ce was more out of obligation than affection. He was no longer the cold stranger she had married, but neither was he the man she had hoped for-the man who would hold her hand and promis

she was, i

. It was one thing to feel invisible in a marriage, but it was another to be forced to confront the fa

rvid's voice as he stood over her. She had thought, at first, that it had all been a dream. But the ache

he had waited, gathering her thoughts, gathering her strength. She had spent so long letting him dictate the terms o

, propped up by pillows, her mind clearer now, her emotions in disarray. She had spent so long in a h

re stiff, as though he were waiting for something-perhaps waiting for her to break, waiting

steady but cutting through th

aria, you should rest," he

ing stronger, more insistent. "I'

d in a way that both irritated and frightened he

good," he said, his

'm more than that now. I'm seeing thing

nt, something unreadable passing

"Why did you marry me, Arvid? I need to know. Was it because of duty? Or becau

ay his posture stiffened, but she didn'

what your family expected. You married me because it made sense. And I..." He paused, clearly frustrated. "I marr

her. She had known it on some level, but hearing it from his lips

arely above a whisper. "So that's all I

w, but Daria could see the flicker of regret-somethi

ike he was surprised. "You have every righ

asn't for you. I've given you everything, Arvid. My love, my time, my trust. And what have I gotten in return? A cold, detached man who do

ould feel the weight of the silence between them, heavy and suffo

happening. I've seen how little I meant to you, how easily you could let me go. And I've realized something. I've w

o speak, but Daria raise

life that isn't mine. I'm leaving, Arvid. I don't care if it destroys you, if it ruins everything you'

er of them moved. Arvid's expression was unreadable, but his eyes, for the

ings. She was done with being a part of his wo

he said coldly, her resolve unw

ck to him, her heart pounding in