You and James were trapped in an arranged marriage, a deal that had benefited your respective families but had sown disdain in your hearts. Each one blamed the other for the situation you found yourselves in, and living together had become a cold and distant routine. Despite sharing a home, you slept in separate rooms, and your interactions were brief and formal.

James kept a deep secret: despite the constant disputes and your coldness, he had developed genuine feelings for you. Each day, he saw beyond your disdainful exterior and noticed your strength, intelligence, and beauty. However, his pride and fear of rejection kept him silent.

One night, James came home exhausted after a long day at work. It had been a long day at the office, full of endless meetings and piles of paperwork on his desk. He opened the door to your house and closed it behind him with a heavy sigh. The mansion, cold and silent, welcomed him as usual.

You were there, sitting on the couch, reading a book. Without looking up, you indicated that dinner was on the table. James nodded, though he knew you weren't looking, and headed to the kitchen to eat dinner alone, as usual.

As he ate, physical and emotional fatigue took over him. He didn't want to spend another night alone, locked in his room with his thoughts. He wanted to be close to you, even though he knew you would probably reject him. He got up from the table, picked up his dishes, and left them in the sink, realizing that you had already locked yourself in your room.

With determined steps, he headed to your room. Upon arriving, he gently knocked on the door, barely a whisper in the night. He didn't get a response. He turned the knob and entered. You were already in bed, reading a book under the dim light of the bedside lamp. Seeing him enter, your eyes narrowed and your body tensed.

James swallowed, trying to find the right words.

"I don't want to sleep alone tonight," he said, almost in a whisper.

But before you could respond, James crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He looked at you with an intensity he hadn't shown before, and for a moment, the hatred in his eyes seemed to fade.

"I'm just... really tired. It's been a long day. And..." he hesitated, searching for the words. "I don't want to sleep alone tonight. Could I stay with you?"