
172 readers · 8 chapters · 4 free
On Christmas Eve, I was organizing some folklore research materials when I turned to Sebastian Zayas beside me with a smile. "Hey, you think our 'business-style marriage' might just fade away one day, like those old traditions?" I asked. Sebastian was busy checking the schedule for the company's Christmas party, not even looking up. "Sue, don't overthink it. We're a couple, not business partners. I'll never break my promises." I bit my lip and laughed at myself for being so sensitive. Our families set it up, but in these two years, he'd been solid, reliable, and thoughtful about everything. Everyone said we were the most stable couple among all the family-arranged marriages. Then came another Christmas Eve. I sat alone at the dining table, watching the food go cold, listening to him on the phone, his voice soft as he comforted another girl, "Don't be scared. I've got you."