Chapter 3 ~ Family of three

ANAYA 

“To be honest, Anaya,” Daisy leaned forward, her eyes shining with pride as she raised a cup of water as if toasting to me, 

“I’m proud of you. Finally! You’re actually thinking of divorce. About time you stopped letting that man walk all over you.”

I forced a smile and clicked my glass against hers, even though inside, I was breaking into pieces.

“Why do you look like you’ve lost instead of won?” she frowned, studying my face as her playful tone softened. “Talk to me. What happened, Ana? Why are you really divorcing?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat burned, tears threatening again. And then… fate decided to be cruel.

The bell above the door chimed, and I watched Nash looking dashing in his dark suit, walk in with his hand protectively resting on the small of Hellen’s back. 

She looked like she belonged there, her son skipping at her side, while Nash held the door open for them like a perfect gentleman. 

All the years we've been together, Nash had never once held a door open for me or pulled out a chair for me. He always walked ahead of me and sat before I would. A part of me always wondered if he was just like that with everyone. But now I know better.

He just never loved me.

“That’s the reason,” I said to Daisy, who followed my gaze, and her entire body stiffened. “That son of a….” She was already halfway out of her chair, ready to storm across the restaurant, but I grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t,” I hissed, shaking my head. My nails dug into her skin as I forced her to sit back down. “Not here.”

“But he’s flaunting her like you don’t even exist! Anaya, he…”

“I know.” I gave her a small smile, “Do you now understand why I need the divorce?”

Daisy clenched her jaw, then slowly reached for her phone instead. She angled the camera and snapped picture after picture. “Fine. No scene. But we’re keeping receipts.” Her eyes burned with fury. “We will make him cry blood!” She said with determination, and for the first time that day, a small laugh escaped me, 

“You’re crazy.”

As we sat and continued to eat, I heard another giggle, and I couldn't help but look. 

They still hadn't seen us. But I couldn’t look away. It was as if my eyes were glued to the painful scene that was unfolding before me.

A wake-up call and a reminder of what I would never have. 

“Don't tell me that annoying sound is coming from that bitch!” Daisy said, following the direction of my eyes. “I bet she's seen us and is laughing unnecessarily loudly!”

As we watched, we saw a waiter walk over with a beautiful bouquet of red roses that Hellen held with a huge smile. 

She placed them on the table and kissed Nash on the cheek. Nash smiled as he leaned closer to Hellen, and cut Adam’s food with care, his lips continuously tugging into a full smile I hadn’t seen directed at me all the years we've been married.

I watched his movements, the way he reached for her glass to refill it without her asking, the way his hand brushed her arm in a tender and intimate way. He was so attentive and affectionate in a way I had begged for and never once received.

Every time I asked if we could go for dinner, he would tell me that he doesn't like being in public places, so I respected it. But now I realize what a fool I was as I saw that Nash loved publicly and loudly. 

He just didn't love me.

Daisy’s jaw clenched while glaring at them,

“That girl has always been a snake! I always thought Nash was smart, but if he's falling for those tricks, then I guess he's not so smart after all!” She said, and I laughed.

“Even the smartest man in the room becomes blind and dull when it comes to love, Daisy. He loves her no matter what I do!” 

“Then he doesn't deserve you at all! All this talk is getting on my nerves! Why don't we eat first? Then discuss how we are going to grill him?” She leaned over, holding my hand in hers, and I laughed while nodding and blinked at her fiery determination, then a small laugh escaped me. 

“You really are the best lawyer and the best of friends.”

She raised an eyebrow as she snapped a few more photos, her anger still simmering.

“I'm a girl's girl!” She said proudly. 

“If we actually win big, I’ll give you half the compensation,” I teased, forcing a smile even though my chest felt hollow.

“Then we can go on girls' trips and meet hot guys! Nash is not even that handsome anyway!” She rolled her eyes, and I laughed. We both knew that wasn’t true, but I loved how she slandered him to make me feel better.

She then reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Forget them. Tell me, babe… What's next after the divorce? Do you have any plans?”

Her question silenced me. I stared at the untouched food in front of me, my reflection faintly visible in the glass of water. 

What did I want? For so long, my world revolved around Nash, my life stitched into his every move. Now, without him… what was left?

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I haven’t thought that far. It feels like… I’m standing on the edge of a cliff with nothing waiting at the bottom.”

Daisy softened, her thumb brushing my hand. She hesitated for a minute, then said carefully, “Maybe you don’t have to face it alone. Have you thought of reaching out to your brother?”

My head snapped up, and my chest ached at the thought of him. We hadn’t spoken in years, and before I could stop it, a warmth spread in my chest, a pull of nostalgia, but it went as quickly as it came because I knew he hated me for what I did. 

“Earth to Anaya!” Daisy searched my face as I snapped back to reality with a shake of my head. 

“No. That’s not an option.”