Elizabeth sat at her desk, the polished mahogany surface reflecting the soft glow of the desk lamp. The hushed whispers of the evening cleaning staff echoed faintly in the vast office space. Her eyes scanned the last email from Edward Cullen, each word a dagger to her heart.
"Autumn is almost upon us. I remember how you loved the red maples, and we had promised to visit Italy together to admire them," the email read. "But now, here I am in Italy, and the woman by my side is no longer you." The signature at the bottom was a stark reminder of what could have been—Edwards name, written in a familiar script that she would recognize anywhere.
Elizabeths fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating. She had kept every email he had sent her over the years, each one a painful reminder of the love she had left behind. With a heavy heart, she typed out a brief response: "I have never regretted any decision in my life."
The message sent, she leaned back in her chair, the weight of her choices pressing down on her. The office around her seemed to close in, the walls becoming barriers that kept her trapped in a loveless marriage.
A sudden, harsh敲门声 interrupted her reverie. Elizabeth started, her heart pounding in her chest. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice steady despite the sudden fear that gripped her.
"Open the door," a voice demanded, the tone brooking no argument. It was Darcy.
Her husbands presence was as unwelcome as it was unexpected. Elizabeths mind raced, wondering what could have brought him to her office at this hour. She had heard rumors that he had been away on business, but the truth was that his absence had been a relief.
"Im busy," she lied, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
"Open this door, or Ill have it broken down," Darcy threatened, his voice rising with each word.
With a sigh of resignation, Elizabeth rose from her chair and crossed the room to unlock the door. As it swung open, Darcys imposing figure filled the doorway, his face etched with anger.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone cool and collected despite the turmoil within.
Darcys eyes swept over her desk, his gaze settling on the laptop screen. "I heard you received another email from your lover," he accused, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Hes not my lover," Elizabeth retorted, her defenses rising. "And even if he were, its none of your concern."
Darcys eyes flashed with fury. "Everything about you is my concern, Elizabeth. You are my wife, and I will not have you making a fool of me."
His words stung, but Elizabeth refused to show weakness. "You have no right to interfere in my personal correspondence," she said firmly.
In two long strides, Darcy was across the room, his hand reaching for the laptop. Elizabeth moved to block him, but he was too quick. With a flick of his wrist, the laptop went flying out the open window, plummeting to the ground below.
"No!" Elizabeth cried out, rushing to the window to see the shattered remains of her laptop on the pavement.
She whirled to face Darcy, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you!"
"I dare because I can," Darcy replied coldly. "You seem to forget your place, Elizabeth. You are mine, and I will not tolerate any form of disobedience."
His words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the power dynamics in their relationship. Elizabeth stood her ground, her chin raised in defiance.
"This marriage is a farce, and you know it," she said, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I am not yours to command."
Darcys face hardened, his eyes turning to ice. "You are wrong, Elizabeth. You are mine, and I will remind you of that fact every day for the rest of your life."
With that, he turned on his heel and left, the door slamming shut behind him with a finality that echoed the death of her dreams. Elizabeth was left alone, the shards of her laptop a metaphor for the broken pieces of her heart.