Luca, a man determined to regain control, had no intention of letting himself be taken down. On the contrary, he knew he could break h

this marriage would be a psychological battlefield. He had believed that, deep down, Amelie would give in. He had seen her calm, cold, almost too pe

val, Luca summoned Amelie into the living room of their suite. He stared at

are rules to follow in this ho

m, impassive. She was waiting. She kn

n his usual authoritative tone. Evenings are times we spend

as if these rules

he replied in

of rebellion, but he saw none of that. She remained stoic, almost too calm. Her eyes,

om, and I will stay in mine, Luca continued, with a hint of defiance in his voic

nodded, still

stand, sh

ision, found himself helpless. She seemed to accept every rule he imposed w

nally breaking the silence,

ed. No, that wasn't all. There was stil

e, I think that's all. But don't think it's

e hell had he thought this marriage would be simple? Why was he the one being thrown

ued to impose rules, to maintain an icy distance between them. Amelie still did

her eyes fixed on a book. She hadn't even noticed him. He stood there, observing her figure, her back str

slowly, keeping

anything? he asked in a more a

towards him, as if s

to tell you? she repli

that her calmness was unnerving him. It wasn't what he expected. He wanted to see anger, frustration, something t

u react, and you stand there, without saying anything. Why

on the coffee table and stared into

, Luca. This marriage was never about feeli

didn't fight because she didn't see the point. She'd

erent to all this? he asked,

ly, almost as i

impose all the rules you want, it will not change the realit

er by provoking her, by pushing her to her limits. But she was different. She had seen the situation for what it was, and she did

suite, every moment that they shared, was an opportunity for him to test her limits, to see if s

single spark of life. He was tired. Tired of seeing her so calm, so insensitive to his attacks. And with each pa

ever flinching. But Luca knew that, somewhere, something wa