CHAPTER 1: ANNIVERSARY SURPRISE

Lila's POV

The soft harm of the restaurant's sweet music filled my ears, but it didn't reach my heart. My hands trembled slightly as I adjusted the napkin on the table, a nervous habit I hadn't noticed until now. It was our fifth anniversary. Five years of love, laughter and promises.. I had prepared everything to perfection, picked out the flowers—his favorite of course. The candles were arranged just right, making the intimate setting I have chosen so beautiful and lively.

The candles were sweet scented and very expensive but they were worth it for this special occasion.

We had made a special reservation in the most expensive restaurants in the city. La Momento was a restaurant for the rich only.

I checked the time again. 8:30 p.m. he had said he would be there by now. Seth never broke his promises and I believed in him, tonight I had news and it wasn't just our anniversary, but I knew this beautiful life changing news would make him happy.

I swallowed down the excitement that bubbled up inside of me. The doctor confirmed it this morning. We were going to be parents! Our first child, after five years of waiting. I couldn't wait to see Seth's face when I told him. He had been so busy lately with work but I knew he had been overjoyed. He was going to be a wonderful father and I had already pictured our little family. The thought made me smile, my heart swelling with love.

But my thoughts were caught short when I glanced at my phone. This was so unlike Seth. No messages. No missed calls. Maybe he was just caught up in something at work.

I texted him again:

Where are you? I have good news.

I pressed send and watched the screen for a moment, willing it to light up with a reply but nothing.

I felt the butterflies in my stomach turning into something darker, feeling like something was actually wrong.

The weight was becoming unbearable and some of the couples who had come to the restaurant at the same time with me were beginning to leave.

Calm down Lila. He will be here soon. 

Maybe I was being unreasonable or maybe I was too excited because I couldn't wait to tell him the good news.

I stared at the flowers and the beautiful handwritten anniversary cards a delivery guy had brought to the restaurant.

Just as I made to pick up the card, the door suddenly opened and my heart immediately lept. I stood up, hoping to run into his arms when I stopped.

But Seth was not alone, he walked casually like today meant nothing to him, but the surprising part was that he was with Chloe, my cousin.

And they were holding hands! 

My stomach immediately dropped. It felt like the world had tilted beneath me, everything spinning out of control.. I froze, the flowers in my hands suddenly felt like bricks , weighing me down. My eyes bulged in surprise

What was happening? Why were they together?

Seth looked at me and then at Chloe who was smiling at him as if she had just won a lottery. Chloe held him so close and then I saw it, the lipstick on his cheeks.

My chest tightened making it difficult for me to breathe.

 “Lila,” Seth's voice was soft and hesitant. “I—”

“Seth, my voice cracked before I could stop it. “Chloe?” I said trying to smile but my lips shook at the sides.

It's been 6 months since I last saw my cousin Chloe and the last time we both spoke on the phone she told me she was getting married this week.

So why was she with Seth?

I couldn't breathe.

“What's going on?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. My eyes darted between Seth and Chloe searching for any sign that this was a kind of misunderstanding or maybe even a prank. But there was none. The way Chloe's eyes avoided mine, the way Seth stood there, too still like a man guilty of something he couldn't undo—it all hit me like a brick.

“Lila, I have been meaning to say this to you for a long time.” Seth began and it felt like he was hiding something from me but I didn't know what it was.

“I don't understand," I whispered , shaking my head. “Why are you two together, it’s our fifth anniversary—”

“I already know it's our anniversary young woman.” Seth yelled, not even allowing me to finish and I was so surprised. He had never yelled at me before.

“I'm tired Lila, I'm tired of this sham we call a marriage. I want out.”

My heart immediately sank and my eyes spun in their socket and I stumbled back as if I had been hit by a tidal wave.

“What do you mean by that?”  I stuttered. “Seth, we have been married for 5 years. What is going on please?”

As if that was the answer to my question, Chloe tightened her grip on Seth's hand and gave me a small sardonic smile like she was enjoying my pain.

“I have been pretending for so long and I didn't want to. Look Lila.” Seth began. “ I don't love you.”

My heart stopped.

“ I'm in love with Chloe, your cousin. I love her so much and I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with her.”

If someone had told me that this was the biggest prank ever I could have believed them but as I looked at Chloe and then at Seth, the seriousness on their faces told me otherwise- this wasn't a prank.

“Seth you can't do this to me. What will happen to me?”

I turned to Chloe.

“ Why are you with my husband? You are supposed to be my cousin.”

“Yes," she said and smirked. “I like him and he's mine now.”

I wanted to do something, either to scream or slap her but I was motionless.

I'm still there staring at both of them.

 As if it had been rehearsed,  Seth pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at me. 

“Sign them he said and be fast about it.”

My eyes went to the small piece of project paper and my fingers shook as I lifted it and flipped it open.

I looked up at Seth and my heart broke.

The papers I was holding were nothing but divorce papers.