Married to the Man I Hate

registry office to Adri

, my heart pounding with a strange mixture of fear and anticipation. Just hours ago, I

fect, his eyes focused on the road. I wanted to say someth

low. "Tonight will be simple. You'll have your room

s a quiet authority in it, but also a s

ned. Marble floors gleamed under warm chandeliers. A grand staircas

to a softly lit bedroom. "I'll be in th

as nowhere to go. Not tonight. Not with the hos

made, the sheets soft and inviting, yet I could not bring myself to lie

n appeared in the doorway. He didn't enter, didn't force

"Everything is prepared. I wanted

my throat tight. "Tha

is expression unr

e. And then the tears came. Quiet, soft, shaki

About the strange twist of fate that had brought me to a ma

ll asleep, exhausted from

he scent of fresh coffee and something baked. Adrian was in the kitchen,

eard me stir. "Morn

replied, my

akfast. You

I noticed the care he had taken. Two cups of steaming c

dn't have to,"

I don't like seeing you struggle, Elena. Yo

he calm, composed exterior, there was...

gain, feeling warmth

d and turned ba

ther's hospital bills, and Adrian gave me space-never forcing conversation, never oversteppi

t in the living room,

simply. "I thought

of poetry. I smile

e poetry,"

pposite me. "I thought so. You seem lik

ng about the way he spoke-quiet, sincere-that made

ince this marriage b

a

book that night, I

le as I thought... maybe... just maybe..