"Shattered Vows: A Tale of Toxicity"

27. Anniversary

As the guests mingled, laughter and chatter filled the air, a unanimous admiration for William and his wife, Amelia, echoed throughout the room. Each guest seemed to share the sentiment that Amelia must have obtained a wealth of good karma in her past life to be blessed with a husband as remarkable as William.

Amidst the ambiance of praise, a singer took the stage, his singing effortlessly captivating the attention of everyone in attendance. With a smile,he stepped down from the stage, holding a microphone, and fixing his gaze on Amelia and then he placed the microphone in front of her. All eyes were on her, waiting to see what she would do next, and the room fell silent.

In that moment, William's voice, barely above a murmur, cut through the silence, his words tinged with a hint of disdain. "My wife doesn't know how to si..." His sentence trailed off, interrupted by the unexpected action of his wife.

Amelia stepped forward, her gaze unwavering as she accepted the microphone. William's hand clenched involuntarily, a flicker of irritation crossing his features as he watched her take centre stage.

As Amelia began to sing, her voice filled the room, a mesmerising melody weaving its way into the hearts of those present. Each note was like a spell, enchanting the audience and holding them captive with its beauty.

Applause erupted as Amelia's performance came to an end, the room bursting with admiration for her undeniable talent. Yet, amidst the sea of praise, one pair of eyes remained fixed on her with a dark intensity; those pair of eyes belonged to William's.

His expression betrayed a mixture of emotions-insecurity, yes, but also a deep-seated resentment that simmered beneath the surface. In that moment, as he watched his wife bask in the glow of her applause, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy gnawing at his insides.

As Amelia's song reached its crescendo, she opened her eyes to find her husband's gaze locked on hers. In that moment, something shifted between them-a silent exchange of understanding and defiance. And as she held the final note, it was William who broke the silence, his applause ringing out like a declaration of pride.

Stepping forward, William stood by Amelia's side, his earlier reservations replaced by a newfound warmth. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice carrying across the room, "allow me to introduce you to my talented wife." With a gesture of his hand, he invited the guests to join him in acknowledging her talent.

Amidst the applause and cheers, Amelia's heart swelled with a mix of emotions-gratitude and uncertainty.

                                  ~~~

William and Amelia stood together, cutting their wedding cake. With a gentle smile, William sliced through the layers, the knife gliding smoothly through the frosting. He lifted a piece and offered it to Amelia. As she accepted the cake from him, a sense of unease settled in the pit of Amelia's stomach. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, but she pushed it aside. Smiling back at William, she fed him a small bite of the cake.

A few minutes later, as they swayed together on the dance floor, William's voice broke the silence. "Did you learn to sing?" he asked, his tone casual, but Amelia sensed an underlying tension beneath his words.

She paused, taken aback by the unexpected question. "No," she replied softly. "I just performed a few times in college. Why do you ask?"

William's grip on her tightened imperceptibly, his gaze intense as he looked at her. "I was just surprised," he said, his voice low. "You seemed like a professional singer today."

Amelia's heart skipped a beat at his words, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. She couldn't interpret the emotions swirling in William's eyes and couldn't't tell if his comment was meant as a compliment or a veiled criticism.

As William reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, a sudden jolt of fear shot through Amelia's veins. Her body stiffened unconsciously, the recollection of past pain coming back with shocking clarity.

William's hand froze in mid-air, his expression unreadable as he noticed the fear in Amelia's eyes. For a fleeting moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of their shared past hanging heavy in the silence.

"There's something on your hair," William said abruptly, his voice tinged with amusement as he broke the tense moment. Without waiting for a response, he leaned in, his fingers grazing her skin as he pretended to brush away an imaginary speck.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to mask her rising fear. She forced a weak smile, attempting to play off her anxiousness as she stared into the eyes of the man she once loved.

But behind William's facade of innocence, Amelia sensed a sinister satisfaction, as if he relished the power he held over her trembling body. His gaze bore into her soul, stripping away the facade of happiness that adorned their anniversary celebration.

In that moment, Amelia realized the truth she had long denied: the man she married was not the prince charming she once believed him to be. He was a predator disguised in the cloak of affection, preying on her vulnerabilities with calculated precision.

                                ~~~

As the party ended William looked around the scene of their anniversary party's aftermath. The guests had left, leaving behind a trail of laughter and empty glasses. However, his gaze quickly shifted to Amelia, who was sitting on the sofa, looking pale and visibly unwell.

"Amelia, my love, are you okay?" William rushed to her side, concerned etched on his face as he knelt beside her.

Amelia managed a weak smile, but it quickly faded as a wave of nausea washed over her. "It's nothing serious I am just feeling nauseous, William," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But before William could say anything, Amelia pushed herself up from the sofa, determination flashing in her eyes. "No, I need to... I need to change my clothes."

Her sentence shuttered as dizziness engulfed her, her vision blurring before everything went black. With a soft thud, she collapsed onto the floor, her body limp and lifeless.

"Amelia " William's voice sounded desperate as he hurried to save her, cradling her unconscious body in his arms. "James! Call the doctor!" he screamed.