ElizabethThe routine at home wasn’t enough to occupy her mind. When she finished her chores, she would wander through the mansion. She started taking walks through the gardens in the late afternoon and going to the mansion’s gym to stay in shape. But it wasn’t enough.She even asked John if she could get a job or work as a chef, her passion. He vehemently refused.So to pass the time, she began doing volunteer work. She devoted herself to the orphanage and the nursing home run by the church. John didn’t object. He thought it was an excuse for her to get out of the house; to him, it was just another tactic to get his attention. And if she stepped out of line, James reported everything to him. She donated the piano to the parish and began giving singing and piano lessons in the small auditorium to children and teenagers. Once a week, she played for the elderly residents of the nursing home. When she arrived, she was like an angel who brightened those lonely days. She also began sin

“John…” she whispered, breathless.His gaze, previously lost, turned icy.“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice low and sharp.“I… I was making coffee,” she replied, confused, her eyes wide, her breath caught.“Why were you singing?”“I like to sing…” she murmured, almost inaudibly.He stared at her for a moment, then said coldly:“Don’t sing.” The words came like a sentence. “I don’t want to hear you sing. Do you understand?”Elizabeth nodded slightly, swallowing hard. But her eyes… her eyes didn’t lower. There was fear in them, yes, but also something John hated in her: dignity. And that infuriated him even more.He wanted to break her. He wanted to rip off that mask of the good girl, the devoted wife. But she wasn’t broken. Not yet.John stepped forward, and Elizabeth backed up until she was pressed against the counter. He placed his hands on either side of her. She turned her face away and closed her eyes, trembling at what might come.“Look at me,” he ordered.It took a s

ElizabethThe house seemed even quieter after John left. After finishing cleaning and tidying up the kitchen, Elizabeth went up to John’s room, the room that was supposed to be hers too. But he didn’t want her.She went in there every morning. She tidied, cleaned, and organized everything impeccably, then looked at the huge, cold, and empty bed.Elizabeth sighed and thought of her small back room, which was tiny compared to the grandeur of that space. She didn’t want to be there because of the luxury and comfort. She wanted to be there with John, to sleep and wake up beside him. Every now and then she imagined herself in his arms on that bed and wished they could share a small room filled with love. She cried silently, tears of pain from an unrequited love. She entered the enormous walk-in closet connected to the bathroom and dressing room, a space of luxury and grandeur that rivaled any royal palace. She looked at the empty space meant for John’s wife’s belongings and thought sa

ElizabethThe week dragged on, and the routine of John’s absence continued until the ring of her cell phone startled her. When she saw John’s name on the screen, a wave of anxiety washed over her. It was the first time he had called her directly; usually Bruce was the one who contacted her, usually to let her know that John had plans for the evening or to discuss matters related to the house. With trembling hands, she answered.“Hello,” her voice barely came out as a whisper.A heavy silence hung on the line, followed by a heavy breath.“Elizabeth,” John paused briefly, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Today is my grandfather’s birthday, and he demands your presence. Be ready by eight o’clock.”Without waiting for a reply, the call was abruptly ended. Elizabeth remained holding the phone, longing to hear John’s voice again, but all she heard was silence.It took a moment to process the cold, direct words. Finally, John would take her to the imposing Walker mansion, and the occa

“Father. John’s finally here,” said Martha, approaching Oliver WalkerThis time he was standing with a cane in his hand, talking to a woman whom Elizabeth assumed was his younger sister, given their resemblance, and three other people.“Ah, John! Elizabeth, how nice to see you,” exclaimed Oliver, moving with some difficulty toward the couple.John approached his grandfather and kissed his forehead with the same affectionate formality he had shown his mother. Elizabeth found these gestures of affection on his part strange.“Happy birthday, Grandpa. I hope you liked the present.”“Yes, I’ll be trying it out soon. Do you like to play chess, my dear?” asked Oliver, turning his inquisitive eyes toward Elizabeth.“Yes. I do,” she replied simply.“Then I already have a partner. John gave me a beautiful, exclusive, handmade chess set made of fine wood,” he said, giving her an affectionate smile. “And how have you been, my dear? John told me you’ve been feeling under the weather, so he prefer