Tonight was another special day—one Selina had been anticipating for a thousand and ninety-five days. Sitting close to the transparent window, the twenty-four-year-old swept her gleaming gaze across the reserved table, taking in the soft glow of burning candles in their votives. The sweet scent of wax mingled with the delicate fragrance of rose petals arranged in a heart shape. Plates of carefully prepared dishes surrounded a bottle of red wine at the center, each detail pulling her deeper into a blissful, romantic atmosphere.
She had taken her time to look alluring, slipping into a red sequin gown that hugged her curves perfectly for the first time in a long while. Her lips glistened with glossy red lipstick, matching the warmth of the candlelight and the promise of the evening.
Tonight was meant to be special—memorable. Her hand rested lightly on her stomach, cradling a little secret that could change everything between them, a tiny spark that might finally ignite love and affection in their long-cold marriage.
Yet the one person who mattered most had still not arrived.
She kept glancing at the entrance, unease tightening around her with every passing minute.
"Don't fail me tonight, Zane. At least not on our third anniversary, please…" she whispered, taking a deep breath.
I have to stay calm. It's only been an hour since I arrived. Maybe traffic delayed him…
With those words anchoring in her heart, Selina straightened her spine and forced a hopeful smile, even as the meal in front of her cooled slowly.
Time ticked on, dragging her anticipation through the familiar ache of disappointment as minutes passed, then hours stretched, until the clock blinked 11 p.m. Selina reached for a bottle of white champagne and uncorked it. She had skipped dinner just for this date.
"He agreed to tonight… he knows what this day means. So, I'll wait a little longer," she murmured, pouring the champagne into a glass.
The strong scent of alcohol only deepened her frustration. She lifted the glass to her lips and drank in one sharp gulp. The liquid burned, her face contorting at the sting.
Another glass followed. And another. Each sip carrying a mix of hope, frustration, and resignation. Soon, a warm haze blurred her edges.
Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head to stay awake. Picking up her phone, she opened the last message thread:
Selina; Today is our anniversary. Will you be available tonight? I have something important to share with you.
Zane; Right. I almost forgot. Now you remind me. I'll do my best to arrive on time, with some gifts.
Selina; Thank you.
Zane; Send the location.
Selina; It's at your hotel. KS Hotel.
The words that had once sparked hope now felt like betrayal. Selina's grip tightened around her phone.
"What a liar you are," she whispered, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes—but she refused to let them fall. He had chosen not to come, and she wasn't ready to break. Not tonight.
Just then, her phone rang. The caller ID gleamed with the contact Dad.
She swiped to answer, pressing to her ear.
"Hello, Dad."
"My dear," his voice echoed with concern from the other end. "How's your evening? Has your husband arrived?"
"No, Dad. Zane hasn't," she fixed her gaze on the candles that were half burned.
"What happened?"
"I… I don't know."
"Call him, then. Find out what's keeping him."
Selina shook her head, a quiet pride mingling with her disappointment. "Do I have to call him after waiting long enough? I'll talk about it at home."
"That young man! I don't like the way he treats you and I must talk some sense into him!" Her father's angry voice vibrated over the line.
Selina bit her lip, holding back the churning mixed emotion from breaking her. "What if confronting him only makes things worse? I don't want to ruin years of trying to reach him."
"You're not being unreasonable, Lina… . But I can't keep watching you suffering like this when he doesn't want to give your marriage a chance. Let me know when you're tired. I will get your—"
"Not so quick, Dad." Selina cuts her father off from completing the words she hadn't brought herself to consider. "If I pull back now, our family business will suffer and grandfather will be upset,"
"Your happiness matters to me more than anything. When you're ready to leave—I'll find a way to keep the family's business stable."
"I'm not suffering, Dad. It's just… he's taking so long to understand my feelings," she defended.
"Foolish girl," he said, a little disappointed though he understood her devotion. "How long will it take him to understand your feelings when he's parading with another woman?"
She knew who he meant.
"Dad, you worry too much. I don't mind waiting this time." She whispered, dropping her conflicted gaze on the white envelope tied with a thin red ribbon.
"But Selina–"
"Good night, Dad." She softly interrupted, ending the call.
Despite the sadness threatening to swallow her, Selina clung to one small comfort: her father was still on her side, even when everyone else—including her husband—dismissed her feelings.
She reached for the envelope on the table, fingers brushing its smooth surface. Her heart fluttered as she wondered how Zane would react when he learned he was about to become a father.
The room felt quiet, too thick to absorb the emptiness. With a soft sigh, Selina rose, deciding she would wait for him at home.
....
After a long drive from the hotel, the white cab pulled up before a vast, aesthetic mansion that gleamed with luxury from every angle. Selina stepped out, paid the driver, and shut the door behind her.
She moved toward the grand entrance, her expression sour and her wedge heels clicking sharply against the marble as she climbed the steps. When she reached the door, she swung it open and stepped inside, advancing into the living room—only for her knees to buckled.
Before her, a woman in a striking red dress toppled over Zane. His hands rested around her slender waist, holding her close, their lips almost touching. The glinting hickey on his neck, matched by her glossy red lipstick, made Selina's stomach churn painfully.
Confusion and hurt blazed through her as she took in the room—the high heels tossed carelessly on the floor caught her eye, a silent testament to time spent well. Even with Selina standing before them, they did not startle or pull away. It was as though her presence meant nothing at all.
A broken gasp slipped from her lips. She couldn't bring herself to believe it. While she had spent the evening watching anniversary candles burn down in lonely patience, her husband, Zane Kaius, had been home all along, entangled shamelessly with this other woman.
"What is going on here?" she asked, her voice threaded with disbelief.
The woman, Maura Harrison, smiled sweetly.
"You're back, Selina. We were having fun before you walked in." She stepped off him deliberately, then sat beside him and looped her arm through his, pressing her head against his shoulder with practiced ease. "Do you want to join us? I heard tonight is a special day. Your anniversary. We can celebrate it together."
Selina ignored Maura's mocking invitation and turned to Zane. "Why is she here?"
"Maura will stay here for a while because she's unwell. I'm in the process of arranging a place for her," Zane's tone was deep and frosty like an unyielding iceberg.
Maura coughed softly into her fist, forcing a concerned expression—but it was clear she had no intention of leaving. She wanted to occupy the space Selina had claimed, and Selina felt the sting of it sharply.