The temperature had dropped sharply these past few days, and Ryan had been coming home later and later.

But I had no right to ask anything of him, even though we were about to be married.

He was paying off my mortgage, covering my tuition, and even my life... was something I owed to him.

So, I had absolutely no room for even the slightest rebellion.

I stared at the food on the table, debating whether I should heat it up again, when Ryan finally came home.

He casually tossed his suit jacket onto the hook by the door,

He leaned slightly toward me, and smiled as he said, "Help...