The morning of my fourth wedding anniversary, I woke before sunrise.This was not unusual. I had long ago learned that the early hours belonged to me alone quiet, unclaimed, untouched by the weight of being Mrs. Cassian Kingsley. By the time my husband stirred in his separate bedroom down the hall, I would have already planned his breakfast, reviewed his schedule with his assistant via email, and arranged the small, invisible details that made his life run smoothly.Today, however, was different.Today was our anniversary.I had not expected much. Four years of marriage had taught me to expect nothing at all. Still, some stubborn, foolish part of me had woken with a flicker of hope. A candlelit dinner. A conversation that lasted longer than five minutes. Maybe, just maybe, his eyes on me instead of his phone.I dressed carefully. A silk dress the color of champagne, modest but elegant. Pearl earrings he had given me on our first anniversary back when he still pretended to try. I arran
Last Updated : 2026-05-11 Read more