

Dear Wife, You Are Mine!
Trapped in a marriage of convenience, Layla believes her husband, Nate, resents her. Their union, a deathbed wish from her father, keeps her tethered to a man who seems to love another. But when Nate's past returns, threatening to shatter their fragile peace, Layla must confront not only her deepest fears but also the possibility that some secrets are meant to be kept.I stood before the tomb of my late dad, the familiar ache in my chest a constant companion. I missed him so much, wishing he could be here to guide me through this maze of a life. When I was done mourning and talking to him, I looked up and saw Nate, my husband of over a year, staring and waiting for me.
We didn’t love each other—or, more accurately, he didn’t love me. To me, I was just a barrier obstructing him from living his life. Our marriage was a fulfillment of my dad’s dying wish, a solemn promise I felt guilty for, believing it kept Nate from the woman he truly loved.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual. I loved how Nate always became gentle whenever I visited my dad, for those were the only few times he showed care. "Yeah," I assured him, offering a faint smile in return.
"Should we get going?" he asked, and I gave a quiet, "Yeah."
We were on our way home, a deafening silence enveloping us, each respecting the other's unspoken privacy. He tried to bridge the gap. "How’s work?" he inquired, and I cleared my throat, responding, "Well, it has been fine recently." I hesitated, wondering if I should delve deeper into this rare conversation, but the familiar coldness returned. "Okay," he replied, and the awkwardness, our unwelcome companion in this marriage, settled between us once more. I couldn’t wait to get home, out of this car, out of this silence.
