CHAPTER FIVE — “Nia's Career Opportunity” Nia stared at the email for two hours. She read it, closed the laptop, opened it again. Read it again. Closed it. Paced the living room. Made tea she didn't drink. Sat back down. Opened the laptop again. The words hadn't changed. Six

CHAPTER FOUR — “The Money Conversation” The next morning, Nia woke up before Zaire for the first time since the wedding. She lay still for a moment, listening to him breathe. His face was relaxed in sleep — no tension, no walls, no secrets. Just the man she fell in love with. But the conve

CHAPTER THREE — “The First Real Argument” Three days passed. Three days of quiet mornings, warm nights, and the kind of happiness that made Nia believe marriage might actually be easier than people said. They fell into a rhythm. Zaire made coffee first because he woke up earlier. Nia m

CHAPTER TWO — “Sunday Dinner Disaster” Nia woke up first. The morning light slipped through the sheer curtains, casting pale gold across the bedroom. She turned her head on the pillow and found Zaire still asleep, one arm stretched toward her like even in rest he was reaching. She watched

CHAPTER ONE — “The Quiet After the Celebration” The house still smelled like roses and vanilla cake. Nia stood barefoot in the middle of the living room, her wedding dress draped over the back of the couch like it was still catching its breath. The reception had ended hours ago, but her body