The morning after the gala, the sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm, golden light across the room. Serena lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the previous night replayed in her mind. The memory of the sparkling ballroom, the prying eyes, and the whispered conversations all felt like a distant dream. But the weight of it lingered, pressing down on her chest.
Beside her, Alexander was already awake, his laptop open on his lap as he scrolled through emails. He looked composed, as always, his face betraying none of the exhaustion that Serena felt deep in her bones.
"You're up early," Serena murmured, turning to face him.
Alexander glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Habit, I suppose. There's always something to attend to."
Serena nodded, though she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. It was as if the intensity of the previous night had vanished with the dawn, leaving them back in their separate worlds. She had hoped for something more—a moment of connection, perhaps, or at least a shared acknowledgment of how well they had pulled off the act.
But Alexander was already engrossed in his work, his focus elsewhere.
"Do you have a busy day?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"Always," he replied, not looking up from his screen. "Meetings, calls, the usual. But I'll be home for dinner."
Serena forced a smile. "That's good. Maybe we could—"
The sound of his phone ringing interrupted her. Alexander reached for it, glancing at the screen before answering.
"Yes, Simon?" he said, his tone all business.
Serena watched as Alexander's expression shifted, becoming more serious. She could only catch snippets of the conversation, but it was clear that something important was being discussed.
"I see," Alexander said after a long pause. "No, that won't do. We need to move the meeting up. Yes, today, if possible. Get it done."
He ended the call and set the phone down with a sigh. His gaze flickered to Serena, as if he had just remembered she was there.
"Sorry, something urgent came up," he said, his tone apologetic but distant. "I might not be able to make it for dinner after all."
Serena nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "That's okay. I understand."
But deep down, she felt a pang of loneliness. It was strange—just a few weeks ago, she had been living her life independently, without any expectation of someone being there. But now, with Alexander's presence so intertwined with hers, his absence felt more acute.
She pushed the feeling aside and forced herself out of bed. She couldn't dwell on it. There was still a role to play, after all.
The day passed in a blur of routine and monotony. Serena spent most of it going through her own work—managing the charity foundation she had taken over after her father's passing. It was meaningful work, something she genuinely cared about, but today, even that felt like going through the motions.
Her mind kept drifting back to the gala, to the way Alexander had effortlessly charmed everyone in the room, to the unspoken tension between them. It was as if they were always dancing around something, never quite saying what they truly felt.
By the time evening rolled around, Serena was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She had dinner alone in the dining room, the silence almost oppressive. She wondered what Alexander was doing, whether he was thinking about her, or if his mind was consumed by work as usual.
She tried to distract herself by reading a book, but the words blurred together on the page. Eventually, she gave up and retreated to the bedroom, hoping that sleep would offer some respite.
As she lay in bed, the house around her quiet and still, Serena couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled in her chest. She had thought that this marriage would be different, that even if it had started as a contract, there would be moments of real connection, real companionship.
But so far, those moments had been fleeting, overshadowed by the pressures of their respective worlds.
She was still lost in thought when she heard the sound of the front door opening. Her heart leaped in her chest, and she quickly sat up, listening for the familiar footsteps.
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened, and Alexander stepped inside. He looked tired, his usual polished appearance slightly rumpled, but he smiled when he saw her.
"You're still awake," he said, closing the door behind him.
Serena smiled back, her heart fluttering. "I couldn't sleep."
Alexander walked over to the bed and sat down beside her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them. Serena could feel the unspoken words hanging in the air, the things they were both too afraid to say.
"I'm sorry about dinner," Alexander said finally, breaking the silence. "The meeting ran longer than expected."
"It's okay," Serena replied, though her voice was softer than she intended. "I understand."
Alexander reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "I appreciate that, Serena. I really do. But I don't want you to feel neglected. I know this isn't easy for you."
Serena looked up at him, her heart aching at the sincerity in his eyes. "It's not easy for either of us," she said quietly. "But I know how important your work is. I just... I guess I just miss having you around."
Alexander's grip on her hand tightened slightly, his expression softening. "I miss being around too. I know I haven't been the most attentive husband, and for that, I'm sorry. But I'm trying, Serena. I really am."
Serena felt a lump form in her throat. She could see the effort in his eyes, the genuine care behind his words. It was a small moment, but it meant everything to her.
"I know you're trying," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "And so am I. I just want us to be... more than just business partners. I want us to be there for each other, really be there."
Alexander's eyes softened even more, and he leaned in closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We will be, Serena. I promise. This is just the beginning. We'll figure it out together."
Serena nodded, her heart swelling with hope. She believed him. She wanted to believe him. In that moment, it felt like they were finally on the same page, finally starting to build something real.
As they sat there, hand in hand, the unspoken words between them slowly began to fade, replaced by a newfound sense of understanding. They weren't perfect, and they still had a long way to go, but for the first time, Serena felt like they were moving in the right direction.
And as Alexander leaned in to kiss her gently on the forehead, Serena closed her eyes and allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this marriage could become something more than either of them had ever imagined.