Maelis’s POV
Breakfast in this house always had a certain awkwardness that came with it, but today it was suffocating.
I stirred a spoonful of honey into my tea, watching the golden swirl dissolve, while my gaze flicked between Kaelith and Celis.
She sat so still, back straight, hands folded in her lap like a child at church. Her hair fell over one shoulder in soft waves, and she kept her eyes on her plate.
Kaelith didn’t look at her. Not once.
He focused on his coffee, his toast, his phone, anything but his oh-so-perfect wife. His jaw was tight, expression cool, and the distance between them at the table felt like a chasm.
He must be sick of her already.
Mom always said men were patient at first. But boredom crept in. And when boredom came, cracks followed.
I let out a delicate
