The Silent Bride

a's

rt suit spotless and his eyes glued to his phone's screen, Derick sat at the head of

invisible, but Maria had

not looking up. "I'm sur

lost my appetite as soon as I entered this ma

e table so he could

you for

ook a quick look at the screen. "Do you

s I nodded, fingers ready to type

akes it easier to sta

but I said nothing.

ing his phone down. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and the intensity made

as I clutched my

me," he said coldly. "But you? You

gers, each one sha

up for him to see,

ask for t

lips. "So, Nadia, why are you here?

to contain my tears as I sh

idea how my

e said, leaning b

, I can't adequately describe m

denly when the silence lasted too long "It doesn't matter. What's

dn't let him go without addressing the one issue that ha

you agree

is back to me. His eyes were colder t

r than the one you don't," he said flatly. "And

aving me by myse

as too loud, the bed too big, the walls too empty. Starin

ight not respond right awa

ates

ter, she r

know you. Gi

n't reso

ame almost

Prove him wrong. You're stro

't so

on the door, so I hastil

but then I realized that no one coul

, Maria had a tray a

g warm before bed," she said, se

ype

ou." Whi

Derick's previous words. "If you need anything, just

the warmth seeping into my body. It was the f

engthy shadows on the walls, making the house eerily quiet. As I strolled down the corri

k's s

ng about his previous scathing words, but my curiosity overcame m

verage. Because of his loose tie and slightly crumpled shirt, he appeared less

he asked with

ot to my phon

n't mean to d

is expression unreadable.

unsure why I

n't k

gh. "Figures. Go back to b

ecessary. Unsure whether to go or

e asked, his voice softer t

t of hesitati

want to mak

aw tightening. "You can't fix

f, his voice had a h

o view as I typed, "Perhaps you

e drink he was holdi

omfortable. I took a step back, inte

ight,

smissive, and it left

the unease in my chest lingered

stand while I lay in bed,

ge from the u

ou've gotten yourself i

arning felt more