Friday marked their third wedding anniversary. Calvin left the office late, but with a rare flicker of consideration, he purchased a mango cake for Amber. He remembered how she always valued these occasions, making them feel special with her own quiet efforts. She had even texted him earlier in the day, reminding him to come home early.
As Calvin drove, the image of Amber's gentle texts lingered in his mind.
[Are you tired from work? Should I have Florence bring you some food? Will you be home early tonight?]
He had ignored every message, as he always did. Yet, scrolling through the unread green bubbles, a strange pang of guilt surfaced. Amber's patience, her willingness to stay even when he neglected her, should have been comforting. Instead, it unsettled him.
But before he could dwell on it further, Iris's call came through. In an instant, Amber's texts were forgotten, replaced by Iris's familiar voice.
He arrived at the hospital with the cake in hand, only to find an unexpected scene: his stepmother, Sonya, standing in Iris's room with Amber by her side.
The moment Calvin entered, his face darkened. He didn't wait for explanations. His eyes narrowed as he barked, "Who told you to bring her here to see Iris?"
Before Amber could respond, Calvin's temper erupted. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly as he dragged her out into the hallway.
With a forceful shove, he slammed her against the cold tiled wall. The impact sent a jolt of pain up Amber's spine.
"I didn't... Ah!" she gasped, her voice trembling as she winced, instinctively trying to free her wrist from his iron grip.
Her eyes watered from the pain. She looked up at Calvin, who stood looming over her, his expression twisted with rage.
Earlier that day, Amber had wanted to make their anniversary meaningful, even if it was their last. She had spent hours with Florence in the kitchen, learning to cook a simple meal. She had carefully chosen the dishes Calvin liked, hoping to create a semblance of normalcy before their inevitable separation.
But just as she was rinsing vegetables, Sonya had arrived unannounced, her imperious demeanor filling the mansion.
"Don't focus so much on work that you neglect Calvin," Sonya chastised, her tone dripping with faux concern. "And what's this about three years of marriage without even getting pregnant? I know a good doctor; maybe you should get a consultation."