On my wedding night, I crawled under the bed, my veil still caught in my hair, giggling – one last silly prank before I became a wife. The door cre:aked. My husband’s voice came through, warm… then my mother-in-law’s voice cut through like ice. “Have you given it to her yet?” she hissed.

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I let my body go limp before Daniel found me.

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He knelt beside the bed, his handsome face blurring into view as I kept my eyes half-closed. The same face that had trembled during his vows. The same mouth that had promised to protect me.

“Poor thing,” he murmured, brushing my cheek. “Too much champagne.”

His mother stood behind him in silver silk, arms folded, watching me like an expensive object being inspected.

“Do it now,” she said. “Before the staff starts cleaning.”

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Daniel lifted me onto the bed. I made my breathing slow and heavy, like I had no strength left. He tapped my face twice.

“Clara? Sweetheart?”

I didn’t move.

His mother smiled. “Perfect.”

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They placed papers on the bedside table. Daniel slid a pen between my fingers.