It had been months since Brad finalized his divorce, the papers a liberating end to a marriage that had long soured. Marie had moved into his spacious home without hesitation, her belongings mingling with his in a seamless blend of their shared life. Her family, however, remained a storm cloud on the horizon. They couldn't fathom why she'd chosen him, an older man, her college coach no less over her studies. "You're throwing away your future," her mother had pleaded during their last heated call. "He's almost twice your age, Marie." No amount of explanation swayed them, she tried, again and again, defending the fire Brad ignited in her, the way he made her feel alive and cherished in her submission. But Brad, ever the steady force, dismissed their judgments
Last Updated : 2026-01-22 Read more