MasukThe invitation came in the afternoon.Aria had just gotten back from school and was still in her outside clothe, sitting on the couch with her legs tucked under her when one of the maids walked in and handed her the envelope.“It was delivered a few minutes ago,” the maid said before leaving.Aria frowned slightly, turning the envelope over in her hand. She didn’t need to guess who it was from. Something about it already made her uneasy.She opened it slowly.Inside was a neatly written card.Dinner tonight. You and your husband should come. We need to talk.No names. No greetings. Nothing soft about it.She didn’t move for a while after reading it.Her fingers tightened slightly around the card.She already knew who it was.Her parents.Her stomach turned a little.A part of her wanted to ignore it completely. Pretend she never saw it. But another part of her… the part that still feared them a little… knew she couldn’t just dismiss it like that.She was still staring at the card when
Aria didn’t realize how quickly her mood could switch until it actually started happening.One moment she was calm, sitting quietly on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her waist, slowly eating the snacks Adrian had bought for her. The next moment, she felt irritated for no clear reason. Everything suddenly felt too much. The room felt too quiet, then too loud. Even the way Adrian walked in and out of the room started to annoy her.She frowned slightly, watching him as he adjusted the curtains.“Why are you moving around too much?” she muttered.Adrian paused and looked at her. “I’m just fixing the curtains.”“Well, stop. It’s annoying.”He raised a brow but didn’t argue. He stepped away from the window and walked back toward her. “Alright.”She looked away, hugging the pillow closer to herself. A few seconds passed, then she glanced at him again.“Why are you standing there?” she asked.Adrian almost laughed. “You just told me to stop moving.”She didn’t respond immediately. Inst
The next morning started quietly.Aria woke up slowly, still wrapped in warmth. For a moment, she didn’t open her eyes. She just stayed there, comfortable, pressed against Adrian’s chest with his arm around her like always.It felt normal now.Too normal.Then the pain hit.Sharp.Sudden.Her eyes flew open immediately, her body stiffening as a wave of discomfort spread through her lower abdomen. She sucked in a quiet breath, her fingers gripping the sheets.“…shit,” she muttered under her breath.Another wave came, stronger this time.Aria shut her eyes tightly, her brows pulling together. She shifted slightly, curling in on herself out of instinct, but it didn’t help much.She knew this feeling.Too well.Her period.And just her luck—it had to come now.She let out a slow breath, trying to steady herself, but the dull ache had already settled deep, spreading across her lower stomach and back.It wasn’t something she could just ignore.It never was.Beside her, Adrian stirred slight
“I have something to tell you.”Aria’s heart skipped.There was something in Adrian’s voice that made her sit up a little straighter on his lap. It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t commanding. It was… careful.That alone made her nervous.She searched his face, trying to read him. “You’re starting to scare me.”“I’m not trying to,” he said quietly.“Then why do you sound like that?”He didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tightened slightly at her waist, like he needed something to hold onto.Aria felt it.The hesitation.That was new.Adrian never hesitated.“Just say it,” she murmured.He looked at her again, his gaze steady but deeper than usual.“I know we got married under abnormal circumstances,” he began slowly. “There was no love at the beginning.”Aria didn’t interrupt.She just listened.Her fingers curled slightly against his shirt.Adrian continued, his voice still calm, but there was something underneath it now.Something real.“Everything between us started… wrong. Forced. Contr
The next morning felt… different.Aria woke up slowly, her eyes blinking open as soft light filtered through the curtains. For a moment, she didn’t move. She just lay there, feeling the warmth around her.Then she realized.Adrian.His arm was still wrapped around her waist, holding her close even in his sleep. Her back was pressed against his chest, and she could feel his steady breathing against her neck.She stayed still, listening to it.For once, her chest didn’t feel tight. No anger, no frustration pressing down on her. Just… calm.A small smile crept onto her face before she could stop it.Carefully, she turned her head slightly to look at him. He was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way she rarely saw. Without the usual sharpness in his eyes, he looked almost… softer.Less intimidating.More human.Aria watched him for a few seconds, something unreadable passing through her gaze.Then she slowly shifted, trying not to wake him.It wasn’t easy. His arm was heavy, and even in
It was well past midnight, but neither of them had any intention of sleeping.The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the television. Some random movie was playing, but neither Aria nor Adrian was really paying attention to it anymore. They were tangled together under the covers, her back pressed against his chest, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist like he didn’t want to let her go.Aria felt warm. Not just physically, but in a way she hadn’t felt in days.Everything between them had been messy lately—arguments, anger, silence—but right now, none of that seemed to matter. She shifted slightly, adjusting her head on his arm, and instinctively snuggled closer.Adrian tightened his hold just a little.“You’re still awake,” he murmured quietly against her hair.“You are too,” she replied softly.There was a small pause.“I asked first,” he said.Aria let out a quiet huff. “I can’t sleep.”“Why?”She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she traced a small, absentminded pattern







