The fire crackled softly in the hearth, its gentle warmth casting a golden hue across the study. James and Ava sat side by side on the oversized couch, wrapped in the cocoon of an evening that felt unusually intimate. The weight of unspoken truths hung in the air, yet there was a newfound closeness between them, one forged through shared silences and cautious words.James leaned back, his dark eyes fixed on Ava as she gazed thoughtfully into the flames. She had been unusually quiet, and though he didn’t press her, he knew she was wrestling with something.Finally, she spoke. “James,” she said softly, her voice barely audible above the fire’s crackle.“Yes?” he replied, his tone gentle.She turned to him, her eyes searching his face as though trying to gauge his reaction to what she was about to say. “Do you ever think about what this marriage could be? Beyond the contract, I mean.”James raised an eyebrow, her question catching him slightly off guard. “What do you mean?”Ava hesitated
Last Updated : 2025-01-11 Read more