"You’ll never be what I need you to be, need you to be."
— "Never Be" by 5 Seconds of Summer
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The first few weeks of marriage were nothing short of a struggle for Evelyn. Each day she awoke in the sprawling Malfoy Manor, surrounded by opulence and wealth, yet she felt more like a prisoner than a bride. Every room in the manor seemed to hold secrets and memories that weren’t hers, and the silence that hung in the air was suffocating.
Draco, for his part, tried to keep his distance, respecting her need for space. He had taken to sleeping on the chaise lounge or, more often, in a separate bedroom down the hall. During the day, he was consumed by his work, often leaving early and returning late. Evelyn was left alone to navigate the labyrinth of her new life, uncertain of her place in this unfamiliar world.
Despite his efforts to give her space, their interactions were tinged with a strained politeness that made Evelyn’s skin crawl. Draco was courteous, almost overly so, but it felt like an act—a performance he put on to prove that he had changed. She found herself wondering if this was the real Draco, or if it was just another mask he wore, hiding his true self beneath layers of carefully crafted charm.
It didn’t take long for the emptiness of the manor to start wearing on her. She spent most of her time in the library, seeking solace among the rows of dusty books. But even there, she couldn’t escape the constant reminders of her situation. Every corner of the manor seemed to whisper the same thing: you’re not meant to be here.
One afternoon, Evelyn found herself in the garden, a place that had quickly become her refuge from the suffocating walls of the manor. The garden was expansive, filled with meticulously maintained flowerbeds and winding paths that led to secluded nooks. The roses were in full bloom, their scent heavy in the air, but even the beauty of the flowers couldn’t lift the weight from her heart.
She wandered aimlessly along the path, her thoughts a tangled mess. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped. The marriage that had been forced upon her felt like a cage, and every day the bars seemed to close in a little tighter.
As she rounded a corner, Evelyn was startled to see Draco standing by a marble fountain, his back to her. He was staring into the water, lost in thought. She hadn’t expected to see him at home during the day, and for a moment, she considered turning back before he noticed her.
But it was too late. Draco turned around, his expression softening when he saw her. “Evelyn,” he said, his voice gentle. “I didn’t expect to see you out here.”
Evelyn hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. “I just needed some fresh air.”
Draco nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than she was comfortable with. “I understand. The manor can be… overwhelming.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Evelyn muttered, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
Draco’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he gestured to the bench beside the fountain. “Would you like to sit with me?”
Evelyn considered declining, but there was a tiredness in Draco’s eyes that gave her pause. She nodded slowly and moved to sit on the edge of the bench, as far from him as possible without being rude.
They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of the trickling water the only noise between them. Draco seemed content to let the quiet stretch on, but Evelyn’s thoughts were churning, the words on the tip of her tongue begging to be spoken.
