Inside the bedroom of the Blackthorns, Lord Blackthorn stood by the full-length mirror, casually removing his coat. His eyes were fixed on a piece of paper - some sort of agreement - as he whistled a jaunty tune. His fingers moved to his tie, loosening it with practiced ease.
Matilda sat perched on the edge of their ornate bed, her posture rigid with tension. She cleared her throat softly before speaking, her voice carefully modulated to hide her anxiety.
"How was your journey, my lord?" she asked, a hopeful lilt in her tone.
"Fine," came the curt reply, Blackthorn not even bothering to turn around.
Matilda's face fell, a flicker of pain crossing her features. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to try again.
"And the business deals? Were they successful?"
"Mm," he grunted noncommittally, still focused on the paper in his hand.
This time, Matilda's eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of hurt and frustration evident in the tightening of her jaw. But she pressed on, determined to elicit some form of engagement.
"I hope the weather was agreeable during your travels?"
"Adequate," Blackthorn responded coldly, finally setting down the paper but still not looking at her.
Matilda's hands clenched in her lap, her knuckles turning white. A flicker of something darker - perhaps hate - flashed in her eyes before she quickly suppressed it. Her voice, when she spoke again, was strained with the effort of maintaining composure.
"Is there anything you need, anything I can do for you?"
Blackthorn finally turned, his gaze sweeping over her dispassionately. "No," he said simply, before returning to his whistling.
At this, Matilda's facade cracked slightly. Her lower lip trembled, and she blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. The pain in her expression was raw and unmistakable, mingled with a simmering anger that seemed to radiate from her very being.
Yet, even as she struggled with her emotions, Matilda straightened her back, lifted her chin, and made one last attempt.
"I've missed you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Blackthorn paused in his whistling for a moment, and for a brief second, it seemed he might respond. But then he simply resumed his tune, turning his back on her once more.
At that very moment, the mix of emotions on Matilda's face was heart-wrenching - pain, anger, and a deep, burning resentment all warred for dominance. She sat there, rigid and silent, tears finally spilling over onto her cheeks as she watched her husband's indifferent back, the sound of his cheerful whistling a cruel counterpoint to her silent suffering.
The tension in the room finally snapped. Matilda surged to her feet, her composure shattering like fine crystal.
"That's enough!" she cried, her voice raw with emotion. "I am your wife, Aldrich ! Your WIFE!"
Her sudden outburst cut through the room, silencing Blackthorn's whistling. Still, he didn't turn.
Matilda strode across the room, her steps fueled by months of pent-up frustration and pain. She reached out, grabbing his broad shoulder and using all her strength to turn his massive frame towards her. Even with her effort, it was clear he allowed the movement rather than being forced.
As she faced him, the difference in their statures was stark. Matilda had to crane her neck to meet his eyes, but what she lacked in height, she made up for in the intensity of her gaze.
"What in the hell is your problem, Aldrich ?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Why are you acting like I'm solely to blame for our situation? You've been gone for months - months! - and this is how you treat me upon your return?"
Her chest heaved with each breath, tears of fury glistening in her eyes. "Am I nothing more than a maid to you now? Some inconvenience to be ignored? Look at me, damn you! Talk to me!"
Matilda's hands were clenched at her sides, her entire body taut with the strain of finally releasing her pent-up emotions. The air between them crackled with tension as she waited for his response, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the man she had married.
Matilda, still standing before Aldrich , took a deep breath to compose herself. "Aldrich , please. We need to talk about this. Why are you acting so distant?"
Aldrich attempted to step around her, but Matilda moved to block his path. He let out a dark chuckle, shaking his head.
"Matilda, I've had a very long journey," he said, his voice low and controlled. "I've tackled and squashed rivals that go far beyond your women's committee disputes. Whatever you think this is, it's best you stop now before you truly upset me."
Matilda wiped her eyes, inadvertently smearing her makeup. She let out a humorless laugh. "I see now. I understand what the issue is. There's another woman, isn't there?"
Aldrich 's eyebrows shot up, and he let out a bark of laughter. He yanked his tie off forcefully, then stepped closer to Matilda, leaving barely any space between them.
"Another woman?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "Perhaps you could start by explaining to me why you hired another servant in my absence. A male servant."
Matilda's eyes widened in surprise. "Zafron? That's what this is about?"
"You didn't answer my question," Aldrich replied, his gaze boring into hers.