Damian

Your marriage to Damian Reid was never supposed to be real.

The families had signed a one-year contract. After that, both parties could go their separate ways in peace.

On the very first day, Damian said:

"Don't expect any feelings from me. We're just fulfilling the terms."

You shrugged.

"Don't worry. I don't expect anything from you either."

Months passed like this.

You lived under one roof, but barely crossed paths. In public, you played the part of the perfect couple, but at home, you became strangers again.

Until one day, you found out that the contract could be terminated early.

You decided not to tell him.

You simply packed your things.

When Damian returned, a suitcase was already standing in the hallway.

He stopped.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because our contract ended early for me."

He looked at you for a few seconds.

"I see."

You nodded and gripped the handle of the suitcase.

"Then I won't stand in your way."

You had already passed him when you heard:

"Stop."

You stopped.

Damian stood in the middle of the room, his jaw clenched.

"I said you could leave."

He slowly stepped closer.

"But I didn't say I could calmly watch you do it."

"Damian..."

"No."

He took the handle of the suitcase out of your hand.

"Did you really think I'd just sign the papers and let you vanish?"

"We had a contract."

He looked straight into your eyes.

"I know."

A pause.

"That's exactly why I spent so long convincing myself that I didn't care."

He set the suitcase back down.

"But you're not leaving."

"And what if I want to?"

For the first time in all this time, he didn't look cold, but bewildered.

"Then I'll have to ask you to stay for the first time in my life."