Chapter 6

• Anita awoke to the sound of the front door opening, her senses alert and her heart filled with a flicker of hope. Was it Daniel returning after an unexpected absence? She rose from the bed, her footsteps carrying her towards the hallway.
• As she rounded the corner, her eyes fell upon Daniel, his appearance seemingly refreshed. A smile adorned his face, but it quickly faded as he noticed Anita standing there, her expression a mix of surprise and concern.
• "Anita," he stammered, caught off guard by her presence. "I didn't expect you to be up so early."
• Anita's eyes scanned his figure, taking in the change of clothes, the renewed energy that emanated from him. But it was the sight of a hickey on his neck that sent a wave of realization crashing over her.
• Her voice trembled as she spoke, her words laced with a mix of hurt and disbelief. "Daniel, where were you last night?"
• He hesitated for a moment, his eyes avoiding her gaze. "I... I had some things to take care of," he finally replied, his voice tinged with unease.
• The weight of the truth settled upon Anita's shoulders, her heart sinking as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The reality hit her with a force that left her breathless—Daniel had spent the night with another woman, betraying the trust that had been fragilely rebuilt between them.
• A storm of emotions raged within Anita—anger, sadness, and a profound sense of betrayal. She struggled to find the words to express her hurt, her voice choked with unspoken questions.
• "How could you, Daniel?" she managed to utter, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "After everything we've been through, after the promises we made on the altar ... How could you do this?"
• As Anita stood before Daniel, her heart shattered into a thousand fragments. The pain of his betrayal and the revelation that their marriage had been built on coercion and deceit cut deep. She had hoped for an explanation, for some semblance of remorse, but instead, his face twisted with anger and frustration.
• "Anita, I told you to stay out of my private life!" Daniel's voice lashed out, his words dripping with resentment. "You have no right to pry into my affairs."
• His harsh tone reverberated in the air, leaving Anita stunned and wounded. She had hoped that their relationship could withstand the challenges they faced, that love and understanding would prevail. But now, she realized that she had been naively clinging to a mirage.
• Tears welled up in Anita's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She mustered the strength to speak, her voice quivering with a mix of pain and determination. "Daniel, I thought we were in this together. I thought we will try to make our marriage work?.”
• He scoffed, his eyes filled with frustration. "You think I wanted to marry you? You think I had a choice? My father threatened to disown me if I didn't go along with his plan. I had no other option."
• The weight of Daniel's words crushed Anita's already fragile spirit. The realization that their union had been forced upon him hit her like a tidal wave. She had been blind to the truth, clinging to the hope that their marriage could be more. She wasn’t asking him to love her. Just acknowledge and a bit of enough from him to make the marriage work.
• Anita's footsteps echoed through the silent hallways as she ran, her tears blurring her vision. She needed to escape, to find solace in the only place that had offered her comfort in the past—the garden. As she reached the familiar sanctuary, she collapsed onto a bench, her sobs consuming her.
• The weight of her decision bore down upon her, a heavy burden she had willingly shouldered. Regret washed over her like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her in its depths. She questioned her choices, her motives, and the sacrifice she had made to save her father from financial ruin.
• The thought of her father's burden being lifted, of his business being saved, had given her strength in the beginning. But now, in the midst of her own heartache, she questioned whether it had all been worth it. Was saving her father's company worth sacrificing her own happiness and well-being?
• Anita's mind played back the moments leading up to the wedding—the coercion, the ultimatums, and the absence of genuine love. She had been swept up in a desperate attempt to rescue her family, to shield them from the harsh reality of bankruptcy. In doing so, she had neglected her own dreams, her own desires.
• The tears flowed freely as Anita reflected on the choices she had made. She yearned for a love that was genuine, for a partner who would stand beside her willingly, not out of obligation or fear. The weight of her sacrifice felt heavy, crushing her spirit and leaving her questioning the future that lay before her.
• In that moment of vulnerability, Anita acknowledged the pain she had endured, the toll it had taken on her heart and soul. But she also recognized the strength within her—the strength to rise above her circumstances and forge a new path.
• As the sun peeked through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, Anita's tears began to subside. She wiped her cheeks and took a deep breath, determined to find her own happiness, even in the face of her shattered dreams.
• She resolved to confront the reality of her situation head-on. She would not let the weight of regret paralyze her any longer. The decision to sacrifice her own happiness had been made, but it did not define her entire future. She would take control of her own destiny, piece by piece, and rebuild her life on her terms.
• With newfound determination, Anita rose from the bench, her eyes focused on the path ahead. She would honor the sacrifices she had made by forging her own path, by discovering her own worth and pursuing her dreams.
• The garden, once a sanctuary of solace, now became a symbol of resilience. It reminded her that amidst the pain and regret, there was also strength and the capacity to grow. Anita vowed to nurture that strength within herself, to cultivate her own happiness, and to find love and fulfillment beyond the confines of a forced marriage.
• As she walked back towards the house, a renewed sense of purpose ignited within her. She would no longer be defined by the choices she had made in the past, but rather by the choices she would make moving forward.