Not So Pathetic

“This isn’t possible!” She yelled. It was a picture of her and Adrian lying naked in each other’s arms on a bed. From the picture angle, it looked like they were being intimate. Adrian towered above her, and the lady underneath him resembled her. She had never slept in the same room as Adrian, so how was this possible?

Someone set her up!

With a frown, Harriett defended herself. “This isn’t true. It can’t be!” Damien didn’t want to hear any explanation from her. He felt betrayed, and the only thing he wanted was for her to leave his life.

“The picture is pretty clear, Harriett. Don’t you think you should give up? You must’ve thought you could keep it a secret forever. Why didn’t you marry Adrian if you loved him so much? Instead, you’d rather go behind me and sleep with him.” Damien shot back, his voice not faltering.

“I don’t love Adrian. I never have. Why would I agree to marry you if I was in love with your brother?” Harriett asked in a whisper, hot tears slipping out of her eyes.

‘I am in love with you!’ was what she wanted to scream, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

How could she when he had accused her of such a vile thing and wouldn’t even give her a chance to explain herself?

“I want you out of my life, Harriett. I don’t want to hear whatever excuses you have. Get your things and leave.” Damien coldly said. Water welled in her eyes as she realized it was either now or never. She had to tell him how she truly felt. Perhaps that would get him to change his mind.

“Please, Damien. I love you. I always have.” She dropped to the ground and lowered her eyes as tears flowed nonstop from them.

“I know. None of that matters, Harriett. I don’t love you.” Damien said with no emotion in his voice and slammed the papers against the table, causing her to shudder. Chills ran down Harriet’s spine at Damien’s statement that all she could do was stare at the document with a blank expression.

“You knew?” She whispered, but to no one in particular. She knew that Damien didn’t love her, but for him to say it out loud was something she didn’t prepare her fragile heart for.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She felt like her heart had shattered to pieces. Before she could muster the courage to speak, Damien clenched his jaw and turned his back on her.

Silence filled the room as neither of them said anything, staring at nothing.

But a loud ring from Damien’s phone pierced through the silence. It was miserable that Harriet was seated close to the table where he had dropped his phone because, even though she didn’t mean to, she ended up seeing who the caller was.

A lump formed In her throat as she saw the name she dreaded the most. But that wasn’t what crushed her heart.

“Evelyn.” He said, his expression softening as he spoke. Harriet’s hand went up to her chest, gripping it tightly with the hope that it would ease her pain.

She was wrong. It did no such thing.

“Calm down, Evelyn. I’ll be with you shortly, okay? Don’t panic.” Damien said, his face filled with worry as he spoke with his mistress.

Harriet was in pain. She couldn’t understand how he had the guts to accuse her of cheating while he was openly dating another woman. It was unfair to her and the oat they took, albeit fake.

She couldn’t understand how he couldn’t be nice to her but was always kind to Evelyn. Evelyn had always been Damien’s priority all through their marriage.

That was the sad truth that Harriet had to live with.

Without sparing Harriet a glance, Damien picked up his keys in a hurry, still connected on a call with Evelyn, and made his way to the door but suddenly stopped and turned to Harriet, who sat on the floor in defeat, soaked in her tears.

“You said you had something to tell me. What is it?” He said impatiently, looking at her with hate and disgust.