I sit on the edge of our bed, my hands resting on my lap, feeling the weight of the silence around us. Maximilian is at the window, his back turned to me as he looks out over the city, his profile bathed in the soft light of the evening. It's hard to believe how much has changed between us. The storm that once raged inside our marriage—an endless cycle of tension, distance, and broken trust—has calmed. I can hardly recognize the man beside me. The walls he built around his heart, the cold exterior he wore like armor, are all but gone now. And yet, the world outside, the one that looms so large over us, is not done with us.Maximilian turns, his eyes meeting mine. His gaze is warm now, no longer distant or guarded, but full of something I never thought I’d see in him—love. I can't help but smile softly, but my heart tightens with the weight of what’s coming. We’ve been through so much together. But is it enough? Will it ever be enough to protect us from what’s out there, from what’s w
Maximilian has always been consumed by his work. I knew that when I married him, but the reality of it hits differently when you’re living in the middle of it. It’s one thing to know that he’s a billionaire with a sprawling empire, and it’s another to experience firsthand the relentless demands of that empire.I stand at the kitchen island, stirring the coffee absentmindedly, my eyes flicking over to the grand windows of the living room. The sun is just beginning to set, casting a warm glow across the room. I know he’ll be home soon, but I’m not sure what to expect. He’s been pulling further away from me these past few days, retreating into his work, locking himself in his study until late into the night. I could tell him I miss him, but I don’t want to sound desperate. He’s been so distant lately—emotionally unavailable in a way that feels almost suffocating.The sound of the front door opening breaks my thoughts, and I turn to see him entering the foyer. Maximilian’s tall frame fill
I watched Maximilian from the kitchen as he sat at the dining table, buried in his laptop. His face was etched with that familiar look of intense focus, his eyes darting over figures on the screen, his fingers typing furiously. It had been like this for days. Weeks, even. The world around him was growing more and more distant, and the man I once hoped to build a life with was slipping further out of reach.I took a deep breath, glancing over at my mother, who was curled up in her favorite chair. She was sleeping, thankfully, but I couldn’t shake the worry that lingered in my chest. The weight of her illness was something I carried every day, but it seemed like every time I tried to balance my world, Maximilian’s empire would pull me away from everything I held dear. The more he immersed himself in work, the more I felt like I was left to navigate the storm alone."Eliza?" Maximilian’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. I hadn’t even realized I’d been standing there for so lon
I stood at the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. It was a cold, gloomy day—one of those where the world felt muted as if it too was holding its breath. The hum of Maximilian’s office behind me seemed distant, a quiet reminder that, for once, he was actually here with me and not buried in his empire. I felt his presence before I heard him approach. His footsteps were deliberate, and when he reached me, his warmth radiated from behind. He didn’t touch me, but I could feel the pull of his proximity.“You’re quiet today,” Maximilian said, his voice soft but laced with an edge I couldn’t quite place.I sighed, turning to face him. “I’m always quiet,” I murmured, trying to offer a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. The truth was, everything inside me was a storm, battling between the woman I was when I met him and the woman I was becoming.Maximilian watched me with those intense eyes of his, as though he was reading every emotion that flickered across my face.
I had never seen him like this before—so vulnerable, so consumed by something other than the ironclad control he’d always exhibited. Maximilian was standing in front of me, his face tense, his jaw clenched, as though battling some invisible force. His usual unshakable exterior had cracked, and I was unsure how to react to the vulnerability I saw in his eyes."Eliza," he began, his voice a little rough, "I need to tell you something—something you’ve never known."I felt my heart rate spike, my chest tightening with a sense of foreboding. I knew this conversation wasn’t going to be easy, and the weight of his words hung between us, thick and suffocating."What is it, Maximilian?" My voice barely rose above a whisper, the fear creeping up on me as I searched his expression for any clue as to what he was about to say.He took a deep breath, his eyes avoiding mine for a moment. The tension was unbearable, and I could feel my stomach churn with unease. Maximilian was the type of man who nev
I couldn’t breathe. The room was spinning, and I clutched the edge of the armchair as Maximilian’s words echoed in my head. Something you’ve never known. His voice, usually so controlled, had cracked at the edges, his regret tangible. I turned to him, searching his face for answers, but his expression was shuttered, as though he were bracing himself for impact. “Just tell me,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. My heart was pounding, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. “No more hesitations. What is it, Maximilian?” He took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. “Eliza, I’ve never been completely honest with you. About my past… about who I was before you came into my life.” I folded my arms, trying to mask the tremor in my hands. “I think I already know enough. You’ve made it clear that this marriage was a transaction, nothing more.” “It wasn’t always that way,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes softening in a way that made my chest ache. “But there are things I kept hi
The air in Maximilian’s study was tense, a suffocating kind of silence filling the space. I stood by the window, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the cold edge of the glass. Below, the city lights blinked like stars scattered on the ground, a false sense of calm masking the storm that had found its way into our lives. Maximilian’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. “Sit down, Eliza.” I turned to face him, my chest tightening at the sight of his clenched jaw. His eyes, those piercing gray eyes that had softened over time, were now hardened, their edges sharp with determination. “Just tell me what’s going on,” I said, my voice shaking despite my attempt to sound resolute. “I deserve to know.” His gaze softened for a brief moment, but it was fleeting, like a ripple in a still lake. “You’re right,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You do.” He motioned toward the leather armchair across from him, and I reluctantly sat down, my heart pounding as I braced mys
It felt like an eternity since Maximilian and I shared the same room without the weight of unspoken words pressing down on us. Now, sitting across from him in the quiet expanse of his study, the air between us felt raw—like an open wound we were both afraid to touch.He was pacing, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets, the lines of his suit crisp and immaculate as always. But there was something different about him now. His movements were less controlled, more restless. I could see the cracks in his usual stoicism, and for once, I didn’t feel like the only vulnerable one in the room. “I don’t know where to begin, Eliza,” he admitted finally, his voice low but steady. He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his dark eyes searching mine. “I’ve hurt you. I’ve controlled you. And... I’ve failed to protect you in ways I promised myself I never would.” His words hung in the air, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him. This was the same man who had once laid out rules for o
My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat echoing the fear and anticipation that gripped me. The decision that loomed before I felt impossible—yet here we were, standing in the silence that had stretched between us for too long.Maximilian’s gaze was intense, those piercing eyes of his searching my face, as though trying to gauge my every thought. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves. He had laid himself bare, and now it was my turn."I’ve been trying to fix everything," Maximilian said, his voice strained, almost raw. "But I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if I’m even capable of it."I shook my head slowly, taking a deep breath. "You’re not the only one who’s struggling, Maximilian. I’ve had to face my own fears and my own weaknesses. I’m not the same person I was when we first met. But you… you’ve always been the hardest part to figure out."His lips twitched, and for a moment, I thought he might smile, but the sadness in his eyes crushed that hope."We’re both broken i
I stood there, frozen, as Maximilian’s words sank in. My heart was a tangled mess of confusion, hurt, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. How could he possibly think I could just forgive everything? How could I, after all the damage that had been done?He kneeled before me, his usual composed and powerful demeanor stripped away, leaving a raw vulnerability I had never seen in him. My breath caught in my throat, my eyes searching his face, trying to decipher what was real and what was just another ploy.“Eliza,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “Please, give me a chance. I’ll prove to you that I can change. That I want to change—for you.”I felt a wave of frustration rise within me. “How can you expect me to believe that now, Maximilian?” I asked, my voice shaky. “After everything you’ve done? Everything you’ve put me through?”“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, his eyes pleading. “I never meant for things to go this far. But I’ve been an idiot. I’ve let my pride and m
The silence between us is suffocating. Maximilian stands at the doorway of our living room, his face unreadable. His eyes are shadowed, the weight of everything pressing on him, just as it presses on me. I want to speak, to scream at him, to ask how we got here, but the words get stuck in my throat.It feels like we're standing on the edge of a cliff, and neither of us knows if we should jump or turn back.“You don’t get it, do you?” I say finally, my voice shaking. “This... whatever this is between us, it's never been simple. I’ve never been just some pawn in your game. I didn’t ask for this, Maximilian. I didn’t want to fall in love with you.”The words come out harder than I meant. I regret them almost instantly. He looks at me, the flicker of something in his eyes — frustration, regret, anger, maybe even sadness — but he doesn’t say anything. I can’t decide if that’s worse or better.“I never wanted to hurt you,” he finally mutters, his voice tight. “But you knew what you were get
I stood there, frozen, as Maximilian’s words sank in. My heart was a tangled mess of confusion, hurt, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. How could he possibly think I could just forgive everything? How could I, after all the damage that had been done?He kneeled before me, his usual composed and powerful demeanor stripped away, leaving a raw vulnerability I had never seen in him. My breath caught in my throat, my eyes searching his face, trying to decipher what was real and what was just another ploy.“Eliza,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “Please, give me a chance. I’ll prove to you that I can change. That I want to change—for you.”I felt a wave of frustration rise within me. “How can you expect me to believe that now, Maximilian?” I asked, my voice shaky. “After everything you’ve done? Everything you’ve put me through?”“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, his eyes pleading. “I never meant for things to go this far. But I’ve been an idiot. I’ve let my pride and m
I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands folded tightly in my lap, my heart thundering in my chest. Maximilian is standing by the window, his back to me, the sharp lines of his silhouette bathed in the soft, dim light of the late evening. The silence between us is thick—more suffocating than comforting."Maximilian," I whisper, my voice shaky, "What aren't you telling me?"He doesn't move at first. His shoulders remain rigid, and his posture is as perfect as always, yet there's something about the way he holds himself tonight that feels different. It's as if he's been weighed down by a burden I don't understand. A burden I've never seen before."You should go to sleep, Eliza," he says, his voice betraying no hint of emotion. But I can tell he's trying to push me away, trying to keep me at arm’s length."No," I say, standing up quickly, my voice growing firmer. "I need to know the truth. I can’t stand this anymore—this feeling that you’re hiding something from me. Something important. Yo
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as Maximilian stands across from me. His gaze is unwavering, but I can see the unease hidden beneath his composed exterior.I swallow, my throat dry, trying to find the right words.“We need to talk,” I say, the words coming out softer than I intend, but they carry the weight of everything I’m feeling.He stiffens but doesn’t move, his jaw clenched. “I know.”His response is brief, but I can tell that he’s been expecting this moment. And honestly, so have I. We’ve both been dancing around the truth for far too long.“Maximilian,” I start, taking a tentative step forward, “I need to know if this—if we—are worth it. Worth the risk. Worth the sacrifice.”He remains silent, his expression unreadable. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, every word I speak pushing me closer to the abyss.“I don’t want to live like this anymore,” I continue, my voice shaking now, the vulnerability leaking through. “I don’t want to keep pretending like eve
I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart racing as the air between Maximilian and me thickened with the weight of unspoken truths. His silence was unbearable, a ticking clock counting down to our implosion. My voice was hoarse when I finally broke the stillness."Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to keep living with lies?" I demanded, my gaze fixed on the floor to hide the storm brewing in my eyes.Maximilian paced across the room, his usual composure fraying at the edges. "Eliza, it's not that simple.""It never is with you, is it?" I stood up, the adrenaline giving me courage I didn't know I had. "Just once, I want the truth without your calculations or manipulations."His jaw clenched, and I could see the internal battle raging inside him. He wanted to control the narrative, but something told me this time was different—there was no salvaging his iron grip on the situation."I was protecting you," he finally said.I scoffed, my laugh bitter. "Protecting me? Is that wha
Maximilian paced the living room, his jaw clenched as his phone buzzed relentlessly on the coffee table. His broad shoulders were tense as if he carried the weight of a thousand unsaid words. I stood near the window, watching the city lights flicker below. The air between us crackled with unspoken tension.He finally grabbed the phone and silenced it, tossing it back onto the table with a frustrated grunt.“Another problem at the company?” I asked carefully, my voice breaking the heavy silence.He didn't meet my gaze. “It’s always a problem,” he muttered. “But this...this is different.”I stepped closer. “What is it?”He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. “An old associate is back in town. Someone I never wanted to see again.”“Who?” I pressed, sensing there was more to this than just a business issue.He looked at me then, his blue eyes colder than winter. “Julian Black.”The name didn’t mean much to me, but the way Maximilian said it made my chest tighten. There was
I sat across from Maximilian in the dim glow of the library. The fire crackled softly, casting shadows on the walls, but there was a tension in the room that was impossible to ignore. His jaw was clenched, his gaze distant. Whatever storm was brewing inside him, I knew it was darker than anything he had let me see before."Maximilian," I said gently, breaking the heavy silence. "Talk to me. Please."He didn't respond immediately. His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair, a sure sign that he was fighting some internal battle."Eliza, you wouldn't understand," he finally muttered, his voice rough."Try me," I insisted, leaning forward. "You keep shutting me out, and it's tearing us apart. Whatever it is, I want to help."His eyes flickered to mine, and for a moment, I thought he would open up. But then he shook his head as if dismissing the thought."It's not that simple," he said. "Some things are better left buried."I stood up, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You