Chapter 7 No.7

Three days later. The dining room.

The atmosphere was toxic. Hayes was stressed; his assets were still frozen. Felicity was sulking because she couldn't go shopping.

Dinner was silent until Felicity decided to speak.

"Eliana," she said, poking at her salad. "Are you still mad about the painting? I feel like you're holding a grudge."

Eliana didn't look up. "I'm not mad. I'm indifferent."

Hayes sighed. "Eliana, please. Be nice. Felicity is having a hard time."

Eliana put her fork down. The sound was sharp against the china.

"A hard time?" Eliana asked. "Living in my house? Eating my food? Sleeping with my husband?"

Hayes slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! I told you, I haven't slept with you because I respect her! You should be grateful I didn't divorce you sooner!"

The silence that followed was absolute. The maids in the corner looked at their shoes.

Felicity smirked. She took a sip of wine.

Eliana looked at Hayes. The man she had wasted three years on.

She reached into her bag, which was sitting on the floor. She pulled out a thick, cream-colored envelope. It was tied with a silk ribbon.

She slid it across the table toward Hayes.

"Happy Anniversary, Hayes," she said softly.

Hayes blinked. He froze.

Oh god. Today was their third anniversary.

He had forgotten. Completely.

Guilt washed over his face. He looked from the envelope to Eliana. She looked calm, almost gentle.

"Eliana... I... I didn't get you anything. With the accounts frozen..."

"It's okay," she said. "I don't want anything. Open it. You'll love it."

Hayes reached for the envelope. His hand shook slightly. He thought it was a love letter. Or maybe a check to help him out.

Just as his finger touched the ribbon, Felicity gasped.

"Ow!"

She doubled over, clutching her stomach.

"My stomach! It burns!"

Hayes dropped the envelope. He jumped up. "Felicity?"

"It's the salad!" Felicity cried. "She poisoned me!"

Hayes looked at Eliana with wild accusation.

"I dressed the salad myself, Eliana said calmly. "It's just vinaigrette."

Hayes didn't listen. He scooped Felicity up in his arms.

"I'm taking her upstairs. Get the doctor!"

He ran out of the room.

The envelope lay on the table. A drop of vinaigrette splashed onto it from Felicity's flailing arm.

Eliana sat there for a moment. She watched the oil stain spread on the paper.

She picked up the envelope.

She walked out to the hallway. Hayes's briefcase was sitting on the console table, ready for work the next morning.

Eliana slid the envelope-the signed divorce papers-into the side pocket of the briefcase.

"You'll find it," she whispered. "Eventually."

She turned to Martha, who was watching from the kitchen door.

"Martha," Eliana said.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Tomorrow morning, move my boxes to the storage unit. I'm leaving."

Martha's eyes filled with tears. She nodded. "Where will you go?"

Eliana looked out the window at the moon.

"Somewhere they can't find me."