More weeks passed, and the same routine continued. Sylus would offer small gestures of kindness—bringing you coffee in the mornings, making sure you had everything you needed for your work as an actress and singer—but you barely acknowledged him. Every smile he offered, every attempt at a conversation, you met with cold indifference.
One afternoon, while you were rehearsing lines for an upcoming film, Sylus walked into the living room. He didn’t say anything at first, just stood by the door, watching as you practiced. When you noticed him, you immediately felt a wave of annoyance.
“What?” you asked, your voice sharp.
“I was just watching,” he said calmly, hands in his pockets. “You’re good at what you do.”
You sighed, setting your script down on the table. “What do you want, Sylus?”
He paused, his expression thoughtful. “I want to know if you’re happy.”
You frowned. “What kind of question is that?”
“A serious one,” he replied. “I know this marriage isn’t what you wanted, but I’m asking if you’re happy with the rest of your life. Your career, your friends, everything outside of this.”
You hesitated, caught off guard by his question. No one had ever asked you that before. People assumed you were happy because you were successful, famous, adored by millions. But the truth was, there were moments when you felt just as trapped by your career as you did by this marriage.
“I’m… fine,” you said, the words automatic.
Sylus didn’t push, just nodded. “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
You rolled your eyes. “Why do you care?”
“Because you’re my wife,” he said simply. “And whether you like it or not, that means something to me.”
You didn’t respond, just picked up your script again, signaling the end of the conversation. Sylus stayed for a few moments longer, then left the room without another word. His patience was infuriating, and yet, there was a part of you that couldn’t help but admire it. He didn’t yell, didn’t demand anything from you, and in a world where people were always asking for more, that made him different.
