Viya's POV
"Mom saw it, liked it, and took it," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. "If you want one too, I can ask her to get you one next time."
Lucius nodded, clearly uninterested in pursuing the matter further. "If Mom likes it, she can have it."
His indifference was typical—the same attitude he'd shown throughout our three years of marriage. I used to mistake it for gentleness or good temperament. Now I recognized it for what it truly was: apathy.
Apathy toward gifts I gave him. Apathy toward me as a person. From beginning to end, he had always kept himself emotionally distant.
But I didn't care anymore. I just smiled and said, "Fine, as long as I don't have to spend money on another gift."
"little gold digger," Lucius gave me a sidelong glance. "I haven't been le
