FATE - can a person in one lifetime fall in love with the same person twice?

Chapter 33

It was a quiet weekend morning. I came downstairs, expecting to see him, but he wasn’t there. I sighed and asked Jenna to prepare breakfast. As I waited, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” I called out as I went to open the door. Standing there, with a broad smile, was Elizabeth. Seeing her didn’t bring me any joy, but I knew I had to play the part, so I forced a smile of my own. “Come in,” I said, stepping aside.

She walked in, and we stood awkwardly in the living room for a moment before she broke the silence. "I have a meeting with Eden."

"Oh!" I tried to keep my tone light. "Let me go get him."

All I had to do was act—nothing more, nothing less. I turned and made my way toward the stairs, taking only two steps before I saw him coming down. He was impeccably dressed, even on a weekend, his suit perfectly tailored. He didn’t even glance at me. When he was about five steps away, I decided to speak.

“Elizabeth just arrived. She’s asking about—” I didn’t even finish before he brushed past me without so much as a glance, completely ignoring my presence.

“Hello, Eliza,” he greeted her warmly. I stood frozen, listening from where I was. “Shall we go?” Their footsteps echoed as they moved toward the door.

Just before leaving, he called back, “Jenna, don’t make dinner for me. I’ll be late.”

And then, they were gone. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving me standing on the second step, lost in my thoughts.

“Ma’am?” Jenna’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Breakfast is ready.”

“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, already heading upstairs. “Sorry, Jenna. Please give it to one of the staff or have it yourself.”

Once in the bathroom, I locked the door and collapsed onto the cold floor. The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over. Hugging my knees to my chest, I sobbed uncontrollably, the words escaping between ragged breaths.

“He’s cheating on me… He acted like I don’t even exist.”

Why did he have this power over me? Why was I crying just because he chose to ignore me? I swore I’d never fall in love, and yet here I was—addicted to someone who didn’t even care if I existed. That cheater... Why her? If he loved her, why did he marry me? Did he only want my body? Was I just a pawn in some twisted game of his? Or was he still taking revenge for bumping into him outside the elevator? He was playing with me—he played with me, and I had felt those stupid butterflies for him.

My sobs grew louder and louder. I knew no one could hear me here.

The sobs tore through me, my chest heaving as I cried harder than ever before. I couldn’t stop. Yesterday, when he yelled at me, I didn’t shed a tear. But today, the way he ignored me completely—it was too much.

Why couldn’t I just move on with my day the way he did? Why couldn’t I stop crying, all because he ignored me?

I lost track of time as I drowned in my own tears. Hours blurred into one another, my mind consumed with thoughts of him and Elizabeth. My reflection in the mirror showed red, swollen eyes, but I didn’t care. It was already evening, and I hadn’t left my room since morning.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Madam?” Jenna’s concerned voice came through the door. “Should I bring you something to eat? You haven’t had breakfast or lunch today. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “I just don’t feel like eating.”

“But—”

“I said I’m fine. You may leave now. Please, don’t make dinner for me.”