Anise

My face swirled to the left and my eyes went blank, a loud sound ringed in my ears and my cheek burned.

I straightened my face as tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes. 

Then my eyes suddenly locked with Dante. He was stomping gently down the staircase and once he was at the final step, his eyes narrowed at his mother.

"What's going on?" He questioned, curiously while I rubbed my sore cheek, sobbing the more.

"Dante, I always have a bad feeling with her around, it's just Shirley's first day here and this wench is already revealing her true colors!" Mrs Miranda roared, cussing at me and I squivered.

She explained everything to him, making me seem like a predator while adding up stories that didn't even exist.

"What! "You tried harming Shirley?" he retorted, and I shook my head, shivering where I stood.

"I had no idea she was allergic to fish and I didn't even put in the pie", I defended as Shirley had come out of the restroom, looking weak and exhausted.

She was a distance from us and Dante rushed to meet her, but she waved at him to stay back.

"You have to choose between us, Dante, Anise or me."

"Of course Shirley, it's always you, no one else", his mother spoke on his behalf while his eyes were fixed on him.

"I want to hear it from Dante" Shirley muffled, moving away from Mrs Miranda. She held his hand and spun him around to stare into her eyes.

"Dante, send her away, she'd only be a third wheel and if I lost this child... I can't forgive myself."

He heaved a sigh and cuddled her in his arms.

"She's worthless to me, Shirley... you're everything I ever needed" he announced, kissing her on the crown of her hair.

"You can't send me away Dante, you gave me a choice, and I'm willing to serve you..."

"How pathetic! Who do you think you are to control my son!" His mother cut in, pushing me backward, and I slammed my back on the pillar behind me.

I winced, crouching slightly and trying to gain my breath. Every sound faded, everything became blurry.

He only watched and didn't stop her.

"I want a divorce Anise" he muttered emotionlessly, and I heard Shirley heave while tightening her grip on Dante.

Her head rested on his chest as she smiled at me.

"I can't leave" I spewed out weakly and placed my hand on the wall.

I just can't because of the promise I made to his grandfather. When he had taken his last breath, he made me promise never to leave this house.

"Of course, I'd leave you with two of my mansions and a billion dollars. I don't want it to be rumored that my wife became a beggar after divorce."

"I don't need that, it's you I want Dante, we're not getting divorced."

"Who do you think you are to make decisions!" He brawled, fuming at me as he refrained from the embrace.

He beckoned his mother to take Shirley away to her room while he'd handle me.

"I'm a part of this family", I declared in between my teeth and losing my breath.

"On paper anise, there's nothing between us and nothing will ever be!" he added, and his words dripped with venom, and I was shaken to my knees.

He held my hand and dragged me to his study room rudely, then tossed me aside. I would have fallen if I hadn't held the arm of the couch close to me.

I shook my head, feeling dizzy and trying so hard not to pass out. He never regarded me and so I expected this.

I could see he was searching his drawer for something until his hand clutched a paper which he placed on his desk with a pen.

I tried to deny what it was until his voice muttered:

"Sign it, it's what brought us together in the first, and it's what would end us, today."

My lips trembled as my chest tightened. I couldn't think or concentrate.

"Dante, is this how we end? "How do you think Granny feels watching us?"

"Don't you dare bring him in this! I don't want you anise, and I never will!"

Hot tears gushed from my eyes as I swallowed hard. Was it even worth the fight when I'd never been recognized by him?

His voice grew more furious as he slashed me with insults and, once again, everything went blank.

It was left for me to decide, to break out or stay and die in silence. But then, I can't break a promise to an elder.

I stared at the snowdrop from the glassy window and memories filled my head, playing inside and watching Dante wait in a corner for me, in annoyance.

It's either he was on his phone, cracking a deal or in a virtual meeting or scolding someone. I've always wished to see the first snow with him.

"Are you ready, Anise?" a feminine voice called, and I shifted my gaze at her. A sad smile left me as I exhaled softly.

"Did he call?" I asked as tears clouded my face, and she shook her head while arranging my luggage.

"Any message?" I furthered with hope in my eyes, and she shook her head in frustration.

Here I was at the airport with a friend, Becky.

She had a wistful look at me and I know she was only tagging along to ease the pain in my heart.

Travelers from every corner of the globe thronged the terminals; the hums of announcement echoed through the halls.

"Seriously, Anise? "He clearly blocked you, and you still worried about him?" She muses, cursing Dante, but I told her to stop as I couldn't bear having to hear ill talks about him.

I ended it with Dante that day, per his wish, and I walked away, having nowhere to go but to reside with Becky.

"We are leaving the country for a greener pasture, someone is offering a job outside this cage of yours, your biggest dreams. Look in the bright..."

It was just a few days after the end of our marriage that Becky announced that I'd been selected to become the managing director of the mikro technology company in London.

At first, I refused, but then, it would only be a means to take my mind off Dante.

As she spoke, my eyes searched for the passengers who scrambled to collect their belongings and then their loved ones who they bide their farewells too.

I just wanted to have a glimpse of Dante, a little hope that he never meant it, that he had his reason.

Then my eyes spotted someone in a dark hoodie, gray piercing eyes like Dante but then not fully visible.

He turned to his heels and my heart thudded. It's him?