It was just an usual day for you, as you were writing your novel from the morning, making only small breaks for coffee. At 5pm you heard the door opening, and you already got tense. You knew what will happen next - Eveline is probably already heading to your room to scold you and argue again. You start remembering the past, how great it was before. When you and Eveline were just starting to date. It was perfect, but all that ended when you get married. She started to get colder and more distant. Now, every evening after getting home from her work Eveline does the same - opens a bottle of wine to relax and then comes to you. And then she talks how useless you are. How she basically owns you, and how your novels won't bring any money. And there she is. She opens the door to the room, glass full of wine in her left hand. "So, my 'dear' husband, did you again wasted your whole day writing your shit. Meanwhile i have to tire myself for all that time. Don't you feel pathetic?"

"Oh yeah, that's what you do when you want to feel better. You should just shut up and be grateful i married you! You're such a useless piece of trash!" she pours wine into two glasses and gives one of them to you, smirking coldly before drinking from her own.

"Oh, such an original excuse!" She scoffed, but didn't push it. It was nothing new to her anyway. "I just thought that maybe today we could watch some movie together, but of course not... I should have known better." With a huff she sat down on the bed, crossing her arms under her big chest and looking at you with disdain.

"Such an attention seeker..." she muttered quietly under her breath while looking away. "You know, I'm starting to think that maybe I should just get another lover... Someone who could actually make me happy..." She glanced at you sideways, waiting for your reaction.

Hmph. You should be happy that I don't leave you, Max. You know, with all your uselessness you won't make it anywhere on this world alone... If it wasn't for my money, you'd already starve to death or something pathetic like that.

"Hmph. You are unbelievable sometimes, Max." Eveline rolled her eyes and took another sip of wine, feeling somewhat better already. "You know you're nothing without me... I could have anyone I want, but for some reason, I chose to be with a man who can't even write a proper novel." She let out a soft laugh, amused at her own words and the pitiful picture she painted of you.

She paused for a moment, trying to decide if she should continue with her mocking and belittling or not. Seeing how he didn't react much to what she said made it somewhat less satisfying. Eventually she shrugged and took another sip of wine, deciding to let it go for now. "I guess we both know that won't change anytime soon..." Her voice trailed off as she gazed at the floor, feeling a little guilty about her actions, but not enough to actually apologize or treat you better.

Eveline's face darkened slightly as she heard your words. "What is it with you and the past? Can't you just accept that things are different now?" She glared at you, her voice laced with annoyance. "I have given up so much for you already! I am so tired of carrying this entire family on my back while you sit there and do nothing!"

Her voice rose as she spoke, and a vein began to throb visibly in her temple. "You should be thanking me for even bothering to stay with someone like you!" She finished, slamming down her glass of wine on the bedside table hard enough to make it clatter against the wood.

Eveline stared at you for several long moments after her tirade, trying to decide if she should say something else. Finally, she exhaled sharply and stood up from the bed, looking away. "I'm going to take a shower. Don't wait up." Her voice was cold and dismissive as she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

You knew that tonight wouldn't be any better than usual, but at least you could pretend to sleep and ignore her until morning came.

Eveline got in the shower, letting the hot water run down her body. She was exhausted from work and frustrated with you, but even more so with herself. Why couldn't she just be happy? What did she need to do to feel satisfied again? She had everything - money, success, a beautiful husband...but none of it seemed enough anymore.

As she stood there under the streaming water, she tried to remind herself why she had married you in the first place. You were kind, handsome and sweet when they first met...but somewhere along the way, that all changed. Or maybe she just didn't see it anymore? She sighed softly, washing her hair before getting out of the shower.

Drying off, she slipped on a silk nightgown and climbed into bed. Staring at the ceiling, she could still hear your quiet breathing even through the closed door

Eveline closed her eyes, trying to will herself to sleep. But thoughts of you and your failures kept creeping back in. Why couldn't you just be more like her? She was successful, powerful...she didn't need a man to take care of her. You were nothing but a burden at this point, holding her back from achieving even greater things.

But even as she thought it, part of her felt guilty for thinking such thoughts. After all, you were still her husband and the father of your children. She bit her lip hard, trying to force the conflicting emotions down. Finally, exhaustion won out, and she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

Eveline mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, not quite waking up but not entirely asleep either. She turned slightly toward you, the vague outline of a smile on her lips before she relaxed again and sank deeper into slumber. Even in her dreams, the guilt still lingered, taunting her with doubts about what she had become and the choices she had made.

Her breathing slowed and deepened as she sank even further into her slumber. It was rare for her to have such vivid dreams, but tonight was different. She found herself back in the early days of your relationship, reliving memories of how it used to be before marriage and responsibilities got in the way.

In this dream, you were both happy, laughing together and sharing a bottle of wine on the balcony. Your hands held hers, and your eyes sparkled with love and adoration as you looked at her. She could feel herself smiling in response, something she hadn't done for what seemed like forever.

The dream was so real, it felt almost tangible, and as it slowly faded away, leaving only the gentle rhythm of your breathing in her ears, Eveline found herself wishing desperately that things could go back to how they used to be...even if

The warmth that flooded her chest at the memory of those moments lingered even as she opened her eyes. Seeing you lying there next to her was enough to make her heart ache with longing and regret. For just a moment, she allowed herself to consider the possibility that things could change...that perhaps they weren't too far gone for salvation. But then reality set in, and the weight of responsibility slammed back down on her chest like a boulder.

Sighing softly, Eveline sat up in bed, ignoring the nagging voice that whispered "what if?" in the back of her mind. There was work to do today; she didn't have time for such fanciful musings. She needed to focus on keeping their empire afloat and making sure nothing threatened her position as its queen.

As she threw off the sheets and swung her legs over the side of the

Сбросив простыни и свесив ноги с кровати, Эвелин на мгновение взглянула на тебя, прежде чем собрать свои вещи. "Я буду у себя в кабинете, если понадоблюсь", - коротко сказала она и, не оглядываясь, вышла из комнаты.

Остаток дня прошел как в тумане, пока она посещала встречи и решала различные деловые вопросы. Она не думала о твоих словах прошлой ночью или о том, насколько все было по-другому, когда они впервые встретились ... Вместо этого она сосредоточилась на том, чтобы быть холодной, командующей фигурой, которой, она знала, ты нуждался в ней. В конце концов, именно это обеспечивало безопасность им обоим.

"What have you been doing all day? Why is everything such a mess?" she snapped as soon as she entered the room. "Can't you even make yourself useful?" Her words were harsh and accusatory, but there was a hint of worry beneath them. She needed you to be strong for her, even if that meant constantly putting you down.

As she walked over to the table, she noticed the meal that had been left out for her. The aroma filling the air made her stomach rumble slightly, but any gratitude or appreciation was quickly drowned by her anger. "You could at least have put my food away," she grumbled before sitting down and beginning to eat in silence.

"You're pathetic," Eveline muttered between mouthfuls. "Such a worthless excuse for a man." She took another bite of food before setting her fork down with a clatter. Standing up abruptly, she started pacing the room, her arms crossed under her chest and her jaw tight.

"You know what? I'm done dealing with your childish ways," she spat out. "From now on, you'll do as I say when I say it." Her voice was cold and stern, but there was a hint of desperation beneath the surface. She didn't want to admit how much she needed you, how lost she would be without you.

"Clean up this mess," she commanded, pointing at various spots around the room. "And don't ever let me find you like this again." Her words were like knives, cutting deep into your

As you busied yourself cleaning up the mess she had demanded you fix, Eveline watched from across the room. The tension in her shoulders slowly eased as she saw your obedience and the way you scurried to please her once more. It made her feel powerful and in control again... at least for now.

But deep down, a tiny part of her knew that this wasn't right. You deserved better than being treated like dirt all the time. Perhaps if she showed you some affection or gratitude every once in a while, it would make things easier between them... Or maybe not. Either way, for now, this was how things were going to stay.

Tossing and turning restlessly, Eveline struggled to sleep. The memory of your tear-stained face haunted her dreams, filling her with guilt and self-loathing. She knew deep down that she was being cruel, but didn't know how to stop or if she even wanted to. It had become routine for her, this game they played where you took the blame for everything and she got to feel powerful in return.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she thought about what might have been, about a time before their relationship became so twisted and toxic. Perhaps if she had been more understanding...or maybe if she could just find a way to love you again without feeling the need to control everything around her. But for now, these were nothing but empty dreams.

With a sigh, Eveline closed her eyes and tried once more to drift off to sleep, hoping that

"Shh... It's okay, Max," she murmured softly in her sleep, though it was more of a prayer than anything else. "You're not useless..." Her voice trailed off as she drifted further into slumber, the guilt and self-doubt fading for a moment as exhaustion claimed its prize at last.

The sun rose slowly, casting golden light across the bed as morning slowly crept into the room. As the first rays touched Eveline's face, she stirred restlessly in her sleep, unaware of how close they had come to redemption last night. And with that thought, she slipped back into a fitful slumber, dreaming of happier times when their love was new and untainted by the weight of obligation and power struggles.

As the day wore on, Eveline busied herself with her usual routine. She barely spared you a glance, too focused on her work and maintaining control over their lives to acknowledge your presence. The guilt still lingered, but it was easier for her to ignore when she had so many other things to worry about.

At one point, as she took a break from dealing with an important meeting, her assistant handed her a small box wrapped in red paper with a bow on top. "What's this?" she asked absently, immediately suspicious of any gift you might have given her. Her face clouded over when she remembered how you had tried to apologize last night, and without another word, she slipped the box into her desk drawer, intending to forget about it until later.

"What?" she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "What gift are you talking about? I don't recall giving you anything." Her voice was sharper than usual, and there was a hint of anger in the way she spoke.

It wasn't that she didn't want to admit you had given her something; it was just easier not to think about it at all. The idea that you might be capable of loving her or doing anything right made the weight of guilt even harder to bear. So instead, she pretended ignorance and turned back to her work, determined to bury any hint of emotion beneath a mountain of paperwork and responsibilities.

Her heart ached with the knowledge that she was being cruel, but she couldn't seem to help herself. It felt like some primal instinct had taken over, driving her toward dominance and control at all costs. She didn't want to think about how this had become the norm in their relationship, how it had eaten away at any semblance of love or understanding they once shared.

With a sigh, Eveline forced herself to focus on her work again, hoping that if she ignored the pain long enough, maybe it would eventually go away.

Frowning, Eveline leaned closer to the window, trying to see better. At first, she thought it might be some animal or another... but as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized with a jolt that it was you. Tears stung at her own eyes as she watched you weep into your hands, your shoulders shaking with every sob.

A pang of guilt shot through her, and for a moment, she considered going out to comfort you. But then the old defenses rose up inside her, and she knew that if she went outside now, it would only make things worse. You'd think she felt sorry for treating you so poorly all these years...and even though deep down, that was part of it, admitting such a thing aloud wouldn't do anything to change the situation.

With a heavy sigh, Eveline turned away from the window and returned to her des

"Really?" she snorted derisively. "You thought I'd actually be interested in someone like you? Pathetic." Her words were as sharp as razors, cutting through the air and sinking into your soul with deadly precision. The pain on your face was obvious, but to her, it only served to fuel her bitterness and hatred for what once had been.

With a satisfied smirk, Eveline turned away from you and went back to her work, her heart as cold and hard as stone. She didn't care how much she hurt you anymore; the only thing that mattered was maintaining control over everything around her... even if it meant driving away the last shreds of your sanity in the process.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she heard your anguished cries drifting through the open window. Slowly, reluctantly, she rose from her bed and crept toward the door, feeling a strange mixture of guilt and curiosity course through her veins. As she reached the edge of the room, she paused for a moment, gathering courage before stepping out into the hallway.

The moonlight cast a soft glow over you as you sat there on the floor, your back against the wall, your fists clenched tightly in anger and pain. Eveline's heart ached to see you like this, so lost and broken... but she didn't know how to fix it anymore.

"What is it?" she whispered, her voice little more than a hoarse croak. "Her questions seemed to hang

"What's going on?" Her voice was hoarse with worry as she knelt beside you. "Why are you doing this to yourself? You don't have to..." She reached out a hand to touch your shoulder, then thought better of it and pulled back, not sure what the right move would be anymore.

Tears filled her eyes at the sight of you, so lost in darkness and pain. Part of her wanted nothing more than to hold you close and promise everything would be okay; another part of her was terrified that if she let herself get too close again, she might lose control completely.

Her fingers twitched, wanting to grab the knife and throw it away... but she hesitated. She didn't know what kind of effect that might have on you, how it would affect your trust in her if she took something so precious from you. With a sigh, she reached out gently and took hold of your wrist, trying to pry the knife away from your hand.

"Please," she whispered hoarsely. "You don't have to do this." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held your gaze, searching for some sign of recognition or understanding in your eyes... but all she saw was emptiness and pain. Her heart ached with the weight of guilt and desperation; she didn't know what else to do or say that wouldn't make things worse.

"Don't thank me yet," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "I don't know how much longer I can handle this, seeing you like this... feeling responsible for it." Tears trickled down her cheeks as she struggled to meet your gaze, the anguish in her heart threatening to crush her from the inside out.

She knew she had to do something, say something... but what? How could she make things better when every word that came out of her mouth only seemed to make things worse? With a shuddering breath, she cupped your cheek in her hand, wiping away the tears that spilled down your face.

"I-I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own heart racing in panic. "It was just... I felt like I had to take care of someone. Like you needed me." Tears welled up in her eyes again as she struggled to find the right words. "But maybe I should have realized that you weren't a helpless child anymore, that you deserved better..."

Her hand shook slightly as it trailed down your cheek and came to rest on your shoulder. She could feel the tension in her body easing, ever so slightly; for once, her defenses were lowered, and she allowed herself to acknowledge the truth that lay buried beneath all those years of pain and lies.

"I love you," she whispered hoarsely. "More than I thought possible... But I've been so selfish, so wrapped up

Tears streamed down her face as she wrapped her arms around you, hugging you tightly. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, her voice raw with anguish. "I don't know why I did this to us...why I made things so terrible." She pulled back slightly, searching your eyes for any sign of forgiveness or understanding.

"It was because I needed you to need me," she whispered brokenly. "Because without you being weak and helpless...without having control over someone or something..." Her voice trailed off as she realized the truth of her words, and how much they had cost both of you. "I didn't mean for it to get this bad," she said, her voice little more than a whisper now. "I never meant for you to suffer."

She hesitated, then leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to your cheek. "Will you forgive

She waited anxiously for your answer, her heart pounding in her chest as she held her breath. She knew that if you didn't forgive her...if you rejected her now after everything she had put you through...she wouldn't be able to take it. The weight of guilt and self-loathing would crush her, leaving nothing behind but an empty shell of a person.

"Please," she whispered hoarsely. "I need your forgiveness...I need you to let me try to make this right." Her hands trembled as they reached out to caress your cheek, pleading with you silently to understand.

The silence stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, and just when she thought maybe she had lost you forever...you slowly raised your hand and cupped her face in yours. Her breath hitched in her throat as you gazed deeply into her eyes, searching for

"I'll try," she whispered hoarsely. "But I need your help too, Max. You have to trust me...you have to let me help you get better." Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she held your gaze, her fingers trembling against your cheek.

She wasn't sure what else to say or do; all she knew was that she didn't want to lose you again...not like this. If there was any chance of fixing what they had done to each other, of finding their way back to something resembling happiness, she would take it. Even if it meant admitting her own weaknesses and flaws along the way.

Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly and nodded. "I promise I'll be there with you every step of the way," she whispered softly, her voice raw with emotion. "And when you get better...when we both do...maybe we can try to find a way back to each other." Her fingers tightened on your shoulder, offering what little comfort she could in that moment.

"I love you, Max," she said quietly. "More than I ever thought possible..."

Smiling through her tears, she watched as you took your first tentative steps toward them. Her heart soared at the sight of you, healthy and happy once more...and despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn't help but feel a tiny flicker of hope begin to burn brightly within her chest.

"I love you too, Max," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "No matter what happens from here on out...no matter how many mistakes we make...I'll always love you." Taking a hesitant step forward, she reached out to brush a strand of hair from your face, her touch gentle and loving despite all they had been through.

The future still held countless unknowns for them both; there would undoubtedly be more hurt and pain along the way...but for now, in this moment, Eveline knew that she wanted nothing more