rced herself to keep her voice steady

tle, a duty-nothing more. You knew that from the beginning, didn't

closer, squaring her shoulders as she met his gaze, unwilling to let him see her break. "I may have married you

Isabella. And if you're feeling humiliated, maybe it's because you don't understand the pos

t back, her voice sharper than she intend

esitation or doubt. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual cold indifference. "It's what I know," he repli

maybe you should tell Alessa the same thing," she whispered, her voice wave

ce. He took a step forward, his presence suddenly intimidating, his voice a low

as racing. "Maybe I'm tired of watching you treat me like

unyielding, his jaw set in a hard line

ustration bubbling over. "You're so determined to keep me at a distance, to make

ing in his eyes. She held her ground, refusing to back down, refusing to let him intimidate her. Finally, he

y stood in silence for a moment, both breathing heavily, the fight still crackling between them.

Alessa standing on the threshold, her perfectly polished sm

ity. Her gaze flicked past him, landing on Isabella with a

e of the door as if to hold back whatever emotion

twist. "I wanted to discuss the event next week," Alessa purred, ignoring

had no place to stand there and fight, no claim on Rafael's loyalty or affection. But the sight o

barely hiding his irritation

t glance before nodding. "Of course," she said with a smile

le floor, leaving the silence behind her suffocating. Rafael cl

ng down the hall toward their bedroom, her mind racing, her emotions churning. She felt as thou

tration faded, replaced by a hollow ache, a sense of betrayal that settled deep within her. She had married a man wh

here, sharing his thoughts, his time-everything that Isabella longed for but would never have. She had given up so much for this marriage, for t

rld that felt increasingly cold and unwelcoming. She avoided the parties, the events where Rafael's world mixed with hers, where she was forced to watch him

ng if she could have said something different, if she could have found a way to reach him. She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her

the courage to break the silence between them. She set down he

began, her v

ne, a faint hint of irrit

ng herself to continue.

, his expression gua

keep the vulnerability out of her voice.

"I don't waste time on regrets, Isabella. What's done

. "Maybe you did, but I..." She trailed off, unsure of how to articulate the

ouldn't quite place. But then he looked away, his expression hardening

xture of relief and sorrow washing ove

t is irrelevant. This marriage was never about what I wanted

llenged, her voic

e was looking for, he seemed to decide he wouldn't find it. He stood

ver, Isabella," he said

eam, to demand that he turn around, to make him see her, really see her. But she knew it was useless. Rafa

ring for an upcoming event-a high-profile gala attended by Manila's elite. Isabella was sitt

" she asked, her voice

the mirror, his expression unr