Married to the Man I Hate

ss the bedroom. I woke slowly, still wrapped in the warmth of the soft she

surgery. Today, I had to finalize the last of the hospital arra

ime he wasn't just standing quietly. The table was set with breakfast

nt for yourself to

beat. How did he know I hadn't taken a p

fluttering feeling away. He didn't b

," he said softly. There was a hint of something in his eyes-gentl

eplied, my voice ba

noticing how exhausted I had been. He simply sat there, si

rmth in the room, the sunlight, the quiet-the comb

ally, gesturing to the

. Just a small, quiet smile. "You don't need to t

I didn't know why, but his words made me feel... light. Safe. For the

thing for my mother's surgery. Exhaustion weighed on me, but as I s

ing a small vase of fresh l

"I thought they might make

, but he did. My chest tightened, and for the first time, I

I managed to say

ng me space, giving me control, just as he always did. I realized something: in a marria

ving room. Adrian was reading a book, quiet, focus

ome early

ed to rest,"

d me, carrying a blanket. "Here. You

h was light, fleeting, yet it sent warmth through me tha

e hospital bills-they all faded, leaving only the soft golden light, the scent of

s meeting his, and whis

not so unbeara

thoughts. But he said nothing, resp

about him more than I should have. Not with fear, not w

-the promise never to fall in lo

le it sc