Stanley’s POV

The sound of Jessica’s voice is a constant buzz in the background. She’s talking—again—about her upcoming fashion show, how the biggest names in the industry are lining up to work with her, how she’s becoming the face of luxury fashion. I sit across from her in the private dining area, my fork lazily pushing around the food on my plate. I nod occasionally, pretending to be engaged, but the truth is, I’m not listening.

I stopped listening to Jessica a long time ago.

She’s always talking about herself, about her success, about how lucky I am to have her by my side. I don’t remember ever asking for...