ANIYA’S POV
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the penthouse as Aniya Harvey placed the last dish on the dining table. Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
9:17 p.m.
Corbin was late again.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she reached for her phone, checking for any new messages from him. There was nothing except the text he had sent hours ago informing her that work was keeping him busy. Although disappointment settled heavily in her chest, she quickly pushed it aside.
Corbin was busy. He had responsibilities. She understood that better than anyone.
Still, she couldn’t stop the thought that slipped into her mind.
Was Kenzie with him?
Aniya hated herself for even thinking that way. Kenzie was Corbin’s colleague. They worked closely together, and she had always tried to respect that. But lately, it seemed as though Kenzie’s name found its way into every conversation, every late night at work, and every cancelled plan.
Shaking her head, Aniya pushed the thoughts away. She trusted Corbin. More than that, she loved him.
Maybe she was simply overthinking again.
The sound of the front door opening pulled Aniya out of her thoughts.
A small smile appeared on her face as she quickly made her way out of the kitchen.
“You’re home,” she said softly.
Corbin stepped inside, loosening his tie with one hand while holding his phone in the other. He looked exhausted.
“Yeah,” he replied absentmindedly, his eyes briefly meeting hers before returning to his phone.
Aniya noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes and the tension in his shoulders.
“Dinner is ready,” she said. “I waited for you so we could eat together.”
Corbin finally looked up from his phone.
“I’m not hungry,” he said. “I had something at work.”
Before Aniya could respond, he placed his bag down on the couch.
“I’m going to take a shower. I have an early meeting tomorrow.”
With that, he walked towards their bedroom, leaving Aniya standing alone in the living room.
For a moment, Aniya remained where she was, staring at the hallway Corbin had disappeared down.
The smile on her face slowly faded.
Her gaze drifted towards the dining table she had spent hours preparing. The dishes were still warm, untouched.
Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, she forced herself to move. One by one, she began clearing the table, carefully placing the food into containers to store in the refrigerator.
This wasn’t the first time Corbin had missed dinner with her.
Still, the disappointment never got easier to bear.
As she washed the dishes, Aniya couldn’t help but think about how different things used to be. Corbin had once looked forward to coming home to her. He would pull her into his arms the moment he walked through the door, asking about her day before telling her about his.
Back then, she had never doubted how much he loved her.
Now, she wasn’t so sure.
Drying her hands with a kitchen towel, Aniya let out a quiet sigh.
Maybe things would get better.
Maybe they just needed time.
Maybe the award show tomorrow would give them a chance to reconnect.
Holding onto that small piece of hope, Aniya headed towards their bedroom, unaware that the following night would change her life forever.
As she changed into her pajamas, her eyes landed on a framed photograph sitting on the dresser.
It had been taken during their first year of marriage.
Back then, Corbin couldn’t seem to stay away from her. He would come home early just to have dinner with her, often wrapping his arms around her waist while she cooked and stealing bites of food before it was ready. He had made her feel loved in a way she had never experienced before. With him, she had always felt safe and cherished.
Aniya smiled sadly at the memory before placing the picture frame back where it belonged.
Sometimes, she wondered when everything had changed.
Had she missed the signs? Had she stopped being enough for him? Or had life simply pulled them in different directions?
No matter how many times those questions crossed her mind, she always came to the same conclusion.
She still loved him.
Carefully climbing into bed, Aniya noticed Corbin was already asleep, his back turned towards her. The distance between them felt much greater than the few inches separating them on the mattress.
She wanted to reach out to him. To ask him if they were okay. To tell him that she missed him.
Instead, she remained silent.
Maybe tomorrow would be different.
Maybe the award show would give them a chance to reconnect and remember what they once had.
With those thoughts in mind, Aniya closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, unaware that the following day would change her life forever.