Shattered Dreams

Doran left the room early morning the next day and resided in his study. Amilisia went to her son's room. She knocked and entered only to find Skyla sleeping on the divan instead of their bed.

Nostalgia washed over her at the sight and she shook her head in disappointment. She slowly walked over to Skyla and gently woke her.

"Skyla!"

She stirred and her eyes slowly opened, for a second she had forgotten where she was. Rubbing her eyes she glanced at Amilisia, letting her eyes adjust to the light.

"Good morning! I came to wake you up for breakfast. Freshen up and let me know what you would like to have," Amilisia reached out and untangled Skyla's auburn hair.

"Good morning! Sure, give me a few minutes. And anything will suffice," Skyla sat up straight and glanced around.

The bed was empty.

A deep-rooted sorrow clutched her heart. Why did he dislike her so much? He didn't even bother touching her. Was she so undesirable? Shadows of uneasiness fell long and hard on her as so many questions birthed inside her.

"I will be waiting for you at the breakfast table," Amilisia sadly smiled at the lost girl and quietly left the room.

Skyla collected herself and made her way to the washroom. She freshened up and changed into a comfortable red sundress before making her way downstairs to the dining hall.

Madame Maven greeted her and led her to the table. Doran was already perched on the head seat and his mother sat on his right side. He was busy on his phone but his steely eyes flickered to her for a second before retreating.

"Be on time for breakfast," he said simply. No emotions, no feelings and no greetings.

"Good morning! I will," she slowly greeted him while taking her seat on his left side.

He simply picked up his coffee mug and sipped the blackest coffee she had ever seen. Ignoring her existence and greeting his eyes remained glued to the phone.

The air was turgid with tension and the room seemed to be shrinking for Skyla. She stared at her uninterested husband for a few more seconds.

"Try these waffles, Skyla. Our cook makes the best waffles. You will like them," Amilisia quickly diverted her attention towards the waffles. Skyla averted her gaze and awkwardly smiled at her mother-in-law. Picking one up she placed it on her plate.

"Of course! Everything is prepared by servants in this house because my mom never has time," he casually added while taking another sip. A hesitant smile and subtle shift in Amilisia's demeanour revealed that she was embarrassed by her son's remark. Skyla watched him with indignation.

"You should eat something, Doran. You hardly touched anything," his mother quickly added, not addressing what he had just said.

"No thanks, I have a photoshoot today. I am on a liquid diet."

"Today? But you just got married yesterday. You should take Skyla on a honeymoon," she tried to touch her son's hand but he removed his before she could do that.

"I don't have time for that nonsense. My work is much more important than some stupid honeymoon," he dismissively stated, his jaw tightening as if with a pair of pliers.

"But Doran, she is your wife now. You need to make time for Skyla and take care of your health. You will fall ill if you continue like this," Amilisia tried to argue with her son. He raised a brow at her and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Skyla watched their to and fro in confusion.

"You never cared about me all your life. Why start now? Leave me alone. And if you are so interested, then you take her. I have work to do."

His voice was not raised, it was very controlled but was filled with frustration and annoyance.

Banging the mug on the table he spilled some of the black liquid on the white tablecloth. Skyla slightly jumped in her seat, she was not used to such a volatile person. Her parents were very calm people.

He abruptly got up and mumbled.

"In this damn house, one can't even drink coffee in peace."

He strode off after that. His one hand in his pocket and the other frantically dialling a number.

Skyla was left stunned, who speaks to their mother like that? Amilisia just nervously chuckled before saying.

"He is always preoccupied with work, don't worry he will come around."

"I don't want to go on a honeymoon, Mom Amilisia. You don't have to force him." Skyla didn't want herself to be the cause of tension between the mother and the son.

"It's your right, don't give up on them. Fight for them. You will have to, with him. He will soften once both of you spend some time together or have your first kid."

And something snapped inside Skyla.

A kid?

From the look of how their relationship was progressing he never even wanted to touch her. Besides, how would a baby fix the temperament of a grown adult?

Too much burden for someone who wasn't even born.

Babies are not meant to fix the grown-ups.

She had no answer for the elderly woman who watched her with expectant eyes.

Skyla politely smiled and tried to chew the waffle that seemed like rubber in her mouth. Her appetite gone, and knots tied in her stomach for a very bleak future awaited her. A loveless future.

It was going to be cold and lonely.

For every day after that, Doran only grew distant from her. He wouldn't come home for days and whenever he did he hardly ever acknowledged her.

Skyla remained patient and loyal. She always tried to initiate a conversation or tried to cook for him, to make him happy by any means.

Didn't work.

Nothing worked, for Doran always saw her as someone beneath him.

She insisted on taking the office her father had left for her but Doran never took her along. When she became insistent he threatened to sell the company at the lowest rate possible, breaking her heart and hopes completely.

"I will be handling the company, you work on looking pretty and keeping your mouth shut. That's your only job. If you don't fall in line you will lose the company forever."

He was trying to extinguish the natural fire inside her but was unable to determine the resilience she possessed. Skyla was a fighter, not a quitter and the promise she had made to her father. She wanted to honour it at every cost.