"Use those flowers; he likes lilies," Emily directed, busy since morning preparing for her and Nicholas's wedding anniversary. She had been running all over the house, ensuring the decorations met Nicholas's preferences. As she finally sat down, she looked around at the beautifully adorned home, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
The staff had already left, and she was the only one waiting for Nicholas. Just then, her phone vibrated. Thinking it was a message from Nicholas, she quickly swiped the screen. But when she saw the pictures, her entire world collapsed instantly.
Emily was bombarded by more than a dozen photos. The message was from her sister Maria, and the people in the pictures were Maria and Nicholas.
In the images, they were seen hugging, kissing, and in some, Nicholas was bare-backed, lying on a bed. Once she processed what she saw, Emily's face drained of color, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands trembled, and the phone slipped from her grasp, landing on the floor. Emily followed it, collapsing in a heap.
Despite spending three years married to Nicholas, he had never held her like he was holding Maria. The way he looked at Maria was something Emily had always dreamed of experiencing from him.
"Oops, sorry sis, I accidentally sent those pictures to you." Maria's message read that but Emily could see she was intentionally provoking her. Maria was good at playing innocent, but Emily knew how poisonous Maria could be. As expected, another message came in.
"Please don't misunderstand Nicholas, he just misses me too much," Maria added. "After all, if you hadn't taken advantage of the situation three years ago, I would have been the one he married."
See? This was the real Maria. Emily sneered but when she saw the new photo Maria attached, she felt her heart sting.
It was Maria wearing a wedding dress, the wedding dress that belonged to Emily. After their wedding night, Nicholas had forbidden her from wearing it, he even hated the sight of this dress on her. Emily had never questioned it but now seeing it on another woman, especially Marira, she couldn't control her temper anymore.
"Stop your boring trick. Nicholas is married to me now, you can never get back into his life," Emily quickly replied to Maria. She knew it was foolish, but she couldn't help herself.
"Haha... Sis, ask yourself do you really believe what you said? Nicholas hasn't been home for two months since I returned home, and guess who he's been spending those nights with? Do you know what he told me about you? He said you're no fun, nothing more than a pleasure doll. Every time he touches you, he has to imagine me not to feel disgust!"
"Now I return, it's time you divorce him and give him back to me. Nicholas has promised to give me a grand wedding very soon."
Maria's words stabbed Emily's heart. Although Nicholas had been married to her for three years, he never planned to open it to the public. She was his wife living in the shadows. Maria was right about one thing: Nicholas wouldn't marry Emily if not for the accident three years ago.
Nicholas had a severe accident three years ago and his grandfather wanted a wife to take care of him. Maria had left, so Emily was the best choice. She didn't refuse, though she could have.
With a naive heart, Emily voluntarily stepped into this loveless marriage. She once thought he could have her in his eyes after walking him through the toughest days. She dreamed of winning his love but now, all in vain.
Let alone love her, Nicholas rarely even spoke to her in a warm voice. He always avoided her coldly and didn't even bother to show up for their anniversary. He had only had Maria in his heart since the beginning.
Looking at the decorations around her, Emily couldn't help but feel like a joke. She had spent their wedding anniversary preparing, yet he was with the love of his life.
Her eyes caught sight of a beautiful chocolate cake she had baked for Nicholas. Slowly, she stood on shaky feet, walked to the table, and sat down. She cut the cake and began to eat, not shedding a single tear.
She had been through this before and thought it wouldn't be painful, but she was wrong this time. Just one bite, and she burst into tears, screaming and crying the entire night alone.
Nicholas finally returned home the next evening. The entire house was dark. For a moment, he thought no one was home. But then he saw a slender figure sitting on the sofa in the darkness.
Nicholas flipped on the light, illuminating the room and revealing Emily sitting motionless.
"Emily?" he called out, his voice uncertain.
Emily slowly lifted her head, her eyes empty and hollow. "You're finally back," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Nicholas hesitated, the usual air of confidence and indifference wavering as he took in her empty eyes. "Why are you sitting in the dark?"
"Where have you been?" Emily asked him. Nicholas's expression turned cold.
"You have no right to ask me that question," he said angrily.
Emily chuckled. "Of course, I have no right, even though I'm your wife, right?"
Nicholas was confused; this wasn't her usual demeanor. When he returned home, she always appeared cheerful with a bright smile and would run to him even if he got angry. She never talked back.
Emily stood up and faced him directly. "But at least I have the right to know about my sister. You didn't tell me Maria is back," she said.
His expression turned impatient immediately. He tugged his tie irritably, "Emily, I'm tired. Will you stop making scenes? Everyone knows you don't get along with Maria. Why should I tell you that?"
Emily smiled bitterly. So, he didn't deny that he had met Maria? So, those pictures were true. While she was waiting with great joy for him to come home for their anniversary, he was naked and entangled with his old flame. And now, he was blaming her for making scenes.
Was it that she'd endured so much over the years that he'd thought she was really a temperless puppet, hadn't he? Right, she could tolerate his ignorance and his indifference, but not include his betrayal, especially when the cheating partner was her own sister! It was slapping her face!
Nicholas was about to walk around her and go upstairs but Emily suddenly caught his arm crying out angrily, "How can you be so cruel to me, Nicholas? You are my husband! Of all people, why did you have to pick her? You know how much she resents me!"
"Damn it! Stop your boring drama now! I've had enough of you!" Nicholas jerked his arm out angrily, walking toward the stairs. His force was so strong that it caused Emily's head to hit the table. She couldn't help but cry out in pain, yet he didn't bother to look back.
Watching his indifferent back, Emily felt her heart colder than ever. Her head was swollen where it had been hit, but the pain was nowhere near as bad as the pain of her heart being torn apart. She knew it was herself who asked for it. With a stupid heart, fall for a heartless man.
No wonder Maria dared to provoke her with those photos.
The room fell silent and dark again until Nicholas came downstairs.The man was dressed well as if he was going to meet someone important. The light in the corridor cast on him, imprinting his perfect side face and figure.
So, he only came here to change his clothes, did he? He never took it as a home, but just as a hotel. He never took her as his wife, but just as a housemaid.
Emily couldn't help but ask him as she rose slowly, "Nicholas, let me ask you one last question. In these three years of marriage, have you ever loved me, even the slightest bit?"
Her face stayed blank but her eyes trembled waiting for his answer. That's her last hope for this marriage.
Nicholas hadn't expected her to ask that out of the blue. He tensed his jaw and averted her eyes before he could utter his answer.
"Since we're married, I won't break my vow to take care of you for the rest of my life."
The sparkle that remained in her eyes faded in an instant. Emily stepped back with a wry smile. Without more words, Nicholas went straight to the door, ready to leave.
"Let's divorce, Nicholas," she spoke behind him, with bitterness full in her voice.
His hand on the doorknob paused for a split second, but still, as if he hadn't heard her, Nicholas opened the door and left.
Hearing the engine start, Emily fell on the floor as tears washed her face.