After the incident with the cat, she closed herself off again, her countenance darkened, and everyone in the mansion felt sorry for her. The cat had become her light, and now it was in the hands of her husband's lover, with whom she also had to share her home.
Daphne was harvesting some tomatoes from the plants she had sown to keep herself busy. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice when Samael arrived. He watched her for a few minutes, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence, but when she didn't, he decided to speak.
"We need to talk."
She trembled at the sound of his voice and looked at him sideways.
"Do you want my tomatoes too?"
"What? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Isn't that right? I thought I would have to give this up too."
He sighed and looked at her intently.
"Our anniversary is coming up soon, we're going to have a party."
She stood up with a confused look on her face.
"Why would we do that?"
"Because I've never shown you off in society, and I need everyone to see what a happy couple we are."
She lowered her head as she whispered.
"Happy couple… yeah, right."
"Did you say something?"
"No, I didn't say anything, do whatever you want, it's not like I can refuse."
She bent down and continued with her tomatoes. He looked annoyed, expecting her to complain or say something, but she didn't. The day of the party arrived, and everyone was busy but her. Since there was no one near her, she was able to take advantage and stay locked in her room. When it got late, Clair came in with some other people and helped her to clean up and change. They put her in a beautiful wine-red dress that left her cleavage and shoulders bare. The dress was long and had a slit up to her thigh. When they finished fixing her up, she looked in the mirror and didn't recognize herself. She looked beautiful. When she came out of her room and walked arm in arm with Samael, everyone was astonished by her beauty. They were not used to seeing someone like her. She was definitely not as beautiful and glamorous as the other women, but she was exotic enough to make everyone at the gathering drool.
She was grateful that she didn't speak the language, so she could avoid talking to all those people. She felt exhausted from having to pretend to be a happy wife. Every time she had to kiss, hug, or look lovingly at Samael, she felt her stomach churn with nausea. When she was finally able to get away from him, she ran to the garden where she found the young man with the lost look in his eyes as he sipped a glass of wine. Seeing him, she wanted to go back, but she saw a group of women who were looking for her, so she preferred to put up with it for a few minutes. He saw her hiding, and when the women came out, he directed them to another path to look for her.
"Why did you help me?"
she asked as she came out of hiding, shaking her dress.
"I want to lighten your load, even if it's just a little."
She looked at him intently and could see his sincerity.
"Then why don't you ask him to let me go?"
He smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I can't do that."
"Why? Aren't you the person he loves?"
"I am, but I'm not the one he needs."
"Then why don't you leave? You said you wanted to lighten my load… You're my burden."
He shed a few tears, and she panicked at the thought of the consequences of making him cry.
"Please don't cry, if you really have any kind of remorse. Don't make things more complicated for me. Do you know what happened the last time you put on a sad face in front of me? Aren't you aware that what you do has consequences for me?"
He wiped his tears quickly and looked at her sadly.
"I didn't choose to be here."
"What are you referring to?"
"I… I'm no different from you, it's true that I love him and that he loves me, but I never chose to be his lover. I was always me, before you… I was always me, I don't care if you don't believe me."
She listened intently to what he was saying as she tried not to cry.
"I was his partner since I was 18 years old, he was my first love… Now I am 23 years old and I am not able to give him up. Weren't you the one who was the third wheel from the beginning?"
Daphne cried, there was truth in his words, in his eyes, she would be a villain.
"I didn't know, if I had known… Even now, I just want to leave."
"I know, that's why I don't blame you anymore. When I found out that he got married, I almost died of pain, I hated you deeply and wanted to monopolize him with all my strength, but when I saw your hurt face that night… I knew that he and I were scum. I tried to leave him, but it all turned out differently than I expected, he brought me here and I can't leave him."
"You don't want to be here?"
"I do want to, I love him… but I know I have to leave, I just can't. I'm afraid of what he might do if I do."
"Did he threaten you?"
She smiled and knew immediately that the only monster was Samael, his inordinate selfishness had dragged the two people who loved him into a sorry situation.
"I am deeply sorry about your cat, although he has gotten used to me, he still misses you. You can have him back anytime you want."
She shook her head.
"Although I know now that we're in the same situation, I'm not noble enough to get along with you… I'm not going to apologize for anything and that cat… It will only bring back bad memories."
After saying that, she left. He watched her walk away and felt a great pain in his chest. He thought that by confessing the truth they could try to live together amicably.
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