Almost

RAYNA VALECREST.

It’s our three year wedding anniversary.

And stars, help me because I’m about to shoot a bullet through my husband’s brain.

“Rayna, we came to celebrate your anniversary with you, why do you look so sad? You are throwing daggers at Cassian.” Kael, Cassian’s brother…no, my brother in law said as he glanced at me.

I picked at my food. Cassian, meanwhile, fed the woman beside him, Taliah Wynnford, smiling I didn’t exist.

“Taliah, how does it taste?” He asked, a wide smile on his face.

My fingers tightened on my fork. His smile, once reserved for me, hadn’t touched his face in a year and some months. Not since…Ryan.

“Mother still has her cooking skills.” She smiled sweetly, glancing at my mother in law.

“Of course, you know, I’ve always been the perfect cook.” Marcelline returned, running her hand cutely over Taliah’s hair.

“Right, did you taste the cookies mother made last two weeks, Rayna? Cassian said he would give you some.” Kael asked.

I glanced at Cassian who was sitting opposite me, a brow raised. How am I supposed to compliment cookies I never tasted?

“Right, I forgot to tell you. Taliah said she was still hungry, so I fed the cookies to her.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Don’t be mad, Ray. Don’t worry, we’ll stop by at a convenience store and grab a carton load of them.” Cassian said softly.

I gulped. “It’s fine. I don’t need the cookies anyways.” I said, focusing back on my food.

“It’s your three year anniversary now, are you guys focusing on having a baby again?” His mother asked, making my food suddenly stop moving in my throat.

A cough escaped from my lips and Cassian quickly grabbed the jug, but then Taliah coughed at that same moment. His wrist turned as he poured water for her, abandoning me. Yet, again.

I scoffed lightly, grabbing the jug myself and tuning a cup of water.

“Rayna, I asked a question.” Marcelline stared at me.

I turned to stare at her, “We’ve been so busy, mother. Having kids is going to be distracting to us. Besides, I don’t think I’m ready to carry another baby…yet.”

“Are you still sulking over the last child? Why can’t you let it go, Rayna? Goodness, I didn’t know you had such a fickle mind!”

Fickle?

What was she saying?

“That was my baby.” I muttered, staring at her.

“What had happened had happened, Rayna. Ryan was just a child. Isn’t it better to lose him than to lose an adult?” She asked.

My lips parted, words unable to form from them. How could she say that to me?

“How can you say that? Do I lose him and just pretend like nothing ever happened? I carried him for nine months, how can you speak about him so lightly?”

“Then what do you want?! Are you going to think about him forever?! It’s been more than a year, Rayna. You have to forget him. Technically speaking, you caused his demise with your own hands.”

I’d heard enough.

Enough to make me throw my fork on the table and push my chair backwards, getting up.

My husband sat opposite me, watching his mother bash me for a crime I didn’t commit. I gulped hardly, my chest tightening with each passing second.

“When I get pregnant, I’ll be sure to let you know then. Goodbye till then.” I grabbed my bag, walking away from the dining table.

“Rayna!”

I didn’t stop. At least, not until I got outside and waited patiently for Cassian to come and open the door, and take me back home. To our house.

“What was the meaning of what you did there? That was disrespectful to my mother.” He said the moment he walked outside.

I sighed, running my palm over my face. I’m exhausted. I just want to go home and have a restful night.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” He shot.

“Cassian,” I breathed out softly, “your mom was disrespectful to me too. Why did she bring that in the middle of dinner?”

“She was worried. She had every right to be. She’s also mourning about Ryan’s death, you should have spoken more calmly to her.”

“I wasn’t insulting for crying out loud. Didn’t you hear her when she said I killed Ryan? Why are you only dissecting my own faults?”

“Because you should know better. You should act maturedly and respectfully towards her!” He shot.

I ran my finger through my hair, inhaling a deep shaky breath. “Fine. I get it. I’m sorry.” I muttered.

He stared at me blankly, like I hadn’t just said anything worth listening to.

“Can we at least go home now? I’m tired, I want to sleep.”

“What do you mean you are tired? Are you just going to leave like that after waking out of dinner? Mom created this party for you, why can’t you just be considerate and enjoy it?” He asked.

“Cassian, I didn’t ask you for a party!”

“Well, you did…last year.”

“What?” I blurted.

“Didn’t you say that angrily last year? You were so mad I didn’t throw a party for you.” Cassian pocketed his hands.

“I wasn’t angry because you didn’t throw me a party. I was angry because you didn’t remember, and you slept outside too that night. If you don’t even know that, why bother trying to please me?”

“You know you are such a hard person to please, Rayna. Sincerely, I regret marrying you. You never give me peace of mind.” He snapped.

I blinked, a sigh escaping from my life.

I didn’t give him peace of mind?

I’m such a hard person?

I’m the one devoting my whole life to pleasing him and what? This is what I get?

“I agree with whatever you’ve said, Cassian, and I deeply apologize. I would apologize to mother tomorrow, so please...please let’s just leave.”

“Apologize to her–“

“Cassian.” A small voice called from the foot of the stairs and standing right there is Tahlia, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

“Tahlia.” Cassian called sharply, running towards her. “What are you doing out in the cold?” He muttered, as he pulled off his coat, covering her up with it. While I stood there, completely like an idiot.

Tahlia walked towards me, grabbing my palm in hers immediately, “I’m so sorry, Rayna. I caused this. If I hadn’t called Cassian for help, he wouldn’t have left the house urgently and…and Ryan wouldn’t have fallen off from the stairs.”

My heart shattered. How…how dare she…how dare she?!