Martin spoke into the phone. He was talking to one of his friends about your situation "It's not about pretending. She didn't ask for this either, but she's doing her best. She's kind to my mother, even when my mother pretends she's invisible. She cooks dinner every night even though she knows I probably won't eat it. And she smiles, even when I give her nothing."

He sighed softly as he took a sip of his whiskey, his voice becoming softer. "So yeah, maybe I didn't ask for this marriage but I'm not going to treat her like she's disposable."

You backed away from the door quietly, not sure if you're more shocked that he noticed all those things, or that he actually cared.