So when he’d said “It looks beautiful,” he hadn’t been talking about her.
He’d been remembering her.
Zera.
The realization hit like a blade to the chest.
The sounds around her faded, swallowed by the roar in her ears.
Rage bubbled up-hot, sharp, uncontrollable.
Before she even knew what she was doing, Aella tore the bracelet off her wrist and threw it to the floor.
Then she turned and ran.
Down the hall, around the corner, until her legs gave out and she crumpled in an empty corridor, shaking, sobbing into her hands.
For a long moment, she thought she might actually die from the pain.
By the time she got home, she couldn’t even remember how she’d made it there.
After crying herself dry, she showered, but her body felt heavy and hollow. Her fingers were so stiff she couldn’t even turn on the hairdryer.
She lay in bed, eyes swollen and red, every emotion locked deep inside-anger, humiliation, heartbreak-all swallowed down, silent.
Even breaking down, she realized, required the right time and place.
So this was adulthood.
When her mother recovered, Aella decided she would end it.
Just thinking about divorcing Tyrone in a few days made her whole body tremble.
At night, when the house was quiet, the grief hit hardest.
She curled up, covering her face with both hands, and sobbed until she couldn’t breathe.
In the dark, she looked so small, so fragile-like someone trapped in a nightmare they couldn’t wake up from.
–
Back at the hospital, Tyrone had just settled Zera back into bed before heading to the nurses’ station to get a thermometer.
A few nurses were chatting softly, and one of them was holding a diamond bracelet.
The moment Tyrone saw it, his expression hardened.
He stepped forward, took it from her hand, and turned it over. Inside the clasp was a tiny engraving-an A.
His chest sank.
That bracelet belonged to Aella.
There was no mistaking it.
“She was here,” he muttered, voice low and sharp. “Where did you get this?”
The nurses froze. One stammered nervously, “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Winters. A lady dropped it. Said she didn’t want it anymore.”
Didn’t want it.
The words hit like a punch.
A few minutes later, Tyrone walked back into Zera’s room, face unreadable. He handed her the thermometer.
“I talked to the nurses. Someone will come sit with you soon.”
Zera, pale and frail, tried to sit up. “Tyrone, didn’t you promise to stay with me tonight?”
He gently pushed her back down, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. “Something came up. I’ll take care of it.”
Zera gave a soft, weary smile. “It’s my fault. My son and I have taken up so much of your time. Your wife must be upset. You should go home and comfort her.”
Tyrone adjusted her pillow and straightened the blanket again.
His voice was calm, steady, too even.
“Don’t worry,” he said quietly.
“She’s fine.”
It was late when Tyrone got home. The whole house was pitch-dark.
Not a single light on.
He stood there for a moment, uneasy, before finally flicking the switch.
For three years of marriage, no matter how late he came home, Aella would always be waiting for him in the living room with the TV humming softly.
The second he stepped through the door, she’d run over barefoot and jump into his arms, clinging to him so tight he could barely move.
But tonight, the house stayed silent. Not even one light left on for him.
She was really mad this time.
Dragging his tired body toward the bedroom, Tyrone found it just as dark. Only a faint glow seeped through the curtains. He turned on the bedside lamp.
Aella had her face buried in the pillow, pretending to be asleep.
Tyrone sat down on the edge of the bed, brushing a few strands of hair off her forehead, checking if she’d stir.
She didn’t move, still hidden under the thin blanket.
After a long pause, he got up and went into the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the room.
Aella slowly opened her swollen eyes. Her lashes were still damp. She trembled slightly, then pulled the blanket over her head again.
When Tyrone came out, dressed in a dark robe, his wet hair was dripping onto his shoulders.
He leaned over the bed, studying her face. Seeing she was still “asleep,” he sighed, turned off the light, and left for the study.
He didn’t turn on the light there either. Standing by the tall window, he lit a cigarette and held up the diamond bracelet in his hand.
She probably hadn’t noticed yet.
If she had, knowing her temper, the whole house would’ve been in chaos by now.
It must’ve just slipped off somewhere on the 13th floor.
The next morning, Aella got up early, washed her face, and got ready to bring breakfast to her parents.
Tyrone walked out of the dressing room, neat and composed.
She didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. Picking up her phone, she headed for the door.
Tyrone caught her wrist, his fingers brushing against her skin.
“Where’s your bracelet? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
Aella lowered her eyes, her voice hoarse. “I don’t know. I must’ve lost it.”
Tyrone ignored the rasp in her voice, watching her closely. “I saw Clyde last night.”
Aella froze. He was testing her.
Taking a breath, she lifted her chin and met his gaze.
“After we split up last night, I went to see my mom at the hospital. Clyde said he saw you heading to the 13th floor. I looked for you but couldn’t find you, so I went home.”
Tyrone reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet.
“You dropped it at the hospital,” he said quietly. “I picked it up.”
He didn’t explain why he’d been there.
Sliding the bracelet back onto her wrist, he tried to sound gentle.
“Just wear it for now. Once this busy stretch is over, I’ll take you to get something new-whatever you want.”
Aella felt something in her snap.
Days of frustration, hurt, and resentment boiled over all at once.
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