Ch-1

HILDA’S POV

"What is the meaning of all these?" he thundered, his deep voice echoing throughout the hallway as he walked in with heavy steps.

Coming to a sudden stop at the door, his dark eyes scanned the dimly lit room.

I could feel my heart pounding hard as each glance he took at the room deepened the scowl on his face.

Nervously twisting my fingers, “1 wanted to do something special for us, Will". I glanced shortly at him through the roof of my eyes as I uttered softly.

"It.... It's our anniversary”, I hinted, tracing my fingers down to the loose strand at the ends of the red lingerie I had put on specially for him.

Wilson cut a long scrutiny at me before a loud empty laugh escaped his lips. Amidst the laughter, he shook his head and shrugged off his coat before his lips parted for the first time since he arrived.

"You're a joke, Hilda,” he spat, hanging his coat on the rack. “Take these things down!”

My knees wobbled with embarrassment as shame crept up my neck. 'W-what do you mean, Will?' My voice broke as I asked.

“All these”, he emphasized, gesturing at the decorations I had spent hours arranging to perfection.

“Take them down. I don't have time for this nonsense”. He added, moving past me before setting his suitcase on the nightstand with a heavy thud.

He didn't even spare the candles, the flowers, or me another glance as he kicked off his shoes with an uninterested move.

“Wilson, please. We've... we've been married for three years now, can't you just—“

“Don't start” he warned. “ I'm tired, and I don't need this right now”.

Tears burned the back of my eyes as I watched the words roll out on his tongue.

The tears threatened to stream but I refused to let them fall. Yes, I've had enough of his indifference and mistreatment.

Today, I was going to tell him how I feel, exactly the hell he's been putting me through.

Forcing a chunk down my throat, “Don't need what, Wil? Your wife? Your marriage?" I hissed.

'Hilda—' He breathed.

“It's been three years, Wil. Three good years since we became husband and wife. But not even for once have you touched or even looked at me the way I want you to look at me.

Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?

Do you have any idea how bad that hurts me?"

His fingers folded into a fist while his jaw tightened from having to face the truth. I guess he wasn't expecting me to be bold enough to spit those facts into his face raw like that.

His lips parted and for a split second, I thought he was finally going to apologize and acknowledge the pain he's been inflicting upon me all this time.

But I guess I was just being delusional again. Instead, he cut me a long glare from head to toe before walking away.

My chest instantly tightened, my heart aching badly as if it were being pierced by a thousand needles. The tears I had been holding back freely streamed down my cheeks as I attempted to touch him.

“Say something, Wil! Talk to me”. My voice cracked as I pleaded.

“What did I do to deserve this? Why don't you look at me? Why can't you see through my efforts? Is it a crime to love you? Did I commit a crime by falling in love with you?"

Oh gosh! How pathetic I sound begging to be loved.

Joke's on me if I thought that was going to faze him.

'You're so embarrassing Hilda”, he mumbled to himself even though I could hear him. “You should stop.”

I stumbled back, a tiny gasp leaving my throat as I processed what he had just said. My fingers trembled as I clutched the thin fabric of my lingerie, shame pooling in my body as I thought of how ridiculous and stupid he must have viewed me to be.

If anything I should be used to it by now. I should be used to his cold rejection, his disregard, and nonchalance towards me - but it hurts freshly every time.

It hurts like hell.

I had tried. I had truly tried to win his affection at least. But Wilson was like a thick wall, and no amount of love or effort could break through.

The bathroom door banged shut behind him, followed by the sound of running water.

I stood frozen in the middle of the room, the special flowers I had planted for this day, the cake I finally was able to make after taking baking lessons for months, just to make sure I was perfect tonight, all staring back at me like a bad dream.

I could hear the little voice in my head that constantly told me that I never mattered to him laugh bitterly at me.

With my knees slightly wobbling, I sank weakly into our bed as my mind trailed to the past.

The time when everything was good, when we got along so well. Those times when he'd smile at me and look at me like I was the only thing that mattered. Those times when he'd gently rub my belly before going to work each morning.

But right now, it's like we're practically strangers forced to live together in one house.

Everything changed after we got married, and I still don't know where we went wrong. Or should I say where I went wrong?

I pressed a hand to my lips, suppressing the sob that threatened to escape.

With the back of my hands, I wiped the droplets of tears on my face as I tried to pull myself together. Moments later, I stood up to pack up the decorations and everything I had set up, starting with my pathetic attempt of a lingerie.

As if it were a plaque, I tore off the lingerie from my body and dumped it into the trash before changing into something decent; a hoodie and sweatpants. I didn't even feel like wearing my flimsy pajamas.

No, I wanted to cover every freaking inch of me.

Suddenly, a small ding jolted me out of my self-wallowing making me look in the direction from which the sound had come. It had come from the nightstand where his phone lay with a lit screen.

For the first time since we married, something in me told me to check it out. I didn't know how or why, but before I could change my mind, I was already stepping closer to the nightstand my heart hammering against my ribs as I inched closer.

"What if he comes in and sees me with his phone?" I contemplated.

"Just a quick glance," I muttered to convince myself.

With a single tap, the screen glowed and a message immediately popped up. My heart jumped into my throat as soon as I read the content of the message. My knees wobbled as my gaze zeroed in on the name of the messenger. The ground suddenly felt unsteady and the message kept replaying in my mind over and over again.

"Thank you, sweetheart. I'll be leaving the hotel tonight."