Our Anniversary

"Noah, please you…you’re scaring me,” Eve stuttered. “I don’t understand.”

“You're still going to act like you don't know what you did? You’ve fooled me all these years.” Noah ignored her cries as he held her tighter. “To think that three years ago, you did not think twice before accepting the marriage proposal. Your mask is out.”

“Noah.”

“Stop acting dumb, Genevieve. You made me in this condition,” Melissa screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Brother Noah, please take her away. This is too much. She made me cripple. The doctor said that I won't be able to use my legs ever. Who's going to get married to me this way? It's all her fault.”

“I… I did noth…” her words were cut off as a rough hand caught her arm from behind and she turned only to regret it instantly as an eye-blinding slap fell on her cheek.

From her mother-in-law. When did she even arrive?

Older Mrs Hank’s hits had always been so painful, and she couldn't help but let out her tears. She was innocent, yet she watched as her day got ruined. Her makeup was ruined already and, from the look of things, there was no way they were having their anniversary dinner anymore.

“Mother I…”

“We don't want to hear your explanation, you

attempted murderer. Sign the papers and get the hell out of our lives. You have caused enough damage already.”

Panic rose in Eve’s chest and she turned to Noah. How could they accuse her of such a crime? She wasn’t even capable of killing a spider or a cockroach.

“Noah, you have to believe me, please,” she pleaded, her voice laced with urgency and desperation. “I don't know what they are talking about. I was here all week. I didn't even go anywhere.”

Melissa tried to stand up from her chair but ended up falling back and everyone’s attention fell to her. Genevieve watched as her husband rushed to help another woman sit properly, placing her legs in the right position on the wheelchair. She could feel a pang of pain in her heart as her tears flowed freely. Her life was a total mess.

“The evidence is clear. You did it.”

Melissa’s shaky voice reverberated in the mansion.

Eve’s teary eyes locked with her husband’s, hoping that he would at least believe her this time but the only words that came out of his mouth only shattered her further.

“Sign the damn papers!”

“Didn’t you hear him? Sign the papers and leave us alone. Grandfather Hank is not here to save you this time.”

“Mother, Noah. I really know nothing about this. I'm telling the truth. Please believe me.”

Her body shook with sobs. It was her anniversary for goodness’s sake. Noah didn’t spare her a glance as his attention was on the woman in the wheelchair.

“Mira,” she heard him call a servant who came running to them in the blink of an eye. From the corners of her eyes, she could see the servants peeping and laughing at her miserable state. No one for sure wanted her around.

“Noah…. please. I'm begging you. Believe me.”

“Be quiet.”

She quickly clamped her mouth shut.

“Mira, go upstairs and gather her stuff. Get them out of my mansion.”

“Noah, you have to listen to me. I did nothing as I'm being accused of. Noah.”

He wasn't listening to her.

“Noah, it's our anniversary. You can't do this to me. At least listen to what I have to say.”

“I don't want to hear any more lies from you, Genevieve.” He gritted his teeth. “Sign the papers and get out of this place otherwise, I’ll call the police.”

Her desperation grew. “I don't have anywhere to go, Noah. Please believe me,” she cried. This time, she rushed toward him and grabbed his arm but was yanked backward to the floor by his mother, her sobs falling on deaf ears.

She knew there was no going back. She knew he wouldn’t listen to her or change his words. His words were final.

Without saying another word or passing her a last look, he dipped his hands into his pockets and stalled out of the living room.

“Noah, Noah, please don't do this. I love you,” she called after him. “I love you so much. Please,” she cried.

“He's gone. Sign the divorce papers and get out of this place.” Mrs Hank walked to her and slowly threw her a black pen. “Here, sign it.”

Eve raised her head to look at the woman and then at Melissa who had a smirk plastered on her lips. Her tears flowed freely for minutes and she let them, the memories of the past three years flooding into her head.

Three good years. Three wasted years with Noah as his wife.

Her hope of them becoming a real couple was gone. Oh, how she had loved him selflessly despite knowing his heart wasn’t hers. She had been ready to wait for him and had even put on a docile mask just to get him to love her.

Why did they get married in the first place?

It all started when she’d helped an old man from an accident on her way from the eatery where she’d worked as a waitress. He turned out to be the chairman of a big company and Noah’s grandfather. When he woke up and saw her beside him, he took a liking and insisted that Noah marry her if he wanted him to live further.

At that time, she couldn’t say no when she received the marriage offer from the man and saw who it was she was getting married to. It was like a dream come true, after all.

It had been three years, yet she still hadn’t gain his love. Her gaze fell on the papers, a reminder of her wasted years.

With newfound resolve, she picked up the pen and signed her name without hesitation. She dried her tears, throwing the papers down on the floor.

“This is not the end,” she spat. “It’s not the end until I seek revenge!”