The city skyline glittered beyond the glass walls of Julian’s penthouse, its warmth and elegance a sharp contrast to the emptiness of the new house he had purchased for them. That home—meant to be their beginning—remained bare, unfurnished, waiting. For now, the penthouse was their refuge.
Julian’s father’s illness weighed heavily on them both. Calls from the hospital came often, updates whispered in hushed tones. The atmosphere was subdued, yet within the penthouse, Julian and Kya moved gently around each other—sharing meals, exchanging quiet glances, brushing hands in passing.
There was sweetness in their gestures, tenderness in their silences. Yet neither dared to speak aloud what lingered beneath. To their understanding, this marriage was an arrangement, a union forged by duty and le
