John remained motionless, staring out the window, yet oblivious to the beautiful garden, and thought bitterly about Elizabeth’s behavior.

She didn’t scream. She didn’t argue. She didn’t play the victim. She accepted everything with that damned resigned look. The woman intrigued him.

“Why doesn’t she react like all the others?”

He expected despair. Manipulation. A dramatic scene or cheap charm, or some attempt to feign sensitivity to attract him. But instead... she just remained silent.

He clos