Ah, love is in the air. Anne and Phillip are new newly-weds, enjoying the nice winter air. Phillip had surprised Anne with a grand white manor.
With the star-crossed lovers finally together, everything seemed perfect. Or that's what they though...
*She would be rewarded with peace and silence from adversity and society...*
Anne fled the circus, her chest rising and her head spinning. This can't be real, this can't be happening. Not now. She ran her hands through her pink wig, throwing it in the dirt as she panicked.
Phillip, his expression stony, walked down from the bleachers, walking backstage only to be face-to-face with Damian. He had a smug grin on his face.
"Hello, Phillip," Damian said coldly, licking the inside of his lips. He folded his arms. "Tonight was a splendid show, wasn't it? I–"
Before Damian could finish his sentence, Phillip threw a punch flat on his cheek so hard, Damian collapsed to the ground.
"You stay the hell away from Anne," Phillip said in a voice full of hatred and bitterness. "She's mine."
Phillip blew on his fist in pain before running out of the circus, searching for Anne. He found her sitting on the floor, her hands on her face.
"Hey..." Phillip began, taking her hand as he assisted her up. Her eyes were swollen red and her bottom lip trembling. "It's okay."
He wrapped her in a warm embrace. They stood them under the starless sky for a moment, forgetting everything but each other.
"I really wish everything was okay," Anne said finally, her tears dry and her hands trembling. "But nothing will be okay to the people if I'm with you."
"Who cares what they think?" Phillip asked, cupping Anne's face in his hands. "Who cares what anyone thinks? We belong together Anne."
"Do we, though?" Anne asked tearfully, resting her head on his chest.
***
Anne woke up the next morning with Phillip. She scrambled to her feet, rushing to her front door. She opened it, seeing a newspaper with Damian and Anne's face plastered on the front cover, as expected. She held back hot tears of dread and fear.
The Daily Report
CARLYLE SCANDAL?
A man by the name of Damian Vixchino was caught kissing Anne Carlyle in the circus! Turns out, we should be suspicious! Is this Damian fellow desperate? Is Mrs. Carlyle being faithful? Maybe the crowd was right, these 'star-crossed' may be just puppy love. Will this Mr. Vixchino man win her heart? The crowd gets hungry for more. But, like Barnum says, 'the show must go on'.
Anne threw the paper in the trash, her arms trembling and her bottom lip quivering. Phillip rushed downstairs, sniffling a little.
"Anne?"
"It's in the papers," Anne said immediately, panic in her eyes. "All of it, even the kiss."
Phillip swallowed hard, he still wasn't over the fact that someone else had kissed his wife. He removed that thought from his head and went over to comfort her. He kissed her forehead, wrapping an arm around her.
"It'll be alright Anne," Phillip lulled, swaying her lightly. "I promise you, we'll live in peace like you always wanted."
"How can you say that?" Anne said, pushing back as her eyes swelled up. She was angry. About everything. "How can we possibly live freely when this world doesn't? Phillip, it's all becoming too difficult, and all you can say is 'it'll be alright'?"
"Anne–"
"No, stop!" Anne yelled, shoving him back. She needed to keep her temper under control, she needed to be alone. "Just, leave me alone."
She grabbed her purse, heading out the door to get some fresh air. She was going for a walk.
Phillip ran his hands through his hair, his expression wild. She's slipping farther away from him, and he isn't doing anything about it. His heart pounded as he paced the floor, his hands on the back of his neck. He sat in bed, buttoning up his shirt as he fled off to search for her.
Anne walked, and walked, farther and farther away from her home, her husband, her life. She sat on a nearby bench, drying her tears as she enjoyed the scenery. The people walking past her without disgust and hatred on their faces, the wind peacefully singing in her ears, this was peace. This was the life she wanted. She knew that if she married Damian, she would be rewarded with peace and silence from adversity and society.
Then she thought of Phillip. How heartbroken he would be. She loved him, so much her heart ached. But as long as she lived, she would have no peace. He would have no peace. Her lips tightened. They were destined to be together.
Were they, though?
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Author's Note: Thank you SO MUCH for reading Seven! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, is Anne BACKING OUT? Don't forget to VOTE, FOLLOW, and SHARE this book with your friends and pals! I love you all so much! Thank you for being such loyal Bookworms! I really appreciate it! Farewell!
