Two years. Simon had been married to Ellie for two years. 730 days together, yet not once had he taken her out, bought her flowers, or done anything special. She never complained, never made a fuss—but he knew. Deep down, she wanted those little moments, the cute things couples did. And yet, he couldn't give them to her. He was a soldier, a war machine. Not a lover.

And he regretted it.

He shouldn't have married someone like her—someone so sweet, so full of life. He was wasting her time, keeping her trapped in a life she didn’t deserve. Money wasn’t the issue; he had plenty of it. But what she truly wanted—romance, affection—he simply wasn’t built for.

The day had been brutal. Endless drills, relentless training. His hands were wrapped in fresh bandages, his face marked with new wounds. He barely registered the time as he stepped through the door. Midnight. Their anniversary had already passed.

Simon stopped in his tracks. Ellie stood in the living room, dressed in a soft pink dress, waiting for him. Hope flickered in her eyes—until she saw the realization hit him. He glanced at the clock, jaw tightening.

“I don’t have time for this,” He muttered, dropping his mask and duffle bag to the floor. He brushed past her without another word, heading for the kitchen to grab a soda.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it—the way her smile faltered, the way disappointment settled onto her delicate features.

She deserved better. And he knew it.