In the shadow of Naples

1.

London was shrouded in a blanket of rain, the streets glistening in the soft light of the streetlamps. It seemed like a typical evening in the city, but for Bailey, it felt like something special was in the air. She sat across from Vincent in a chic restaurant, The Langham's Postillion, a place where elegance and history intertwined. The marble floors reflected the warm light of the crystal chandeliers, and the tables were set with pristine white linen. This was not just any dinner; this was the kind of evening one gets nervous about in advance, the kind that could change your life.

"Bailey, make sure you're ready by seven," Vincent had said that morning. It was their five year anniversary, and although they usually celebrated modestly, he had something different in mind this time. The restaurant was exclusive, a place they only visited for very special occasions. As Bailey got ready, she felt a mix of excitement and nerves. She wore a deep emerald green dress, one of her favorites, that beautifully accentuated her figure and made her green eyes even more vibrant. Her long, wavy red hair was carefully styled in an updo, with a few strands playfully falling around her face.

There was something about Vincent's demeanor that evening that kept her nerves on edge. His usual confidence seemed replaced by an unusual nervousness. He fidgeted with his cutlery, frequently glanced at his glass, and avoided eye contact. Bailey felt her heart race, convinced that he was about to ask her the question she had long been waiting to hear. But there was also a strange tension in the air, something she couldn't quite place.

Vincent's hand trembled slightly as he raised his glass and looked at Bailey with a gaze she had never seen before. "Bailey," he began, his voice low and unsteady. "We've been together for five years now. You're an amazing woman, you take good care of me, and..." He paused, his words hanging in the air as if he didn't know how to continue.

Bailey's breath caught in her throat. She looked at him expectantly, her heart pounding in her chest. "And...?" she gently urged, her eyes searching for an answer.

"That's why..." Vincent took a deep breath, as if he had to force himself to continue. "That's why I can't wait any longer..." He swallowed hard, and something in his eyes changed. "I have... I have someone else."

The world seemed to stand still at that moment. The words hit her like a sledgehammer. Bailey's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. "What?" she finally managed to utter, her voice soft and trembling. "What are you saying?"

Vincent looked down, gripping his glass so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "I'm sorry, Bailey," he repeated, his voice now barely a whisper. "This isn't a joke."

Bailey felt the ground give way beneath her. Her throat tightened as the reality slowly took shape in her mind. "How long...?" Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue. "How long has this been going on?"

"Eighteen months," Vincent replied with an unsteady voice. Those were just two words, but they felt like a slap to the face. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Bailey suddenly stood up, the chair crashing down behind her. "And today, on our anniversary, you decide to tell me?" Her voice was shrill, laced with a mix of anger and pain. "After five years?"

Vincent looked at her, his eyes dull, empty. "I'm sorry," he said again, but the words sounded hollow, devoid of meaning.

Bailey wanted nothing more than to run away, but something held her back. She looked around and saw a group of people in the restaurant that she knew all too well her family. Her parents, her brother Sydney, and her sister Paris sat a few tables away. They were there to celebrate her surprise, she thought. But then she watched as Vincent approached them. With a suffocating feeling in her chest, she observed him greet them with a warm smile and a hug, as if nothing had happened. And then the unthinkable happened. Vincent turned to Paris, and without a trace of hesitation, kissed her passionately on the lips.

It was as if everything was happening in slow motion. Bailey's heart nearly stopped when she saw the red velvet box that Vincent pulled out the same box she had seen earlier in his jacket pocket. With eyes wide in shock, she watched as he knelt down in front of her sister.

"No," Bailey whispered, her voice barely audible. It felt as though the ground beneath her was disappearing, as if she could fall into a bottomless abyss at any moment.

The pain was too intense, too sharp to comprehend. Without a moment's hesitation, Bailey turned and stormed out of the restaurant. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to keep going. The rain fell relentlessly, mingling with the tears on her face as she hailed a taxi. She gave the address of a hotel, her voice barely understandable. This was a world she no longer recognized, a world that had crumbled in mere seconds.

In the taxi, she closed her eyes, the events of the evening still feeling surreal. She needed a place to hide, away from everything that had once felt so familiar but now felt like betrayal.