The first rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of the Thorne mansion, illuminating its cold, opulent interiors. Evelyn stirred awake, blinking groggily at the unfamiliar surroundings. For a brief, blissful moment, she forgot where she was. Then the events of the previous day crashed down on her. The grand wedding, the tension with Augustus, his biting words… all of it came rushing back.

She sighed, sitting up in bed. If she was going to survive this marriage, she needed to focus on the things she could control—her work, her dreams, and her happiness. She refused to let Augustus dictate her life any more than he already had. 

---

Evelyn padded down to the kitchen, the cool marble floor sending a chill through her bare feet. The mansion was eerily silent, devoid of warmth or life. The staff had been instructed to stay out of sight unless summoned, leaving her alone in this cavernous space. 

After rummaging through the pantry, she decided to make breakfast. It was a small act of normalcy in a situation that felt anything but normal. As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, Evelyn found herself relaxing, if only slightly. 

She had just plated the food when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Augustus standing in the doorway, his hair slightly disheveled and his shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He looked as though he’d slept poorly, his sharp features etched with irritation. 

“Good morning,” Evelyn said brightly, trying to diffuse the tension. 

He didn’t respond, his piercing blue eyes scanning the kitchen before landing on the plates she had prepared. 

“I made breakfast,” she offered, gesturing to the table. “Figured it’s the least I could do.” 

Augustus crossed his arms, his expression cold. “I’m not interested.” 

Her smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. “Suit yourself. But it’s good. You might want to reconsider.” 

“I don’t need you to cook for me, Evelyn,” he said icily. “Let’s not pretend this is anything more than what it is.” 

Her chest tightened, but she refused to let him see her hurt. Instead, she shrugged. “Your loss.” 

She sat down and began eating, ignoring the way his presence loomed over the room. For a moment, he stood there, as though debating whether to say more, but then he turned on his heel and left without another word. 

Evelyn stabbed her fork into her eggs a little harder than necessary. *This is my life now,* she thought bitterly. 

---

As she finished breakfast and prepared to leave for work, Evelyn realized her car hadn’t been delivered to the mansion yet. She glanced at her phone, debating whether to call a cab, but the idea of dealing with strangers first thing in the morning felt exhausting. 

Instead, she decided to ask Augustus for a ride. After all, it wasn’t an unreasonable request—they were married, even if in name only. 

She found him in the foyer, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit. He was scrolling through his phone, clearly in a hurry. 

“Augustus,” she called, her voice hesitant. 

He looked up, his expression already annoyed. “What?” 

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “My car hasn’t been delivered yet, and I need to get to work. Can you drop me off at my office?” 

He scoffed, shoving his phone into his pocket. “I’m not your chauffeur, Evelyn.” 

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I wasn’t asking for a daily service, Augustus. Just today. It’s on the way to your office.” 

“I don’t have time for this,” he said curtly. “Figure it out yourself.” 

His words cut deeper than she expected, and for a moment, she was too stunned to respond. She had always prided herself on being independent, but this marriage had already stripped her of so much. 

“Right,” she said finally, her voice quieter. “Of course.” 

He didn’t even spare her a glance as he walked out the door. The sound of his car starting and driving away echoed in her ears, leaving her standing alone in the empty foyer. 

---

Evelyn called a cab and waited outside, her arms crossed as the chilly morning air bit at her skin. The mansion’s grand facade loomed behind her, a reminder of the gilded cage she now lived in. 

As the cab pulled up, she climbed in and gave the driver her office address. The ride was quiet, giving her too much time to think. 

The reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks. She was stuck in this marriage, bound to a man who seemed determined to make her life as difficult as possible. Her dreams of a loving partnership, of building a life with someone who cared for her, seemed impossibly far away. 

*Is this really it?* she thought, staring out the window as the city blurred past. *Is this my forever?* 

But she quickly shook the thought away. If Augustus wanted to be miserable, that was his choice. She wasn’t going to let him drag her down with him. 

--- 

The bustling atmosphere of her office was a welcome distraction. As CEO of Everhart Enterprises, Evelyn was used to making tough decisions and commanding a room. Here, she wasn’t just a woman trapped in a loveless marriage—she was a leader, a visionary. 

Her assistant, Mia, greeted her with a warm smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Thorne. Or should I still call you Miss Everhart?” 

Evelyn forced a smile. “Just Evelyn is fine, Mia.” 

Mia handed her a folder. “Here’s the agenda for today. The board meeting is at ten, and Mr. Sullivan is waiting in your office to discuss the new marketing strategy.” 

“Perfect,” Evelyn said, grateful to dive into work. 

For the next few hours, she immersed herself in meetings, presentations, and planning sessions. It was a relief to focus on something she could control, to feel like herself again. 

But even as she worked, Augustus lingered in the back of her mind. She hated how much his actions affected her, how his words replayed in her head. 

--- 

Across town, Augustus sat in his sleek office, a sprawling view of the city behind him. His assistant, Lucas, briefed him on the day’s schedule, but Augustus’s mind was elsewhere. 

He replayed the morning’s interaction with Evelyn, a pang of guilt tugging at him. He had been unnecessarily harsh, but he brushed the feeling aside. She had to understand that their marriage wasn’t real, that he wasn’t interested in playing the role of a doting husband. 

Katherine’s name flashed on his phone, pulling him from his thoughts. He answered, his voice softening in a way it never did with Evelyn. 

“Hey,” he said. 

“Hey, handsome,” Katherine purred. “How’s married life treating you?” 

His jaw tightened. “Don’t start.” 

She laughed. “Relax, Augustus. I’m just teasing. You know this doesn’t change anything between us.” 

He didn’t respond, his eyes drifting to the skyline. For the first time, her reassurances felt hollow. 

---

That evening, Evelyn returned to the mansion, exhausted but proud of the work she had accomplished. She found the house as cold and empty as she had left it, Augustus nowhere in sight. 

She poured herself a glass of wine and settled into the sunroom, her sanctuary in this unfamiliar place. As she sipped her drink and stared at the canvas she had been working on, she made a promise to herself. 

If Augustus wanted to hate her, fine. She wouldn’t waste her energy trying to win him over. Instead, she would focus on her career, her passions, and her happiness. 

And if he ever decided to see her for who she really was, it would be on her terms—not his. 

The thought brought a small, determined smile to her lips. She wasn’t giving up on herself, no matter how bleak things seemed. 

And so, the battle lines in their marriage were drawn.