Her World Shatters (5)

Evelyn walked into her study, closed and locked the door behind her. She set her briefcase down on the sofa. Evelyn had spent many afternoons there drinking coffee or tea while reading reports. She took a breath and sat down.

Alone in a safe space she finally let the tears that she was holding fall. She curled her fingers into a fist and held them against her mouth. She didn't scream, she didn't shout.

She let out tiny breaths, choking on her tears.

'How could he do this?' 'Why did he do this?' She didn't know what to think. She was hardwired to figure out solutions, without getting emotional. Evelyn's training kicked in as soon as she heard Shawn's words that morning.

Evelyn having just suffered a miscarriage had been suffering silently for the past two weeks. She only told Lady An, the head maid. She was with her since she was a baby and Evelyn trusted her.

Lady An had held her while she cried then prepared healthy foods for her body to recover. Being as this was the third miscarriage Evelyn had, Lady An was well versed in what she would need. Lady An had encouraged her not to neglect her health, and that even though she didn't carry the baby to term she would one day be a mother.

When Shawn was with her during the first two miscarriages he had said the same. He had adamantly said that he didn't blame her and that they would keep trying. He had even said that it was okay if she never brought a child to term.

Back then, Evelyn had felt so sure that she was lucky to have such an encouraging husband. How could she have known that he did mind.

'Was he angry that she never gave birth to a child?' 'Is that why he went and sought out another woman?' Evelyn thought bitterly. Shawn had said that he had begun seeing that woman a year ago. Which would have been around the time she had her second miscarriage.

When she could finally catch her breath, she inhaled deeply to steady herself. She got up and wiped her tears with the tissues on the coffee table and tossed them in the garbage. Taking one last breath feeling more composed, she got up.

She went to her safe and unlocked it. From inside she pulled out documents: contracts to deals from Cheng Global Corporation. Normally she wouldn't have a right to take them, except these were also contracts with active projects that her family, the Wei's, had a hand in. There was also one in particular that she personally spearheaded.

She also pulled out all of the medical records from her miscarriages. She was going to need them to plead her case. She put all of the documents into her briefcase. The only other thing left in there was a box. In the box was a necklace. She shouldn't have it in her possession anymore but she could never bring herself to throw it away.

The pendant of the necklace was a snowflake. It had diamonds and sapphires adorned on it and it shined in the light. She hesitantly took out the box and closed the safe. She went and sat at the edge of her desk. Opening it Evelyn began to reminisce.

The necklace was given to her by her childhood friend, Jinhai Li. He had given it to her on her sixteenth birthday. He was home for the holidays from school abroad.

Her family always threw her a big banquet in honor of her birthday. Jinhai had pulled her aside that night at first opportunity he had. It was late that night when her host duties had died down.

"Happy Birthday, Xiaoli," he said, pulling out a box. He only called her by her Chinese name when he was feeling particularly affectionate toward her.

Evelyn had grinned cheekily and took the box from him gently.

"Thank you, Jinhai!" She had said giving him a hug.

"Alright, alright," he had said pulling her off of him. He was smiling at her as well.

"Open it!" Jinahai had said to her. She did and she gasped when she saw it.

"Jinhai! It's so beautiful! How did you know I wanted this?" Evelyn had asked him.

"Lucky guess," he had said simply. She eyed him suspiciously but had no reason to doubt him. She took off her necklace and took out the one in the box.

"Help me put it on?" She asked him. His cheeks tinted red but he had nodded telling her to turn around.

He had stood so close to her and her heart had pounded. He put the necklace on her and she moved her hair away when asked. When he was finished and turned around she asked him, "How does it look?"

"It looks beautiful on you," he said. He smiled at her and she at him.

Evelyn shook her head clearing the memory. Jinhai had stopped speaking to her and went out of his way to avoid her ever since she got married. She sighed and closed the box and put it into her briefcase before snapping it closed. She made her way to the door and pulled it open.

Evelyn turned taking one last look, she was sure she'd never see it again.