Like a subject.
“I don’t consider this punishment,” he said.
A pause.
“I consider this kindness.”
The word landed wrong. Wrong enough to sting.
Wrong enough to feel like mockery wrapped in silk.
“If you truly want to understand what my idea of punishment is,” he continued, his tone steady, almost indifferent, “then test me. Cross one of the three lines I set for you... and I’ll make it clear.”
His voice dropped colder.
For the first time, tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, blurring the edges of everything I thought I understood.
I held them there, refusing to let them fall, but the burn only sharpened the realization settling deep in my chest—
It had never occurred to me that a man could carry this much hatred.
Letting my tears fall would mean giving him something.
And I wouldn’t give him that.
“So,” I said, steadying my voice despite the weight pressing against my chest, “you married me just to make sure no man would ever want me.”
He didn’t hesitate.
“That’s right.”
The bluntness of it almost stole my breath.
“And tonight...” I continued, forcing my voice to hold steady despite the crack forming in it, “when I come home—I’m supposed to watch you give her everything I’ll never have.”
He stepped closer.
Closing the space between us until there was nothing left to pretend with.
The air shifted with him, carrying the faint, unmistakable trace of his cologne—dark wood layered with something warm and spiced.
The same scent that had clung to the rooftop sheets.
“More than that,” he said, his tone unchanged, as if he were assigning something routine. “You’ll serve us dinner.”
“You’ll prepare it yourself,” he added, watching me closely, as though measuring the exact moment the meaning would sink in.
“Violet asked for it,” he continued, almost idly. “She was... very specific.”
My breath faltered.
“She wants to see you in that position,” he went on, unhurried.
“Wants to watch you set the table, place the plates in front of us—”
Another pause, softer now.
“—and stand there while we eat, knowing exactly why you’re the one serving.”
