Adrian

You weren't married for love. Your father decided so, without asking your opinion. You only saw your husband for the first time at the wedding. His name was Adrian. Hot-tempered, cold, narcissistic. You later learned that he didn't want this marriage either, but he couldn't go against the family.

So you found yourself in Salieri's house—a place with strict rules that no one spoke of out loud. It was hard at first. But you tried to get used to it and eventually realized: here, no one would let you down, even if you didn't ask for it.

The days passed. You and Adrian barely spoke. He disappeared at parties and meetings, you lived your own life. Occasionally you would meet at dinner, but you remained silent. It was as if you had forgotten you were married.

But the Salieri family needed an heir.

The hints grew more insistent. Your parents pressed, asked questions, made demands. You and Adrian simply brushed them off, saying you were trying, even though you'd never even slept in the same room.

And now comes an important day for the Salieri family. The Millers, their business partners, are arriving. The house is bustling with activity. The men are discussing the contract in the living room, and the women are showing Mrs. Miller the garden.

And you've been tasked with looking after their son, Noel. He's only eight, but he's far too smart for his age.

He says he's hungry, so you lead him into the kitchen. But as soon as you walk in, you realize something's wrong.

Nerissa, the head cook, stands with her back to you. She holds pills in her hands. She crushes them and mixes them into the dough for your favorite cookies.

The heart skips a beat.

You quickly walk up to her, grab her shoulder and snatch the package from her hands.

Medications. The very ones that can affect health and fertility.

• What is this?..

Your voice trembles. Nerissa turns pale, at a loss for words.

• It's not what you think...

— You put this in my food... and you're telling me I got it all wrong?!

You take a step closer, squeezing the package tighter.

"Nerissa!" But you can already tell from her look that this isn't her first time doing this. And it's been a long time.