Caroline’s Point of View
My husband ruins our third year anniversary.
I’m sitting by the window of a fancy restaurant, nervously waiting for Knoxx, my husband. I dress up in my favorite black dress. It’s been three years of marriage—three years of hoping, waiting for the man I love to finally see me, to finally understand that I’m more than just a wife of convenience. That it is not all about the arranged marriage.
I fiddle with the napkin in my lap, glancing at the clock, watching as each minute crawls by. Any moment now, Knoxx will walk through the door.
Tonight feels different. Tonight, I feel like something is going to change.
I had seen the headlines earlier this week:
[Wayne Corp Heir Spends Fortune on Rare Ruby Necklace—A Gift for Someone Special!]
"Someone special." Those two words have been ringing in my head ever since I read them. Who is more important to him than me, his wife?
After all the distance between us, the missed anniversaries, the cold silences… perhaps Knoxx*is finally ready to show that he cares. Perhaps tonight is the night he makes it all right.
The restaurant is warm and inviting, there are clinking glasses and soft conversation filling the air. But as time keeps ticking, the hope begins to fray.
Where is he?
Glancing toward the door once more, my heart skips a beat because the doorman straightened.
"Mr. Wayne," he says, and my breath hitches up in my throat.
I see Knoxx step through the door, and my breath catches in my throat. He’s dark-haired, with rich, wavy locks that frame his chiseled face perfectly, drawing attention to his sharp jawline and the faintest hint of stubble that adds an edge to his striking appearance. His deep-set blue eyes sparkle with an intensity that always made me feel seen, as if he could look right into my soul.
Today, he’s wearing a tailored suit, accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist. The fabric hugs him just right, giving him an air of effortless confidence. As he moves, there’s a grace to him, a natural charm that seems to pull everyone’s attention, including mine. It was this combination of charisma and good looks that made it so hard to let go.
He's holding a bouquet of red roses, their petals like dark, velvety wine. And for a second, everything inside me melts. I knew it. He’s coming. Just like I told my father, Knoxx is learning to love me. Maybe, just maybe, our marriage is going to be what I’ve always dreamed it could be.
I begin to rise, ready to meet him, when something stops me cold.
Knoxx does not walk towards me. He does not even glance my way. My heart starts racing with confusion. Instead, he walks past me, his long strides carrying him towards a table across the room. My brow furrows and a dull throb is beginning to form at the base of my head.
Then, he stops in front of someone else.
A sexy blonde woman. She’s strikingly beautiful, and my heart sinks further as I realize she’s holding her arms open for him. They embrace warmly, smiling at each other like they share a secret the world doesn’t know about. A secret I’m not a part of.
Before I can fully register it, my breath catches in my throat as the woman turns, her profile coming into full view. It’s Dolly—Knoxx's ex-girlfriend. The one I've always known he's kept close, even if he never said it outright.
All of a sudden, my bloodstream rushes to my head, my vision blurs over for a moment, hit by it like a tidal wave of realization—she's wearing the ruby necklace.
The ruby necklace he bought at auction.
The one I thought was for me.
I freeze. It's as if time closes its doors. My hands tremble in my lap, and the noise of the restaurant fades into the background as my entire world crumbles around me. He bought it for her.
Rage burns hot in my chest. Before I can think, I rise from my chair, my fists curling at my sides. I want to storm over, to tear that necklace off her neck and wipe that smirk off her face. I want to confront Knoxx—demand to know what he thinks he’s doing.
My legs move before my brain can catch up, but just as I take a step forward, a waiter gently places his hand on my arm. “Ma’am,” he says softly, his voice like a tether pulling me back to reality. “Is everything alright?”
I stop. The fury boiling inside me cools just enough for me to take a breath. I can’t make a scene. Not here. Not now. I sink back into my chair, my entire body trembling with restrained emotion. I watch as Knoxx leans down to whisper something in Dolly’s ear. She giggles, her fingers brushing against his arm. My throat tightens painfully.
The world feels too bright, too sharp as I turn away from the scene and push myself to stand. I don’t want to be here anymore, to witness whatever connection they still share. The evening that started with so much hope has turned into a nightmare I never imagined.
I hardly remember the ride home. It's the walk through that door where the silence in our house is deafening. The room is appointed just as I envisioned it for tonight, soft candlelight flickers against the walls casting the shadows across the space, the dinner table set for two. Fresh flowers sit in the middle, the scent of roses filling the air.
Everything was for him. For us.
But he wasn’t here.
I kick off my heels and throw my purse onto the sofa, wiping at the tear that finally breaks free. The pain is suffocating, but beneath it, something else simmers. Betrayal. Anger. Desperation.
I pour myself a glass of wine and sit in silence, staring at the room I spent hours preparing. How could I have been so naive? How could I have believed that after everything, he would finally see me? Love me?
After a moment of drinking, the front door clicks open and freezes me. I listen for the all-too-familiar step as Knoxx walks in, his presence filling the room. I don't look up. Not yet.
He pauses, looking at the decorations, the candles, the effort I made to make this night special. His eyes settle on me, and I can feel his glance, but I cannot meet it.
"You forgot, didn't you?" My voice is quiet but the pain in it is unmistakable.
Knoxx doesn't say a word for a moment. Then finally, in a completely flat tone, he utters, “I’m sorry. I forgot the anniversary date.”
The silence stretches between us like a canyon. I hate how cold he looks. How detached. This was supposed to be a special night. A night where we might have finally connected.
“Where were you?” I ask, my voice trembling.
"Celebrating Dolly's birthday," he says, coldness in his voice as always. "I promised her I'd be there."
The words dangle between us, bitter and sharp. I gawk at him, jaw dropped in disbelief.
Dolly. Again.
"Dolly's birthday? Y-You promised her?" My voice breaks. "What about me? Your wife? What about our anniversary? The promises you made to me?"
Knoxx's gaze hardens. He reaches into his suit pocket, pulls out a checkbook, and scrawls his signature across a piece of paper. “Here.” He tears the check from the book and places it on the table in front of me. “One million dollars. Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology.”
I stare at the check, bile rising in my throat. My tears threaten to blur my vision. One million dollars? This is all he sees this as? He doesn’t get it. He never has.
“I don’t want your money,” I whisper, my voice laced with a bitter laugh. I stand and face him, hands trembling, my heart breaking into a thousand pieces. “This happens every year. You miss our anniversary, you spend it with someone else, and then you throw money at me like it’s supposed to fix everything.”
Knoxx’s expression shifts. His eyes darken as he folds his arms over his chest. The warmth that I imagined earlier when he walked into the restaurant is completely gone. He’s like a block of ice now.
“Isn’t that why you married me?” he says coldly. His words slice through me like knives. “For the money?”
I flinch as if he’s struck me. The air leaves my lungs, and I can’t breathe for a moment. He thinks I’m with him for his money? After everything I’ve done? After three years of humiliation and trying to be the wife he wanted, he still sees me as nothing more than a gold-digger?
“Do you really think that I married you for your money?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Shiva’s Point of ViewI sit there, frozen, still reeling from the words that left Emeric’s mouth just moments ago.“Didn’t you marry me for the money?”The question loops in my mind like a broken record, leaving behind a sting I can’t shake. Did Emeric always think that? That I only wanted his wealth? That I had trapped him in this marriage? The weight of the accusation presses down on me, suffocating in its cruelty."Is that really what you believe?" I ask quietly, my voice barely audible as I look at him. "That I married you for the money? That I forced you into this?"Emeric's expression is unreadable, the same cold mask he always wears, but there's a flicker in his eyes—something dark, something cruel. He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he picks up my half-finished glass of wine from the table and takes a slow sip. The silence stretches between us, heavy and unbearable.“You don’t love me,” he finally says, setting the empty glass down with a soft clink that echoes in the qui
Shiva’s Point of View“Girl, let me take you somewhere nice,” Penelope, my best friend says, her voice wrapping around me like a warm hug. She’s leaning against her sleek new sports car, a knowing smile playing on her lips, as if she can see through the mask I’m trying so hard to keep up.I step out of the house, trying to leave the weight of everything behind me, but the hurt sticks. Penelope’s eyes catch on something near the front lawn, and she bends down to pick it up.“What’s this?” she asks, curiosity lacing her voice as she holds up a delicate black box, gold lettering gleaming in the fading evening light.My stomach churns. I know exactly what that box is. The jewelry box—the same kind Emeric used when he bought Barbara that ruby necklace at the auction. I take it from Penelope, my hands shaking as I pop it open. Inside are two diamond earrings, beautiful but cold. They shine, but not for me.I snap the box shut, my chest tightening.“They were probably for Barbara,” I mutter,
Caroline’s Point of ViewThe air feels thick as I approach the café. My hands tremble slightly, though I force them to remain at my sides, steady. I’ve run this moment over in my head so many times, imagining the words I’d say, how I’d keep my composure, but now that it’s real, there’s an uncomfortable tightness in my chest. I push open the door, the chime overhead ringing lightly, a sharp contrast to the heaviness I feel inside.Dolly is already there, seated in a corner, legs crossed, looking like she stepped straight out of a magazine. Her hair is perfect, her makeup flawless, and her lips curl into a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.“Caroline,” she says, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness, like we’re old friends. “You’re right on time. Why don’t you sit? We have a lot to discuss.”I don’t bother with pleasantries, cutting right to the point. “You’re back, and I want to know why. What are you planning?”She leans back, her smirk growing. “Oh, Caroline,” she sighs, like
Caroline’s Point of ViewAfter that confrontation, I didn’t go home. Instead, I drive up to my childhood home, the familiar sight of the grand estate hitting me like a wave. The mansion looms large surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens filled with vibrant flowers and towering trees. It’s a palace, really—a testament to my family’s wealth, with marble columns and intricate wrought-iron balconies. The sprawling driveway is lined with palm trees that sway gently in the breeze, and as I park my car, I can’t help but feel a mix of nostalgia.The moment I step inside, the cool air wraps around me, carrying the faint scent of fresh lilies from the grand foyer. The crystal chandelier sparkles above, casting a warm glow over the opulent space filled with elegant furniture and priceless artwork. I used to love how my parents filled this house with laughter and love. But now, it feels like a sanctuary I’ve neglected since marrying Knoxx.“Sweetheart?” My father’s voice calls out from the liv
Caroline’s Point of ViewFor the first time in my marriage, I don’t go home. I can’t. Instead, I find myself in my childhood bedroom, curled up in the familiar comfort of old blankets. I try to grasp everything my dad has said. He’s right. I don’t deserve to be treated like this, not when I’ve given so much of myself, so much of my heart. I shared everything with him, my hopes, my fears, my love. And what did I get in return? Betrayal. Disrespect.I deserve someone who sees my worth and honors it, not someone who casts it aside. This is not the end of me, just the beginning of something better.That is all I think about until I finally fall asleep. It’s a heavy weight, but somehow, as I drift into sleep, it feels a little lighter, as if acknowledging the truth has started to set me free.The next morning when I wake up, the first thing I notice is my phone. It buzzes repeatedly with notifications, Knoxx's name flashing over and over. I don’t want to read them—what could he possibly sa
Caroline’s Point of ViewI pull my suitcase out of the bedroom, my heart racing as I head toward the stairs. My hands tremble, my breath shallow. I’ve packed up what little I care to take with me — clothes, a few personal things, nothing more. The rest of it? Meaningless.As I step down into the hallway, footsteps echo behind me, cold and deliberate. Karen Wayne, Knoxx’s mother, appears at the base of the stairs, her face as stern and sharp as always. She has this uncanny ability to make me feel small, no matter the situation. Today, though, I refuse to be small.She strides up to me, her eyes immediately locking on the suitcase in my hand. I don’t know why it surprises me that she’d intercept me on my way out — of course, she would. Nothing happens in this house without her approval. After all, we are living with her.Without a word, she snatches my suitcase from me, her fingers curling around the handle with unnecessary force.“I need to check if you’ve taken anything that doesn’t b