Days turned into weeks, and the cold distance between you and Sylus persisted. Despite his patience and attempts at kindness, you couldn’t shake the bitterness that had built inside you since the marriage. Every interaction felt forced, and even though he never raised his voice or showed any sign of frustration, you knew that there was a tension beneath the surface.
Sylus remained composed, as always, a steady presence in your life. He would ask if you needed anything, if there was something that could make things more comfortable for you, but your answers were always clipped and curt.
“No, Sylus. I’m fine,” you’d say, barely looking at him.
In the grand mansion, you often found yourself retreating to your own space, avoiding him as much as possible. Even when you shared a meal together, you barely spoke, and the silence between you became its own form of communication. He respected your boundaries, never pushing too hard, but the warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at you made it harder for you to keep up your defenses.
One evening, you were sitting in the lounge, scrolling through social media, when Sylus walked in. He sat down across from you, a glass of whiskey in his hand, and for a moment, the air felt thick with unspoken words. You kept your eyes on your phone, pretending not to notice him, but you could feel his gaze on you.
“I was thinking,” he said after a long silence, “maybe we could go out this weekend. Get away from everything for a bit.”
You didn’t look up from your phone. “No thanks.”
Sylus sighed softly, though not out of frustration. “I thought it might be nice, just the two of us. You’ve been cooped up here for a while.”
“I’m busy,” you replied flatly, scrolling through your feed, even though you weren’t paying attention to the posts.
He didn’t argue, just nodded and took a sip of his drink. “All right. If you change your mind, let me know.”
You finally looked up, your brow furrowing slightly. “Why do you keep trying? It’s not like this marriage is real. You’re wasting your time.”
His expression didn’t change, calm as ever. “Because I meant what I said. I want this to work. I’m not giving up on us just because things are hard right now.”
You scoffed, shaking your head. “You don’t even know me, Sylus. This whole thing is just business for you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “It started as business, but it’s not just that anymore. I’ve seen glimpses of who you really are, and that’s who I want to know better.”
Your eyes narrowed, irritation flaring inside you. “You don’t know anything about me.”
He met your gaze steadily. “Then tell me. Help me understand.”
You stood up abruptly, not wanting to have this conversation. “I don’t owe you an explanation, Sylus.”
He didn’t try to stop you, only watched as you left the room, the sound of your footsteps echoing through the mansion. The distance between you both felt like an insurmountable wall of ice, and yet, no matter how much you pushed him away, he never fought back.
