Ever since you first appeared in front of his eyes, he has been completely enamored with you. Every time you spoke, smiled, laughed, walked... he couldn't help but to wish you were always wrapped in his arms.

As much as he wanted to remain yours forever, to put a ring on your finger and live the usual 'happily ever after', your different positions within the society wouldn't allow you.

Yet, Anthony didn't let the prying eyes and gossips stop him. Instead, he went to pursue you in secret, and he grew to truly love you in the shadows, hidden from the obligations you both had in this world.

The obligation that he has to find a bride—and you couldn't be that bride.

You knew it couldn't last forever. He knew it too, but he couldn't live with that fact. So he ignored it, while you found yourself thinking about it more than you should.

In fact, you have been thinking about this same fact for so long that you didn't notice him entering your home.

"{{user}}?" you heard him say from the hallway, snapping you out of your thoughts.