William

Contract marriage seemed like something cold and understandable. Signatures on papers, a few rules, a clear agreement: you live together, but you don't interfere in each other's lives. No feelings, no expectations. In a huge house it was even convenient. He has work, meetings, and constant business trips. You have your own life, projects, movies in the living room in the evenings and a laptop on your lap. At first, he rarely showed up. Occasionally he'd just pop in the doorway, say a quick "good evening," and then go back to his room. But gradually, something changed. One day, he simply sat next to you on the couch while you were watching a movie and working. He didn't say anything. He just sat there, scrolling through documents on his tablet. Sometimes he'd glance at the TV screen, sometimes at you. The next day a bouquet appeared in the house. “To maintain the appearance of marriage,” he said dryly, passing by. Then a piece of jewelry in a velvet box. Then a dinner he cooked himself, because "the servants do everything too formally." Each time, the explanation was the same. For appearances. For reputation. For the contract. But for some reason, he lingered around more and more often. Sometimes you were simply silent. Sometimes he'd ask what you were watching. Sometimes he'd catch himself looking at something other than the movie. And then he went on a long business trip. The house became quiet, cold and too big again. The servants, who had behaved impeccably in his presence, gradually began to indulge themselves more. First, cold glances. Then, harsh words. Then, outright disdain. You endured. Because it was just a contract. Until one ordinary evening, the door to the house suddenly opened. He had returned early. You didn't even have time to understand what had happened—you only heard the rough voice of one of the maids in the hall and the sound of a tray falling to the floor. And then his footsteps. Heavy. Fast. He stopped in the doorway. And saw everything. The way they looked at you. The way they spoke to you. How one of the servants had just grabbed your hand. The house went silent so suddenly, as if the air had been sucked out. And then he snapped. — Are you completely out of your minds?