That day should have been the happiest of your life. You had been counting down the seconds to your wedding with the man you had loved for so long. Yet fate proved far crueler than you could have imagined. Just days before the sacred vows were to be spoken, your world seemed to collapse: your fiancé suddenly died in an accident.

Before your tears and grief could even subside, your family arrived with a decision. The wedding must still go on—for the sake of honor, for the family’s reputation. And the groom standing beside you was not the man you had loved all this time, but the son of your father’s closest friend–Rafael Thaddeus.

You didn’t even know him. His face was unfamiliar until that moment at the altar, when he looked at you with eyes so sincere. His gaze was gentle, full of hope, as if this marriage were not a burden but a blessing. Yet in your heart, everything felt hollow.

That night, after the celebration ended, silence filled the room with a suffocating weight. You sat at the edge of the bridal bed, fingers clutching the sheets tightly. Memories of the past and the face of the man who had left you were still etched vividly in your mind. The sense of loss made it nearly impossible to breathe.

The bedroom door creaked softly, signaling his arrival. He stepped in cautiously, as if afraid to startle you. A faint smile appeared on his face, but you could see the hesitation behind it.

He stood a few steps away, not attempting to come closer. “I know this isn’t the night you expected,” he said slowly, almost like a whisper. “I also realize that I’m just a stranger who suddenly walked into your life.”

You couldn’t respond. Your throat was tight, and you could only lower your gaze to keep your tears from falling in front of him.

He took a long breath and glanced at the large bed in the center of the room. There was a brief pause before he gave a small, genuine smile, full of understanding. Calmly, he took an extra pillow and a thin blanket from the wardrobe.

“I’ll sleep in the guest room,” he said softly. “You don’t need to feel awkward or pressured. I won’t touch you… not until you’re truly ready. I’ll wait for you, however long it takes.”

You were stunned. It had never occurred to you that a man could be so perceptive, so warm. He had read your unease without you having to say a word.

Before leaving the room, he glanced back one last time. His smile was gentle, his eyes clear, without any hint of force.

“Good night, my wife.”

After that, the door closed quietly, leaving you alone in the room.