Chapter 4 Flashback

Classical music created a soft background sound in the spacious dining room with which the sound of fine china clinking and floral scents mixed. The long mahogany table served as their meeting point where Eliza Callahan faced Noah while their faces reflected the soft glow from the candles. The atmosphere seemed cold like a vacant ballroom during winter time yet the glittering chandelier above them displayed crystal elegance.

Noah's piercing blue eyes showed no real warmth when they met hers. Noah's lips formed a forced smile from his routine practice. He was the ideal man for any woman: He stood tall and groomed to perfection while his self-confidence allowed him to dominate any space. The distance between them seemed to expand each day as Eliza gazed at him now.

His voice had a velvety smoothness when he remarked "You've been silent tonight." His clothing looked immaculate with perfect tailoring while his dark hair appeared well-combed. Onlookers saw them as the perfect couple who represented Manhattan power whenever they caught their eye. Eliza, however, was wiser.

Her wine glass shook subtly as she brought it to her lips while she pondered which words to choose. Finding words had become increasingly difficult in this life. Vulnerability and honesty found no space for expression. They built their existence to perfection, yet it became their prison.

Her own voice sounded unfamiliar when she said "I'm alright." Her ability to express herself to him had disappeared. Together they could not bear the silence because it rested heavily on them like a blanket.

Noah arched an eyebrow. "Really? Your distant gaze suggests you're far beyond reach.

Eliza placed her wine glass down and mindlessly followed the glass rim with her fingers. Her thoughts drifted back to the many years they spent building this illusion, like leaves caught in a strong autumn breeze. Their perfect relationship existed in a perfect world, complete with luxury penthouses and charity events where they struck glamorous poses in front of cameras alongside their trips to Paris. However, it had all been a show. She took on a supporting role in a theatrical production she did not author.

Noah wielded power in social circles and business, along with every aspect of his life. Her role as his trophy wife gave her the appearance of a stunning accessory to stand by his side. The glamorous gifts, the diamonds and private planes initially appeared exciting, but their allure soon diminished.

There were times when she lay in their expansive bed that was bought with Noah's savings and gazed at the ceiling as she pondered the point at which she lost touch with her identity. She lost parts of herself because she worked so hard to sustain the persona he created for her. She abandoned her dreams and aspirations to fight for nothing but the life he had constructed for her.

The charity event at the Plaza Hotel immediately came to her mind. Everything about the evening had been flawless. At the photographer's request, Noah stood by her side as a devoted husband while his arm encircled her waist. She wore a sapphire-blue gown, and her hair fell in loose waves. The beauty of the event left Eliza feeling trapped. The constant need to maintain a perfect life for herself and to be an ideal wife while smiling had destroyed her spirit.

Noah introduced her to a prominent customer at the event with a smile that did not reach his eyes while they stood before a group of powerful people. His hand remained on her back for too long, which served as his unspoken assertion of ownership over her. She performed her expected roles with nods and smiles while suffering an internal battle with dark emptiness that consumed her.

Noah's love had always come with unspoken rules and restrictions. He never asked her about what she wanted to accomplish or her aspirations. He lived his life with precision and wanted a partner without yet desiring a woman who possessed her unique character.

Eliza had once, madly, loved him. She believed that mutual respect and shared objectives formed the foundation of love, while thinking that an ideal marriage was possible. The reality revealed itself through multiple subtle indications, including the cold, disinterested glances they traded at breakfast when they both understood they had no conversation left. Eliza had worked to hold their deteriorating lives together, but Noah became absorbed by his job through his focus on meetings and business deals.

During their vacation on the French Riviera, she remembered vividly. As they sailed on the Mediterranean, they had rented a yacht which shone like a precious stone. The meal proved delicious while the atmosphere featured soft air alongside warm sunshine. Eliza had exerted tremendous effort to appear completely content with her life, which many others would regard with envy. Noah missed her silent signs of displeasure because he remained focused on his phone call. His focus on clients and upcoming sales prevented him from recognising her desire for something concrete. She remained focused on the horizon throughout the journey while questioning if she would ever rediscover herself.

She finally realised that Noah had always ignored her efforts to express herself. Her remarks were always overshadowed by his conviction and vision for their future, which left no space for her voice. It wasn't just silence that suffocated her. She realised she would never reach his standards or find self-worth while remaining secondary to his world. She disappeared into his life as if she were merely a shadow created to magnify his brilliance.

Noah's words penetrated her memory haze, and Eliza blinked to return to the present moment.

With his eyes sparkling with power and his calm smile unwaverin,g he reclined in his chair and told her, "Eli,za you've remained silent too long." Will you ever truly understand the meaning of this situation?

Her eyes met his and she recognised no more than a stranger, although he was the man she had loved deeply in the past. He remained someone who never truly recognised or understood her.

In a soft yet resolved tone, she stated, "I believe I am beginning to understand now." The words emerged as a revelation, but she couldn't halt them from leaving her mouth. The reality. She was becoming aware of the high costs of life in his environment. She had reached her limit and refused to continue shouldering the financial burden.

Noah's expression turned cloudy for a moment before he leaned forward with a grin. You think you can manage this situation without needing my assistance? His voice dropped to a low tone that bordered on demanding. Are you confident that you can manage everything by yourself and still achieve success?

Her response to him took some time to come. A heavy, oppressive silence hung between them. The reality of her choices pressed down on her chest as she remained seated like an enduring weight she had borne throughout her life. She had already decided what to do.

What about Noah? He would never get it.

"I already am," she confirmed as she stood up from the table, demonstrating her irreversible decision.

She understood as she moved towards the door that she had just begun to live her actual life. He no longer defines it. His expectations were no longer a constraint.

She had freedom.

She entered the outside world with a strong belief that Noah's hold on her remained firm.