The Envelope's Secret

"Blackmail?" Alice was taken aback. "What do they have against you?"

Andrew held Alice's hand between both of his hands gently and spoke with glassy eyes. "Alice, do you trust me?"

Alice nodded her head, looking at Andrew's face intensely.

"I'm holding something of immense weight, and I'm not yet ready to unveil it. Can we leave it unspoken?" Andrew's words were gentle, imbued with deep affection.

Even though Alice maintained a certain stiffness and was unwilling to let it go until she had the full story, she found herself swayed by Andrew's request once more. She was convinced he had a solid reason.

"Very well, I won't inquire further, but don't expect forgiveness just yet. You had your reasons, yet you could have confided in me."

"It's not the concealment of our marriage that bothers me, but the lack of explanation," Alice said sternly, turning her back to him once more.

Andrew let out a gentle sigh, a faint smile gracing his lips. "She doesn't know how to get angry or throw a tantru