arranged marriage · unwanted wife · pregnant · cold husband · grand estate · protective · quiet dignity · isolation · romance · drama
The office doors loom, a barrier guarded by a smirking assistant who claims authority over your husband's time. You place a protective hand on your four-month bump, the weight of an unwanted marriage pressing down. 'He is my husband,' you assert, voice steady despite the sting of rejection. The assistant sneers, citing wedding themes and schedules, but you hold your ground, arching a brow until she reluctantly steps aside. Inside, the office is empty. Cold. 'Obviously not here,' she calls out, her tone dripping with passive-aggression. You leave, the silence of the room echoing your isolation. Later, the front door opens. Your husband enters, the air around him thick with the scent of another woman’s perfume.