The early morning light filtered through the tall windows of Logan's penthouse, casting soft, golden hues across the polished marble floors. Eva sat at the kitchen island, sipping her coffee, staring out at the city skyline with a sense of unease growing in her chest. The view was spectacular—luxurious even—but it always felt as cold and detached as her marriage to Logan.
In contrast, her boutique had become a warm, lively place full of possibilities. Business was finally picking up, and for the first time in a long while, Eva felt like she had something that was truly hers. She was regaining her footing, rediscovering a sense of independence. The orders for her custom fashion designs had increased, and her inbox was buzzing with inquiries from clients, many of whom were eager to collaborate with her for exclusive pieces.
But despite this professional progress, she couldn't shake the hollow feeling in her chest—her emotions for Logan still clung to her like a shadow, preventing her from fully stepping into the independence she was slowly carving out for herself.
She took another sip of her coffee, trying to focus on the day ahead. A meeting with an up-and-coming influencer was scheduled, and it had the potential to open even more doors for her business. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to direct her thoughts toward the boutique, they always found their way back to Logan.
Eva checked her phone, hoping for a message from him, some sign that he was thinking about her. But there was nothing. The only notifications she had were from clients and her assistant. She hadn't seen Logan much these past few days—he had been working late nights again, and she knew who he was spending those hours with.
Sophia.
Her name felt like poison in Eva's mind. It stung every time she thought about the woman who seemed to have a permanent hold over Logan. The woman who had always been in the picture, even before Eva had agreed to this marriage. The woman Logan still had feelings for, no matter how much he tried to bury them.
Eva set her coffee cup down with a thud, frustration bubbling in her chest. She hated feeling like this—helpless, trapped in a one-sided marriage where her emotions seemed to matter so little. It was a sharp contrast to the growing confidence she felt in her work life, where she was finally beginning to regain control.
The sound of footsteps broke through her thoughts, and she looked up to see Logan walking into the kitchen, dressed impeccably as always, though his expression was distant.
"Morning," she said, forcing a smile, hoping for some semblance of warmth from him.
Logan barely glanced at her as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Morning."
His tone was clipped, and Eva's heart sank. This had become their routine—brief exchanges, void of any real emotion or connection. She missed the man who had once been more present, even if their marriage had always been a contract. There had been moments, brief and fleeting, where she thought they might have a real chance at something more. But those moments had become fewer and far between, especially since Sophia had reentered the picture.
"Are you working late again tonight?" Eva asked, trying to keep her voice casual.
Logan took a sip of his coffee before responding, his eyes focused on the floor. "I have a meeting tonight, yeah."
Eva's stomach twisted. She knew what that meant.
"With Sophia?" she asked, her voice quieter, tinged with a vulnerability she hated showing him.
Logan hesitated for a split second, barely noticeable, but Eva saw it. "It's business," he said finally. "Nothing more."
She bit her lip, fighting back the surge of frustration and hurt that threatened to spill out. How many times had she heard that excuse? How many more times would she have to sit back and watch as he spent more time with the woman who held his heart?
"Right," she muttered, standing up from the kitchen stool. She couldn't sit here and let herself get swallowed by the same painful thoughts. She had a meeting of her own, and she needed to focus.
"I'll be back late tonight, too," she added, grabbing her bag. "The boutique's really taking off. I'm meeting with someone who might be able to help expand it even more."
Logan nodded, but his lack of enthusiasm was obvious. "That's good. I'm glad it's going well."
Eva searched his face for any sign of genuine interest, any sign that he cared about the success she was finding outside of their marriage. But his expression remained neutral, detached. It was as though he was barely aware of her efforts.
"Thanks," she said, her voice flat. She turned to leave, but before she stepped out the door, she paused, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. "Logan, do you even care?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
He looked up at her, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Care about what?"
"About us. About this... marriage." She gestured between them, her heart pounding in her chest. "Because sometimes, it feels like you don't even see me anymore. Like I'm just here for show."
Logan's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Eva thought she saw a flash of something—guilt, perhaps—but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "It's complicated, Eva," he said, his voice low.
"Complicated?" she repeated, her frustration bubbling over. "It doesn't have to be. You're choosing to make it this way."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated as well. "I never promised you anything more than this."
The words hit Eva like a slap in the face. She had known from the beginning that their marriage was a business arrangement, a contract. But hearing it so bluntly, in this moment, made it feel all the more real. And painful.
"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I thought maybe... I don't know. I thought things could change."
Logan's expression softened, but only slightly. "I'm sorry, Eva."
She didn't respond. Instead, she turned and walked out of the penthouse, her heart heavy with disappointment. As she rode the elevator down to the lobby, she tried to push the hurt aside, to focus on her business and the opportunities ahead of her. But no matter how much she tried, Logan's words kept echoing in her mind.
---
By the time Eva arrived at her boutique, she was feeling more determined. This was her space, her passion, and she wasn't going to let Logan—or her feelings for him—get in the way of that. The boutique had always been her escape, and now, it was quickly becoming her lifeline.
Her assistant, Rachel, greeted her with a smile as she walked through the door. "You look great today, Eva! We've got a lot of exciting things lined up. Your meeting with the influencer is at noon, and we've had a few more orders come in for custom pieces."
Eva smiled, though it felt forced. "That's great news. Let's make sure everything's ready for the meeting."
Rachel nodded, bustling off to prepare, while Eva walked toward the back of the boutique, her mind still swirling with thoughts of Logan. She couldn't let him consume her like this—not when she was finally finding her footing.
The hours flew by, and soon, Eva found herself sitting across from Lily Hart, the influencer who could potentially take her boutique to the next level. Lily was vibrant, enthusiastic, and exactly the kind of client Eva wanted to work with.
"I've been following your designs for a while now," Lily said, her eyes lighting up as she flipped through a portfolio of Eva's work. "Your style is so unique, and I love how personal each piece feels. I think we could create something really special together."
Eva felt a surge of pride at Lily's words. This was what she had been working toward—building something meaningful, something that was hers. And for the first time in a while, she felt a spark of excitement.
"I'd love to collaborate," Eva said, her voice more confident than it had been in days. "I think we could come up with something that really stands out."
The two women spent the next hour discussing ideas, brainstorming designs, and by the end of the meeting, Eva felt more invigorated than she had in weeks. Her business was growing, and it was something she could hold onto, something that made her feel like she was more than just Logan's wife.
But as the day wore on and she returned to the penthouse that evening, the familiar heaviness crept back in. Logan was still out, and the apartment was as quiet and empty as ever.
Eva sat down on the couch, staring at her phone, wondering if she should call him, ask him where he was, or if he was with Sophia. But what would be the point? She already knew the answer.
As much as she wanted to break free from the emotional hold Logan had over her, it wasn't that simple. She still loved him, despite everything, despite the coldness and the distance and the presence of Sophia. And that love was what kept her tied to him, even as her business—and her independence—flourished.
With a heavy sigh, Eva leaned back against the cushions, her thoughts drifting between the success of her boutique and the emptiness of her marriage. One gave her hope, the other made her feel lost.
And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to reconcile the two.