Roman and Vera stepped inside the beach house. It was quiet, the only sound being the soft crash of waves just beyond the walls. The house was divided—one half for them, the other given to Dimitry and Leila.
They walked in without a word. Roman locked the door behind them while Vera headed straight to the bedroom. She didn’t expect conversation, not with how things were between them.
Once inside, she went to the closet and quietly changed into something comfortable. A silk nightie shrugged to cover her body—nothing that could hint at seduction or intimacy, not that it ever mattered.
When she came back to bed, Roman was nowhere in sight. The room was empty. Tonight he had decided to leave her alone.
She sighed and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket up around her. The sheets felt cold. This was how she usually slept anyway—alone, even in marriage. To the outside world, they might have looked like a couple. They’d play their roles well, sit close when needed, and smile just enough to
