time the clock struck nine, I’d had enough.
Just as I was about to retreat to my room, the front door opened, and Margaret’s voice floated through the hallway.
“How was the sushi?” she asked, her tone dripping with approval.
My stomach twisted. I stepped into the foyer just in time to see Nathan helping Clara out of her coat. She giggled, her hand resting on his arm as if she belonged there. Her stomach, slightly rounded now, seemed to mock me with every breath she took.
“It was exactly what I needed,” Clara said, smiling up at him. “Thank you for indulging my cravings, Nathan.”
My vision blurred with rage. I took a step forward before I could stop myself. “Cravings? You’re celebrating cravings while I’m sitting here alone on our anniversary?”
Nathan’s head snapped up, his expression darkening. “Alina, she’s pregnant, and this isn’t the time.”
“Isn’t the time?” I echoed, my voice rising. “Do you even care what today is?”
Clara stepped closer to Nathan, her hand resting on his arm again. “Alina, I’m sorry if this upset you. It wasn’t intentional.”
I laughed, the sound harsh and brittle. “You’ve done nothing but upset me since the day you walked into this house.”
Margaret appeared then, her arms crossed and her lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s enough, Alina. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Oh, I’m embarrassing myself?” I shot back. “Not Nathan, parading his mistress around while I’m still his wife? Not Clara, playing the innocent victim while she steals everything I built?”
Nathan’s face hardened. “Alina, stop this. Now.”
“Or what?” I challenged, stepping closer. “What are you going to do, Nathan? Throw me out? Take something else from me? Go ahead. I’ve got nothing left to lose.”
Clara suddenly swayed, her hand flying to her stomach. “Nathan,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I don’t feel well.”
Margaret was at her side in an instant “Sit down, dear. Nathan, get her some water.”
“Oh, give me a break,” I muttered, but my words were drowned out by the chaos around me. Nathan rushed to Clara’s side, as he murmured reassurances.
I stood there, a stranger in my own home, watching the man I once loved comfort the woman carrying his child. The scene felt like a dagger twisting in my chest, but I refused to let them see me break.
“You’re all pathetic,” I said finally, my voice cutting through the tension. “Every single one of you.”
I grabbed my coat and stormed out of the house. The crisp night air hit me like a slap, but it wasn’t enough to cool the fire burning inside me.
I didn’t know where I was going until I found myself standing outside the restaurant Nathan had taken Clara to earlier.
I pushed the door open and walked in, my heart pounding in my chest. The hostess looked up, startled, but I didn’t stop to explain. I scanned the room, my eyes landing on a familiar face.
The waiter who had served Nathan and Clara was standing by the bar, chatting with a colleague. I marched over to him, ignoring the curious looks from other patrons.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sharp. “You served a couple earlier tonight. A man and a pregnant woman. Where were they sitting?”
The waiter hesitated, his eyes darting around as if looking for help. “I… I don’t think I can—”
“Listen,” I interrupted, leaning closer. “I’m not asking for their credit card information. I just want to know where they sat.”
He swallowed hard and pointed to a booth in the corner. “Over there,” he said quietly.
I turned and walked to the booth, my hands trembling with anger. The table was empty now, but a half-finished glass of water and a crumpled napkin remained. I stared at it, my mind racing with images of Nathan and Clara sitting there, laughing and sharing secrets.
A sudden wave of fury overtook me. I grabbed the glass and hurled it to the floor. Gasps echoed through the room as I stood there, breathing heavily.
“Ma’am,” the hostess said, approaching cautiously. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
I ignored her, turning to face the stunned patrons. “Do you know what it feels like?” I asked, my voice shaking. “To watch everything you love be taken from you? To be betrayed by the person you trusted most?”
No one answered.
Before I could say anything else, a hand clamped down on my arm. I turned to see Nathan standing there, his face a mask of anger and embarrassment.
“You need to leave. Now,” he hissed.
I yanked my arm free. “You’ve already humiliated me. Why did you follow me here?”
Clara appeared behind him then, her hand resting protectively on her stomach. “Let’s just go home.”
I laughed bitterly. “Home? Fine. Go back to your perfect little life.”
I turned and stormed out of the restaurant, the sound of whispers and gasps following me. As I reached the sidewalk, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and froze.
The screen displayed a picture of Clara and Nathan from earlier that night, sitting at the very booth I’d just left. The caption read: “True love always finds a way.”
The account… was Nathan’s.
My breath caught as I stared at the image. The phone slipped from my fingers and hit the pavement with a sharp crack. And that’s when I made my decision.
