I had been extremely happy recently. It felt like nothing could ruin it, but of course, nothing ever lasts. Standing in front of the door leading to the dining room, I let out a deep sigh, my hand lingering on the doorknob. The duke had invited me to breakfast again, his persistent attempts at reconciliation both baffling and frustrating. I had hoped he'd just give up, that he would finally understand that some wounds take more than apologies to heal, but he didn't. His stubbornness only made me more resolute. Beside he made things worse after the stunt he pulled.
I groaned softly, bracing myself for another round of forced pleasantries and unspoken tensions. With a heavy heart, I opened the door, the hinges creaking softly in the quiet morning. There he was, sitting in the same position he had been the last time we had breakfast together, his posture impeccably straight, his eyes already fixed on me as if he had been waiting for this moment.
