BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 51: Fractures in the Silence

Chapter 51: Fractures in the Silence

Lately, Luke has transformed into a puzzle I can't seem to solve, like a book written in a language I no longer understand. He's always been my rock, but now he's like a ship adrift in a storm, and I feel utterly helpless watching from the shore. "Is everything alright, babe?" I ask, my voice carrying a mix of concern and a vulnerability I can't seem to mask.

His answer is invariably the same: "Just swamped with work." But when he says it, his cobalt eyes dart away, hiding secrets I fear are too heavy for me to bear. I'm not convinced it's just work. Since when has work turned him into this distant, nearly unreachable person?

But it's not the daytime changes that alarm me the most; it's the night that reveals the depth of his unrest. The nightmares that jolt him awake, leaving him drenched in cold sweat, are the worst. I find myself softly insisting, "Babe, please talk to me. What's going on?" as I gently touch his damp forehead.

Each time, he exhales as if defeated, murmuring, "I can't remember, Em. Just let it go." But how can I let it go? The man who was once my haven now feels like a fortress, with walls too high for me to climb. He's often buried in his work, the blue light from his laptop casting eerie shadows across his face, turning him into a stranger – a stranger with secrets that are slowly pulling him away from me.

At the office, our emotional connection seems to fray even more. Luke becomes increasingly absorbed in his work, often staying late. One evening, I finally confronted the growing distance between us. "Are we okay, Luke? You've been so distant."

When he looks at me, his eyes are filled with something akin to regret. "I'm not sure, Em." His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Does he mean he's not sure about us? I fight back the tears, telling myself not to cry, not to break down. I don't dare to ask for clarification; I'm terrified of his answer.

I've been holding onto the words 'I love you,' waiting for the perfect moment to share my feelings with him. But now, doubt and fear have taken hold of me. What if he doesn't feel the same way? I'm deeply, irrevocably in love with him, but now I'm starting to question everything.

That night, even in our bed, the distance between us is palpable. He spends hours locked away in his home office, and now here he is, next to me, but lost in his laptop. We haven't shared a meal or a meaningful conversation in days. It's like he's deliberately avoiding me, and I don't understand why.

Trying to catch his gaze, to understand what's going on behind those guarded eyes, is fruitless. He's completely ignoring me. Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I excuse myself, saying I'm going to the gym.

Once inside our home gym, my tears flow freely, uncontrollable. Sitting on the floor against the wall, I cry for what seems like hours. What have I done wrong? Am I losing him? The thought of life without Luke is unbearable. I'm in love with him, and the fear that he might not want this life with us anymore is tearing me apart.