A Bitter Marriage Contract
As they passed each other, he stopped instinctively, turning to watch her as she walked away, her skirt swirling in the breeze, her honey-colored hair held back by a blue ribbon, with a few loose strands framing the delicate profile of her face.
“What a beautiful woman…,” he thought, still motionless, his eyes following her every step as if contemplating a rare vision. There was a serene, almost ethereal beauty about her. A blend of grace and quiet elegance that seemed out of place in this era. For a moment, he had the strange sensation of having witnessed something unforgettable—that pure beauty and fascinating elegance.
*****
John
That same evening, as the city bustled beneath his eyes, Jo