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"Good evening, Sofía."

She studies me for a moment before looking away. It isn't disrespectful, but I recognize that look.

My staff has never been particularly afraid of me inside my own home. They respect me, they follow my orders without question, but many of them also helped raise Maxim and me after everything happened.

Sofía, especially, has always spoken to me with a quiet honesty that few people dare. I know she probably thinks I'm a terrible husband.

"How is she?" I ask.

A small smile softens her face. "Same as the last time you asked. She's doing well."

I nod once. "Has she been eating?"

The smile disappears.

Instead, she gives me a look that says more than words ever could. I already know I'm not going to like her answer.

"Not particularly. She eats..." Sofía says carefully, choosing each word with obvious deliberation. "Just not enough. This morning she barely ate breakfast."

I clench my jaw. Is she starving herself? "Is she still out?"

“Sir. A newlywed wife actually needs her husband to care for her personally, not through me,” she says.

I raise an eyebrow. “I know.”

Sofía says nothing more. She gives me another small nod before disappearing toward the kitchen.

I make my way upstairs to collect a few things. I will find a way to get her to eat tomorrow. The moment I step into our bedroom, the room smells like her.

Before I can stop myself, I cross the room and sit down on the edge of the mattress. I reach for her pillow almost absentmindedly, bringing it to my face, I inhale, her scent floods my senses. It's everywhere. In the sheets, the pillows, the air itself.

My eyes close. Christ… I miss her. I've only stayed away for two days, yet it feels like weeks. I lower the pillow into my lap, rubbing a hand over my face.

Maybe I should stop this, maybe I should come back, my chest tightens, my breathing becomes shallow, the room begins to blur around the edges.

No, not now. I squeeze my eyes shut, immediately, the memories come.

I see my hands around her throat before I even know what I'm doing. I see terror in her eyes, I hear her begging me to stop.

My pulse spikes, I can't breathe. All I can see is every possible way I could destroy the one person I've sworn to protect.

My body goes rigid. The bedroom disappears. For one horrifying moment, I'm back in that cellar. Back in the darkness.

Then the bedroom door swings open. I hear footsteps, a familiar voice calls my name. "Roman?"

I lift my head. Aurora is standing in the doorway. I’m looking at her, but I’m not really seeing her. Everything inside me is screaming to get up and leave before I do something irreversible. Before I hurt her.

Then she says my name again. “Roman.”

The sound of it on her lips hits me like a physical blow. God, I’ve missed that voice. I’ve missed hearing her say my name. She says it again, softer this time.

The genuine concern in her tone nearly undoes me. I can’t stand it. I don’t deserve her care. I’m a monster she still doesn’t fully understand, and I could destroy her without meaning to.

I force myself to stand. “How have you been?”

She looks confused. “I’m fine…”

“I just came to grab a few of my things,” I say, already moving past her. “Goodnight.”