Bella and Ethan returned home, feeling more comfortable and at ease with each other. They spent the evening relaxing and unwinding enjoying each other's company.
As they settled in for the night, Bella changed into comfortable clothes and the servant made them a warm and soothing tea. They sat together on the couch, sipping their tea and chatting quietly.
The tension and awkwardness of their initial meeting seemed to be fading away, replaced by a growing sense of friendship and understanding. They talked about their interests, hobbies, and dreams, finding common ground and shared interests.
As the night drew to a close, Bella felt a growing sense of unease. She had been trying to push the thought aside, but now it was unavoidable: she would have to share a bed with Ethan.
She felt a flutter in her chest as she thought about it. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ethan; it was just that she wasn't used to sharing a bed with anyone other than ken. let alone a stranger she had married out of convenience.
Ethan seemed to sense her tension and cleared his throat. "Hey, Bella? If you're not comfortable sharing the bed, I can sleep on the couch."
Bella hesitated, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. She didn't want to be a burden, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
"It's okay, Ethan. I'll be fine," she said finally, trying to sound convincing.
Ethan nodded, but his eyes lingered on hers as if searching for reassurance. "Okay, if you're sure."
As they got ready for bed, Bella's heart raced with anticipation. She couldn't believe she was doing this. Sharing a bed with a stranger. What had her life come to?
Ethan got into bed beside her, his movements gentle and cautious. Bella lay stiffly trying not to touch him, her body tense with anxiety.
As they lay there, the silence between them grew thicker punctuated only by the sound of their quiet breathing. Ethan didn't try to touch her or initiate conversation, seemingly sensing her unease.
Bella's mind raced her thoughts a jumbled mix of fear, uncertainty and embarrassment. She couldn't believe she was sharing a bed with a stranger even if it was just a sham marriage.
As the minutes ticked by, Ethan's breathing slowed and he drifted off to sleep. But Bella remained wide awake her body rigid and unyielding, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
She felt trapped, caught in a situation she didn't want to be in. But she knew she had to make the best of it for Ken's sake and for her own.
As the night wore on, Bella's stiffness slowly began to fade replaced by a weary exhaustion. She eventually drifted off to sleep her body still tense, but her mind numb with fatigue.
Ethan woke up to find Bella sleeping peacefully beside him, her face relaxed and serene. He gazed at her for a moment taking in the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the soft curve of her lips.
For a moment he forgot about the arrangement, the sham marriage and the circumstances that brought them together. All he saw was a beautiful woman, vulnerable and trusting, sleeping beside him.
He felt a pang of tenderness, a sense of responsibility to protect and care for her. He reached out a hand hesitated, then gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
Bella stirred her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him disoriented, then smiled softly. "Hey," she whispered.
Ethan smiled back, his voice low. "Hey. Go back to bed, its still early okay?"
Bella nodded, her eyes drifting shut again.
Ethan watched her for a moment longer, feeling a sense of connection, of intimacy. Then he lay back, his eyes closing, his heart beating a little faster.
Ethan woke up early, his mind racing with thoughts of Bella. He couldn't shake off the feeling that had been growing inside him since they met. He had been with many women before, but none had ever made him feel this way.
He felt a sense of unease, a turmoil in his chest. He didn't know how to process these emotions or what to do with them. He had always been in control, always knew what he wanted. But now he felt lost.
He threw off the covers and got out of bed, pacing around the room. He couldn't believe he was feeling this way about a woman he had married out of convenience. It didn't make sense.
But as he thought about Bella, he knew it wasn't just about the arrangement. It was about her kindness, her beauty, her strength. It was about the way she made him feel when they were together.
Ethan stopped pacing and looked out the window, his mind made up. He knew what he had to do.
Ethan decided to keep his feelings to himself, unsure of how Bella would react. He didn't want to complicate their arrangement or risk losing the connection they had formed. So, he made a conscious decision to distance himself from her, to avoid her as much as possible.
He started by changing his routine, leaving the house earlier and returning later. He stopped joining her for meals, and instead ate alone in his study. He avoided conversations with her, and when they did speak, he kept it brief and superficial.
Bella noticed the change in Ethan's behavior, but she didn't know what to make of it. She thought maybe he was just busy or stressed so she gave him space.
As the days went by, the distance between them grew. Ethan felt like he was losing his chance to connect with Bella, but he didn't know how to bridge the gap. He felt trapped in his own emotions, unsure of how to express them.
The silence between them became thicker, heavier, until it felt like a physical presence in the room. Ethan knew he couldn't keep this up forever, but for now it was the only way he knew to protect himself from getting hurt.