Four

Sahara wanted to leave—but she couldn’t.

No matter how heavy her heart felt, she found herself trapped by everything around her. Her parents. His family. Aunt Sharlene, who had always adored her and openly approved of her for her only son. Everyone had already accepted her as part of his life.

And worse—there was no hiding it.

Both of their parents knew she had openly liked him for years.

The thought made her chest tighten painfully.

Her eyes burned as her mind drifted to her father, Quinn. He was sick. Weak. The last thing she ever wanted was to add stress to his already fragile condition. She couldn’t tell him the truth—that her marriage wasn’t what everyone believed it to be. It was only for a show. That it didn’t feel like love at all.

“Can I eat now? ”

The voice pulled her back to reality. She blinked and slowly turned around. Her husband was standing there, irritation clearly etched on his face. Just seeing him made her heart jump painfully in her chest.

She quickly turned away, forcing her voice to stay calm and cold. The last thing she wanted was for him to get angry again.

“Go sit in the dining area. I’ll just transfer this into bowls.” Her tone was distant, controlled—careful not to show how much she was already hurting inside.

She told herself she had to be strong. If she let herself soften, she knew she would only end up getting hurt more.

Leaf exhaled sharply but obeyed.

Silence filled the room as she set the table. She placed two sets of plates and utensils carefully, first in front of him, then hers. When everything was ready, she remained standing for a moment, hesitating.

She served him first before finally sitting down.

But just as she was about to lower herself into the chair—

He cleared his throat.

Sahara paused.

She looked at him, confused.

“Yes?”

His jaw tightened.

“I said serve me first,” he snapped, slamming his hand on the table.

The sound echoed sharply in the room.

Sahara flinched.

She hadn’t expected that reaction—not from him. Not like this.

Was he trying to treat her like a maid instead of a wife?

Her chest tightened painfully.

Slowly, she stood back up, forcing herself to remain composed even though her hands were trembling. She had no right to complain.

She gave a small, forced smile and bowed her head slightly.

“Yes, your highness,” she said lightly, sarcasm slipping through despite herself.

That was when everything changed.

In an instant, he stood up.

His hand shot forward and grabbed her shoulders tightly.

“Sahara,” he said sharply, his voice rising. “Talk to me properly. Don’t use sarcasm.”

She froze. Sarcasm?

His grip was firm—too firm.

Her breath hitched.

Then he leaned in slightly, his voice turning colder, harsher.

“Do you really think I’m going to fall for your charm just because you act sweet or innocent? ” he said bitterly. “No. The answer is no.”

Her heart shattered at his words. Everything inside her seemed to freeze when she heard it.

“I don’t like you,” he continued, each word cutting deeper than the last. “I only talk to you because of your brothers—and because my mother is fond of you. That’s it.”

He let go of her abruptly. The ache in her chest was overwhelming. Of all the people in the world, he was the last person she expected to hear those words from. Yet it was the man she loved most who had shattered her heart.

“And don’t get the wrong idea. Don’t dream about something that will never happen.”

The words hung in the air like a slap.

Sahara felt something inside her break.

Not just from what he said, but from how easily he said it.

Like she was nothing.

Like she had always been nothing more than a passing obligation in his life.

Her vision blurred.

Before she could stop herself, tears spilled down her cheeks.

She turned away quickly, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook.

He didn’t look back.

A moment later, she heard the engine of a car outside.

He was leaving.

But she didn’t stop him.

She just stood there, silent, broken, staring at the mess on the floor.

With trembling hands, she picked up the spilled food and cleaned the table in silence.

When she finished, exhaustion finally swallowed her whole.

She walked slowly to the bedroom—his bedroom—and collapsed onto the bed.

And there, alone in the silence of a marriage that didn’t feel like one, Sahara finally fell asleep…with a heart far heavier than when the day began.

Sahara stirred awake when she felt someone touching her.

Her body reacted instantly—she jolted upright and scooted back until her spine hit the headboard.

Grabbing the blanket, she pulled it tightly over herself, covering the thin nightdress she was wearing.

She hadn’t planned for anything like this. She rarely wore anything else when staying in her room at the mansion, never expecting anyone to come in like this.

When her eyes finally focused, she saw him.

Leaf.

And he was smiling.

That smile sent a strange, uneasy feeling straight through her chest.

“What do you think you’re doing? ” she asked, her voice tight as she held the blanket closer to her.

“You can’t run from me, Sahara,” he said softly, his tone carrying something unfamiliar—something that made her stomach twist.

“Leaf! ”Her voice rose sharply as he stepped closer to the bed.

Fear settled in her chest. She hadn't noticed him coming.

This wasn’t the Leaf she knew.

Or at least…not the one she thought she knew.

“Will you deny me your body? " he asked, his voice rough, unsteady. “Or will you give it to me willingly?” She froze.

Something in his tone felt off. She didn’t know what to do. He had left earlier and come back intoxicated. His speech was unclear, and there was a faint smell of alcohol on his breath.

“You’re drunk,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Please…just leave me alone.”

But instead of stopping, he moved closer.

Slowly.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

Sahara’s grip on the blanket tightened. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it.

This wasn’t right.

She didn’t know what he was thinking.

And for the first time, the man she had loved from afar felt completely unpredictable.

“Leaf…” she whispered again, smaller this time.

But he didn’t stop coming closer.

And fear finally settled deep inside her chest.

He was bigger than her, his presence overwhelming the small space of the bed. Sahara tightened her grip on the blanket, pulling it closer to her chest as she shifted back toward the headboard, instinctively trying to put distance between them.

Her eyes squeezed shut the moment he climbed onto the bed.

She didn’t expect what happened next.

In an instant, he grabbed her ankles and pulled her back, making her gasp in shock. The blanket slipped from her hands and fell to the floor.

“Leaf! ” she cried, kicking out in panic, trying to break free—but his strength easily overpowered her. In seconds, she was pinned beneath him. “Stop it, Leaf! Let me go! ” she shouted, struggling beneath his hold.

One of his hands caught both her wrists and pressed them above her head, holding them firmly in place.

Her legs were also restrained by his weight, leaving her unable to move.

“Stop struggling,” he ordered sharply.

Her breath came faster now, fear mixing with confusion. This wasn’t the Leaf she knew—the man who had always been gentle with her.

“Please, Leaf…let me go,” she pleaded, her voice shaking. “You’ve never been like this before.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she met his gaze, searching for the familiar warmth that was no longer there.

“Shut up! ”

His voice cut through the room like a blade. His expression was cold—almost unrecognizable—as he stepped closer, frustration tightening every line of his face.

Sahara froze, her breath caught somewhere in her chest. Something in him felt wrong tonight. This wasn’t the man she thought she knew.

“Leaf…please,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “What’s happening to you? ”

But he didn’t stop.

“This isn’t a fairy tale, doll,” he said sharply, his eyes locked on hers. “Don’t act like everything is supposed to be soft and easy. Reality doesn’t work that way.”

Her heart sank at his words.

“I don’t understand you,” she whispered, blinking back tears. “Why are you talking to me like this? What did I do? ”

He let out a short, humorless laugh, shaking his head as if disappointed.

“You really don’t get it, do you? His voice lowered, more controlled now—but heavier. “I’m not someone who can be shaped by tears or emotions. Stop expecting that from me.”

Sahara’s lips parted, but no words came out at first. Her chest ached, confusion and hurt mixing together.

“I never wanted to force you into anything,” she finally said. “I just…I thought we could at least try to understand each other.”

His jaw tightened at that. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable.

But it was gone just as quickly.

“Understand? ” he repeated quietly, almost to himself. Then he looked at her again, more distant than before. “You should stop holding on to ideas that will only hurt you.”

That hit harder than anything else.

Sahara’s eyes glistened, but she refused to look away.

“So what am I supposed to do? ” she asked, her voice breaking. “Just accept that this is all there is between us? ”

He didn’t answer her.

And in that silence, everything between them felt further apart than ever.

“Please…don’t do this, Leaf…please,” she begged, her voice breaking completely as tears blurred her vision.

Her hands trembled as she reached for him—not to touch him, but just to stop him from pulling further away from her heart.

But he didn’t move closer.

He didn’t soften.

Instead, something cold settled in his gaze, something that made her chest tighten painfully.

“I want you to suffer,” he said quietly.

The words didn’t come with anger anymore—just a quiet, crushing certainty.

“I want you to feel even a fraction of what I’ve been holding inside.”

Sahara froze.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she couldn’t even cry properly.

“My doll…”

The nickname sounded different now. Heavier. Further away.

She blinked at him through falling tears, her voice barely audible.

“What…happened to you? ”

Her lips trembled as she searched his face, hoping—just hoping—to see even a trace of the man she loved.

But there was nothing familiar left to hold onto.

And that realization broke her more than his words ever could.