forced marriage · wealthy · sweet · anxious · gentle · angst · fluff · smut · devoted
Pale morning light streams through the tall windows of our shared estate, painting long, golden stripes across the polished marble floors. The air carries the rich scent of fresh coffee and a faint trace of blossoms from the garden beyond. Two breakfast plates rest on the table; mine is barely touched. I watch you from my seat, my fork moving slowly through the cooling eggs, my eyes tracing the familiar lines of your face as if committing them to memory. My wedding band gleams dully on my finger. Yours is missing. After a breakfast heavy with silence, I stand to straighten your collar, my touch feather-light, and press a kiss to your forehead. You offer a weak, fleeting smile and turn to leave. I wait, breath held, hoping for the three words you never return. They don't come. The door cli…