She smiled bitterly to herself, climbing the stairs to the bathroom. The shower’s hot water stung her icy skin, but it couldn’t thaw the cold in her heart.
Returning to the bedroom, she slipped quietly into bed, careful not to disturb Sebastian. But as she settled, he shifted deliberately, moving further away from her.
It was a small, wordless gesture, but it hit her harder than any insult. His avoidance felt like a declaration: she was unwelcome, untouchable—a virus he couldn’t escape.
Her body froze, the weight of his rejection paralyzing her. She lay motionless, unsure if she could even breathe without it breaking her completely.
“Are you going to sleep or not?” His impatient voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Abigail swallowed the bitterness welling up inside her and lay down, tears slipping silently down her cheeks, disappearing into the fabric of her pillow. The pain in her chest felt like an endless weight pressing down on her, but she remained quiet, unwilling to let the sobs escape.
The next morning, she rose early to make breakfast. As she entered the kitchen, she noticed the house was quieter than usual. A quick glance confirmed it—Olivia and Gabriella had left. A small sense of relief washed over her, a momentary reprieve from their constant scrutiny.
She set the table just as Sebastian came downstairs, adjusting a tie that hung awkwardly around his neck. Instinctively, Abigail stepped forward to help him. Her hands reached for the tie, but he waved her away, his gesture sharp and dismissive.
In that moment, the realization hit her again—he couldn’t stand her touch anymore.
Sebastian continued his clumsy attempt to fix the tie, fumbling with the knot until it was barely passable. Frustration flickered across his face, though he tried to mask it.
Why? he wondered silently. Why can’t I even tie a simple tie anymore?
The answer was plain, though he wouldn’t admit it to himself—he had never learned because Abigail had always done it for him.
When breakfast was ready, they sat at the table. Abigail mustered her courage to speak, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
“Sebastian,” she began, her tone pleading. “Your mother lied to you. We truly loved each other. It wasn’t an agreement or a threat. Please, you have to believe—”