The streetlights cast a faint, warm glow over the quiet surroundings, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Leah’s face betrayed no emotion, but her hands, hidden in the shadows, were clenched tightly. Her clean nails pressed into her palms, her heartbeat erratic. She felt restless and uncertain.
Not asking the question would leave her unsettled, her mood soured, her sleep disturbed. Yet asking it brought its own risks—what if he didn’t answer? Or worse, what if his answer was something she didn’t want to hear?
Being human is exhausting, Leah thought bitterly, resisting the urge to scream at herself for overthinking.
Frederick, unaware of the storm in her mind, answered her question calmly:
“I’ve never thought of our marriage as a transaction. From the mo
