Mikael stood hesitantly at the door of the hotel room, his expression stoic yet holding a touch of vulnerability that only she could notice. While he had initially felt reluctant to accept the invitation, the need to see her had become too powerful to ignore. His emotions were a tangled mess of longing and resignation, knowing that the upcoming conversation would likely touch on the subject of her soon-to-be marriage to another man, but he had to be there.

His feelings for her were deep and unwavering; Mikael had always treated her with the care and tenderness she deserved, more so than how Christopher did. He could see the love in her eyes whenever she was with Christopher, it stung deeply, especially when Mikael had been close to her and had held her hand, making her smile. He had even been fortunate enough to kiss her twice on the lips. However, he accepted that he could never be the one who she would marry, even though he wanted nothing more.

In an arranged marriage with Maral, Mikael's heart belonged to another. He found no passion or love with her; his thoughts constantly turned to her. He couldn't help but fantasize that it was her hands, her kisses, her touch, and her body that replaced Maral. Every moment spent with Maral felt like an unwanted duty, a pale imitation of what he truly craved. But his parents, set on the arranged marriage, had left him without a choice, even when Mikael confessed his love for another, his mother refused to listen.