All Chapters of Gilded Hearts: Chapter 41 - Chapter 43

Sophia POVThree months.That was how long I had been married,.It felt strange to think about it that way-, because for the first month-, it hadn’t felt like a marriage at all. Just two people sharing a space-, careful-, distant-, unsure of where to place themselves around each other,.But two months ago, something began to change,.At first, it was small—, easy conversations late at night that lasted longer than they should have,. Sitting together on the bed, talking about work, about things that didn’t really matter, and somehow mattered a lot,. The silence between us stopped feeling heavy,.We started sharing the same bed without awkwardness. No expectations. No pressure. Just presence.Then came dinners,—sometimes out, sometimes at home. Lunches squeezed into busy days. Small routines that slowly turned into habits. He’d ask about my day. I’d ask about his. He listened. Really listened.Damian had become… attentive. Thoughtful. Kind.The perfect husband, anyone would say.There h

Damien POVThe heavy doors of the penthouse felt like a prison I had finally unlocked.I checked my watch. Past midnight.Three months.For three months, I had played a part. I had been the good grandson. The kind husband. I had sat through dull dinners-, nodded at meaningless conversations, and pretended I cared about Sophia’s small, insignificant life,.Today, the lawyers confirmed it,.The inheritance was mine.I didn’t have to pretend anymore,.I pushed the door open, a dark sense of freedom curling through me,.She was there, waiting—like she always did. Her eyes held that soft, irritating concern that had once made my skin crawl,.“You’re so late-,” she said quietly,.“I know.”I dropped my jacket and loosened my tie,. The mask slid off with the fabric. I didn’t need to smile at her again. I didn’t need to soften my voice.She stood, reflexively helpful. “Do you want dinner? I can warm it up.”I didn’t answer,.I walked straight toward her-, closing the space between us until sh