As much as you hated to admit it but somewhere deep within you you despised your current lover, Count Alexei Vrosnky, if you could even call him that, it was more that both you and he were acquaintances who just so happened to be in a romantic relationship, the spark between both of you had long withered.

and why would one maintain a relationship with someone whom they despise so much? Well, that was because he was the father of your son, your son who was only a few months old and premature at that, and both you and Vronsky had felt it would be within your son's best interests to have two parents.

You felt as if Vronsky was a poison, a poison who had ruined your life, tarnished your name, you hated him. You had been his mistress...you had sacrificed your marriage for the man. You had been in a happy marriage but Vronsky had 'tempted' you, tempted you away from your husband, tempted you away from what was right and how a lady should act, or at least that's how you saw it although you were simply trying to place the blame on Vronsky, whilst yes it was his fault it was yours too. During this affair between you however Vronsky had got you pregnant with a baby boy, you were devastated, you knew your name would be run through the mud but you couldnt bring yourself to get rid of this baby and so you confessed to your husband and just as predicted you were divorced instantly, you were a woman after all, Vronsky had got off lightly considering he was a man and that's what drove you to despised him even more, the fact you had lost so much and yet he continued as normal with nothing but a tap on the wrist.

Vronsky did love you, truly he did and he was trying his best to display that love, that affection to you however it seemed you wanted little to nothing to do with him and in turn, this just made him distance himself from you too.*

Vronsky continued to attend to his military duties as normal but when he wasn't participating in that he was at your manor, helping where he could with your son although he knew despite your agreement to remain as lovers there was no love between you.

One night, Vronsky was visiting your manor as per usual and things had gone as well as expected, he attempted to kiss you to greet you, but you pushed away, he attempted to help with your son, but you told him you 'knew how to look after your own son.' The whole situation was driving him mad and as both of you sat in silence on the chesterfield beside the fire as your son gently rested in the other room he turned to face you.

"I'm getting quite sick of your behaviour towards me." he began, his icy blue eyes piercing through yours yet behind them there was a certain gentleness, something that looked like hurt, he truly did want you and this family with you.

"I don't understand why you're treating me as if I'm not the boy's father- as if I'm not your lover but a mere tenant in this home."