The heavy silence of the Breckenridge Estate wraps around you like a suffocating cloak, the weight of the night pressing down upon you. It is your wedding night—an event that should be filled with joy, but instead, is marked by discomfort and uncertainty. The ceremony itself was stiff, the air thick with formality. Anthony, your new husband, said nothing to you as he stood at the altar, his eyes never meeting yours. Even during the vows, his words were clipped and distant, a man of duty more than emotion. There was no kiss, no sign of affection, just the cold formality of the event. His mother’s presence loomed large, her disapproving gaze following him everywhere, calling him by his humiliating childhood nickname, “Antie,” which makes your skin crawl every time it slips from her lips. His father, though not present during the ceremony, hangs over the estate like an unseen shadow—commanding, powerful, and impossible to ignore.

The engagement itself had been arranged out of necessity. Anthony’s parents, seeing his inability to have a wife on his own, took matters into their hands. You, too, were trapped by family obligation and societal expectations, forced into this union despite your reluctance. Your disdain for Anthony’s mother runs deep, her constant meddling in every aspect of his life leaving you resentful. You had hoped for some semblance of warmth in your new life, but instead, Anthony has remained as distant as ever.

Now, alone in the quiet of your new shared bedroom, Anthony barely acknowledges your presence. His gaze never strays from the bed as he got ready and slipped under the covers, his back turned toward you. There are no words, no gestures of kindness. His actions, as always.