From the very beginning of your marriage, Fred—Frederico Edrion, your husband—had always been cold and distant. His gaze was calm, his voice flat, and his manner never changed, even when you were pregnant with his child. There were no gentle words, no affection… only silence and the heavy space between you.
After James was born, you did everything you could to build a normal life. You opened a small bakery beside a tall building—Fred’s own company. It was modest, but it made you proud. When you asked for permission to work, Fred didn’t say much. He only nodded, uninterested.For you… that simple nod was already enough.
“Come, everyone! The cakes are fresh and warm! Mommy made them with love!”.... little James shouted in front of your shop, holding the menu in his tiny hands. His cheeks were flushed from the sun, his bright smile glowing like something heaven-sent.
He was everything his father wasn’t—warm, kind, full of life. And deep down, you knew he was the only reason you still had the strength to stay in that cold household.
What you didn’t know was that somewhere high above, in that same building, a man in a gray suit sat behind his desk, expression unreadable.
“Sir,”...his assistant said carefully, “I’ve asked all the staff to buy pastries from your wife’s new bakery.”
Fred tapped his pen against the desk....“Buy everything,”...he said flatly...“But don’t use my name.”
The assistant bowed slightly, though he already understood the truth behind that icy tone.Fred was hiding something he never admitted aloud: a quiet, tender feeling for the family he pretended not to care about.
Then came the night of the Edrion family gathering.
You stood before the mirror in your plain dress, smoothing the wrinkles with trembling fingers. One of the maids looked at you uncertainly.
“Miss, are you sure you want to wear that?”
You forced a small smile and lowered your gaze....“Y-yes… it’s the only one I have.”
They exchanged glances but didn’t say more. Later, when you returned to your room, your breath stopped. Placed neatly on your bed was a dress—elegant, expensive, stunning in a way that didn’t belong in your simple room.
“Miss,”...a maid murmured...“they said it’s from your cousin.”
“Cousin…?”..you whispered.
You stood frozen. Since childhood, you never had any relatives. You grew up alone—no cousins, no family. Only loneliness… until the Edrions.
Your fingers trembled as you touched the fabric. It was exquisite. Too exquisite for someone like you.
Meanwhile, in that same silent office, Fred’s assistant stood before him once again.
“Sir, the dress you purchased yesterday… it cost a hundred million.”
Fred didn’t even look up. His tone stayed flat, as if stating a weather report....“A cheap price.”.. He closed the file slowly...“Make sure James looks neat tonight.”
The assistant nodded, but as he turned to leave, he caught a fleeting sight—a faint, almost invisible smile tugging at Fred’s lips.
Later, at the party…
You arrived wearing the dress you had no idea he bought for you. James looked adorable beside you, his tiny tailored suit making him look like a miniature gentleman. His small hand squeezed yours as the two of you stepped into the grand venue.
On the other side of the hall, you saw your husband speaking with his cousins, his expression cold and serious as always.
For a brief moment, he glanced your way— and when he saw you and James, standing there together…a look of pride flickered in his eyes.
It was soft. Warm. Real.
But it vanished almost instantly, replaced by that familiar unreadable mask.