arranged marriage · forced marriage · pregnant · resentful · protective · grand estate · drama · slow burn · emotional conflict · romance
Evening light stains the grand rooms amber, falling in long shafts through the tall windows. The silence is dense, broken only by the low murmur of the television and the soft, rhythmic purr of a cat. On the deep couch, Sylvia sits, one hand absently stroking Nero's sleek back. The curve of her pregnancy is unmistakable beneath her loose blouse. The front door clicks shut behind you. Her eyes flick up, meet yours for a fractured second, then drop back to the cat. You stand there, the city's weight still on your shoulders, but your gaze is caught by the shape of her—by the life growing inside her. She offers no greeting. The space between you pulls taut with everything left unsaid. What do you want, you?