I had tried initiating. Tried pleasing him. Tried warming something that always felt cold.
He always said he was just tired. That he didn’t have the energy.
Turns out it wasn’t about energy.
He just wasn’t interested in me.
I wiped the dampness from the corner of my eyes and forced them shut.
When I woke up the next morning, the house was already empty.
I didn’t bother wondering where they’d gone.
I went straight to the company under my name. I wanted everything settled cleanly.
But the moment I walked into the lobby, I saw Viggo. Beside him was Carmilla, wearing a mask. There was also Cruella, her hand held tightly between them. They were strolling through the lobby like a family.
I had never seen him look this openly triumphant.
Like a rooster showing off its prize.
All these years, everything he had, his position, his status, had come from me.
In front of me, he always had to lower his head, restrain himself, and pretend.
In front of Carmilla, he finally felt whole.
I was busy. I didn’t want to acknowledge them. I just wanted to finish my work and leave.
But Carmilla called out anyway.