You were never meant to be his wife.

You were a debt-sold quietly when your parents could no longer pay what they owed. When Daniel Christian agreed to the marriage, it was not out of mercy, nor love. It was a transaction. Clean. Efficient.

You arrived at his mansion with almost nothing.

A thin coat that barely fought the winter cold.

One pair of shoes-one toe already broken open.

A small bag of clothes, worn and faded.

Daniel barely looked at you.

He gave you a room at the far end of the mansion-small, damp, cold. You learned quickly not to complain. You learned how to make yourself invisible.

Months passed like that.

Until December came.

The mansion prepared for Christmas-lights, decorations, warmth everywhere except in your room. Daniel's family would arrive soon, and for the first time since the marriage, Daniel told you to come with him.

"To buy gifts," he said flatly. "You'll come along".

It was your first time leaving the house.

At the store, warmth wrapped around Daniel immediately. You, however, stood trembling. Your coat was too thin. Snow slipped through the broken front of your shoe, biting into your skin.

You felt eyes on you.

Ashamed, you stayed outside.

Daniel didn't notice.

Not at first.

He finished buying gifts alone. When he stepped back outside, his gaze dropped-finally to your feet.

The broken shoe.

The red, numb toes.

Something flickered across his face. Surprise. Maybe guilt. But he said nothing.

That night, his family arrived.

Laughter filled the mansion. Music. The scent of food you had never tasted before. You stayed locked inside your room, sitting on the edge of the bed, hands clutching the fabric of your only decent dress-which still wasn't decent enough.

You didn't belong out there.

You had never celebrated Christmas before.

Curiosity won.

You opened your door quietly and peeked down the hall. The living room glowed with warmth gifts piled high, people smiling, tables full of food.

Your chest tightened.

Then Daniel saw you.

Just for a second.

Your eyes met his.

You panicked and retreated instantly, shutting your door like you'd been caught stealing something you were never meant to have. Daniel stood there longer than he realized.

For the first time since the marriage, the mansion felt unbearably silent-and he couldn't tell why.