SABRINA ULTRA

ites: scrambled eggs with chives, perfectly crispy bacon, and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was her silent way of showing Benedict she cared, desp

itter, cruel mocking tone. "I don't need you to try and make me happy. And I don't need you trying to play house like some devoted little wife. Just stay out of my way." Sabrina's chest ached, but she forced herself to keep her head up, to maintain her composure. "I'm your wife, Benedict," she said, her voice small but resolute. "This is my responsibility, whether you accept it or not." He leaned forward, his eyes hard and unyielding. "Don't delude yourself, Sabrina. You're nothing more than a nuisance, a daily reminder of a mistake I was forced into." The words hit her like a physical blow, but she fought to keep her expression neutral, her eyes cast downward to avoid the venom in his gaze. "I don't want to be a burden to you, Benedict," she said quietly. "But I won't give up, not on this marriage." He scoffed, picking up a fork and stabbing at his food with clear disinterest. "It's funny how you still believe this is a marriage. We're barely even housemates.". Don't think it is more than that. Sabrina's heart fractured a little more at the harshness of his words

r, gazing blankly at the dishes of food she had put out to prepare, that breakfast that once, on a gl

plates echoed in the stillness. With every clink, it

nedict stood before her with his icy stare piercing through. Her br

itation, as if her being made him uncomfortable, annoyed him. "Have you not r

white. She struggled to keep her voice steady. "I'm just trying to ma

you think that all the cooking and cleaning makes up for what you did? That somehow these

even deeper into her heart. "I... I don't think I manipulated a thing. I n

na? My love? My loyalty?My money? Well, you have neither." His voice dropped to a lo

that threatened to spill over. "I just... I t

fall at your feet, and love you? Come on, Sabrina, grow up. This Isn't one of your

e could see that. "I know it's not a fairy tale," she said, small and shaking, her voice barely big enough to chop through t

ere spark of love flickered beneath the burning wounds of hurt and anger, for one cannot let such precious life die. She needed him to underst

tions bubbling inside her.There was a glimmer of love that never really died. She wanted him to u

to marriage, using every trick in the book to get her way. But let me be clear..." He leaned in low and harsh. "I

looked at her like a stranger. "So stop playing the

eaving Sabrina alone in the suffocating silence of the dining ro

until it was all she felt and knew-was the hollow nothingness behind. His chest a

heart. She wanted to scream, to demand why he hated her so much. What had she done wrong? She had lo

s Benedict, but he wasn't there to apologize. Instead, he stood there, his smir

, he shot back his voice dripping with disdain. Cry all you want; it is going to change nothing. I never wa

would not cry for what he did to her anymore. "Why do this to me, Benedict?" Her

the doorframe. "Because you need to know that you are nothing to me. Abso

she choked out, her heart splinte

ed for this life. So don't stand there acting surprised that I'm giving you exactly what you wanted." He l

r voice steady. "This... this isn't what

lations for marrying me.I will make your life hell. Because t

teps echoing down the hall as he ret

life she tried to build with him-a life that meant nothing but a painful reminder

o despise her. She would find a way to survive in this loveless marri

g to it. That's all she had. And she wasn't going