Chapter 3: The First Argument
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting golden stripes across the floor of the mansion. Amara stood by the breakfast table, stirring her coffee absentmindedly, her mind still tangled with the coldness of last night.
Adrian appeared in the doorway, impeccably dressed as always. His gaze swept the room, landing briefly on her before returning to his usual detached posture.
"Good morning," Amara murmured, trying to sound normal, though her voice betrayed a hint of frustration.
Adrian didn't respond immediately. He simply poured himself some tea, his movements precise and unbothered. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
Finally, Amara's patience snapped. "Do you always have to be so… cold?" she blurted out, unable to stop herself.
Adrian froze mid-pour. His dark eyes flicked toward her, sharp as a blade. "Cold?" he asked evenly, as if tasting the word for the first time. "I call it… disciplined."
"Disciplined?" she repeated, incredulous. "You barely even speak to me! You walk ahead as if I'm invisible, and you don't even try to understand me!"
Adrian set his cup down carefully, the clink of porcelain echoing through the quiet room. "Understand you?" he said slowly. "You agreed to this arrangement. You knew exactly what it was."
"Yes, I knew it was a contract," Amara snapped, her hands trembling slightly. "But I didn't expect it to feel like I'm living with a stranger… like I'm trapped in your world, and I don't belong anywhere!"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "You belong wherever I allow," he said coldly, and there it was again the icy distance that made her chest ache.
Amara's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "I don't want to just 'belong'! I want… I want some warmth, some kindness! Is that too much to ask?"
For the first time, Adrian's expression faltered. There was a flicker in his eyes—something fleeting and unguarded. But just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by his usual mask of control.
"You asked for this life," he said softly, almost inaudible. "Don't mistake my restraint for cruelty. Some things… are necessary."
Amara shook her head, stepping back. "Necessary? You call ignoring me and treating me like a shadow necessary?"
Adrian didn't answer. He turned, walking toward the door, leaving her standing there, breathless and frustrated.
The argument had erupted like a storm, leaving a charged silence in its wake. Amara sank into her chair, curling her fingers around her coffee cup as if it could anchor her to reality. She hated that even now, her heart thumped for someone who refused to meet her halfway.
Yet, beneath the frustration, there was a spark a challenge she didn't want to admit. Perhaps… if she could survive the coldness, if she could pierce through Adrian's armor, maybe, just maybe, she could find a life worth living in this gilded cage.