Chapter 21 : Tough Conversations

Seraphina's POV

I stared down at his hands, fingers coiled through mine. The warmth in his hands soothed me. Rough callouses scratched my palms, but that only made it feel more real. My heart felt tight in my chest, throat thickened with words that seemed so hard to say.

Words felt hard before, but now, my tongue felt swollen with the impossibility of it. I shook slightly, so afraid of hurting him.

"I-It's my business. Has nothing to do with you. It…I-It doesn't matter anyways," I stammered, withdrawing my hands to tuck them under my arms. Absolving myself of how his skin felt. My body whined at the loss of his warmth. I'd drag him down with me into the mess of my marriage.

I…I couldn't do that to him.

When I glanced up, his eyes clearly reflected the hurt. "How can I make you understand that's not true? How can I get through to you that it matters?"

I couldn't look at him. Couldn't feel the way his kind eyes seemed to see right through me. I fiddled with my wedding ring,