From then on, John and Pamela began to be seen frequently at social events. Photos of them at charity events, political dinners, award ceremonies. It was Pamela who appeared by John’s side, always smiling, as if she belonged there.Speculation in the media was not long in coming: Is John Walker married?A close-up photo of his left hand revealed a thick, gold wedding band. “If he’s married, where is Mrs. Walker?”“Why has she never been seen in public?”“Does his wife have some illness that prevents her from appearing in public?” “Is he having an affair with his ex-girlfriend?”No one knew of Elizabeth’s existence.Elizabeth, for her part, now understood why John never took her anywhere with him. It was simple: he didn’t see her as his real wife. Their marriage had never been real, and when the time came to separate, everything would be easier that way. Finally, she understood why they had married without fanfare in a simple ceremony where not even the bride’s name was mentioned… a

PamelaThat year was decisive for Pamela. After years of waiting, the term of John’s marriage contract was finally coming to an end—and with it, the chance to achieve her greatest goal: to officially become Pamela Walker. Linking her name to one of the most powerful and influential businessmen in the world was not just a personal achievement, but the crowning glory of her relentless ambition.It wasn’t about love. Pamela had become obsessed with John from the moment she was rejected. It had wounded her ego, awakening an irrational desire for possession. For her, being by John’s side wasn’t just a matter of desire, but of status. The fact that he was married to a simple woman, with no distinguished surname or prominent position, was something Pamela never accepted. She considered it an outrage, an affront to her social standing and beauty.Moreover, her father had been pressuring her to marry a renowned businessman, a family ally for years. But if she was to enter a loveless marriage,

John, Daniel, and MarcusDaniel and Marcus were leaning against their motorcycles, stopped at a gas station where, as was their tradition, they used to meet before their rides. The light breeze that morning couldn’t dispel the unease that hung between them.They hadn’t seen John in weeks. Since returning from Africa, he had become more absent, distant even on the phone. Although they had always known their friend was dedicated to his work, his prolonged disappearances had begun to draw attention.“What do you think of John’s behavior?” asked Daniel, crossing his arms and staring at the road.“I don’t know… John has changed. He’s quieter, more distant,” Marcus replied thoughtfully. “I think it has to do with his marriage to Elizabeth… at the very least, there’s something strange going on there.”“Yeah…” Daniel frowned. “John’s always been private about relationships, but keeping his own wife a state secret? That’s not normal.”“I agree. There’s something he hasn’t told us. And there’s

That night, even shrouded in the darkness of the kitchen, he heated up the food. He sat on the cold countertop and ate slowly, in silence. Each bite was a mixture of flavors, affection and absence, presence and distance. The food was delicious, as always. Prepared by a devoted wife he barely knew and completely ignored.When he finished, he washed the dishes, dried his hands, and looked toward the hallway again. The light was still coming from somewhere, faint, but enough to tell that someone was there. He took a step, then another… but stopped. The light suddenly disappeared; it had probably been turned off.And he thought, it wasn’t time yet.But maybe it was close… close to changing that untenable situation; he needed to take action—for the man who knew what he wanted, who never let himself be defeated by obstacles, who controls everything and everyone. He lacked the courage to knock on a door.He slowly climbed the stairs, as if carrying on his back the weight of all the words he

JohnWhen he woke up that morning, John didn’t even notice his wife’s absence. As usual, he found coffee waiting on the table. He sat down and sipped it more slowly than usual. The familiar aroma no longer brought him comfort. There was something different that morning. Something too… quiet.The silence around him seemed deafening. No sound, no movement. Elizabeth had probably left early for church, as she did every day, and would return only after he left for work.Lately, they barely saw each other. And when they did, her gaze was distant, lifeless. She avoided him with an almost painful delicacy, as if she didn’t want to cause any more trouble. The spontaneous, smiling young woman he had once known now barely spoke. She was subdued, resigned to the life he had imposed on her.John wanted to punish her, but deep down, he was being punished too. The relationship between the two had become unsustainable, a silent torture. On their wedding day, he had made a decision: he would make he