loving you was a mistake

The office was unusually quiet that morning. Mark sat in his private lounge with a cup of untouched coffee in his hand, staring out the glass wall that overlooked the Wilson estate gardens. The dew still clung to the roses, their petals fresh with morning promise yet all he felt inside was decay.

He hadn't slept much. After Aurora's emotional outburst the night before, she'd locked herself in the guest room and refused to speak a word to him. This wasn't the woman he married. It wasn't even the woman he knew a year ago.

He'd tried. Lord knew he had tried.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he muttered. The door opened to reveal Kim. Her elegance was effortless as always, though her eyes instantly narrowed when she saw Mark's disheveled appearance. His tie was loose, hair slightly unkempt, and his face drawn with exhaustion.

"Mark?" she said gently. "What's going on?"

He didn't answer at first. Instead, he stood up and walked over to the cabinet, pouring himself a drink something he rarely did this early in the day.

"I'm losing her," he finally said. Kim's heart skipped. "Aurora?" He nodded, downing the drink in one gulp. "She's not herself anymore. She lashes out at me over the smallest things. One minute she's fine, and the next she's blaming me for everything."

Kim stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She's hurting, Mark. This whole baby situation is taking a toll on her spirit."

I know, but what about me?" His voice cracked unexpectedly. "I'm hurting too, Mom. Every month we get that negative result, it kills me. And yet, I smile. I hold her. I tell her we'll try again. I don't pressure her. I never bring up IVF or adoption unless she mentions it first. I walk on eggshells just to keep her from spiraling."

"She's scared," Kim whispered. "Scared of being the one who disappoints you. And scared of what that might do to your love."

Mark sat down slowly, covering his face with both hands. "But that love… it's getting tired, Mom. And I hate that. I hate that I'm starting to feel resentment, like I'm being punished for something I can't control."

Kim exhaled slowly, her heart breaking for both of them. "She needs help, Mark. More than what you alone can give. And it's okay to admit that. But don't give up on her just yet. She's still in there. The woman who lights up your world she's just buried under fear and shame." He nodded slowly, silent tears streaking down his face.

Meanwhile, across town, Aurora arrived at Angel's mansion with a bouquet of lilies and a forced smile. Jaiden ran to her instantly, arms open wide. "Auntie Rora!" he beamed. She knelt and hugged him tightly, her eyes shutting as if she could breathe peace through his tiny arms. "I brought you flowers," she said to Angel as she entered the living room.

Angel raised a brow. "I'll accept them if you tell me why you look like you cried the whole night." Aurora laughed weakly and collapsed onto the couch. "You always see through me." Angel sat beside her, wrapping a comforting arm around her. "Because I'm your best friend. Talk to me."

Aurora hesitated, then sighed. "It's everything. It's Mark. It's me. It's this stupid idea of a child that feels more like a curse now than a blessing." Angel listened quietly, allowing her friend to vent. "We've been married three years, Angel. And I'm still not pregnant. I avoid events. I ignore messages. I cry before every dinner because I know someone will ask when the baby's coming. And Mark? He just smiles and says 'soon.' Like that fixes anything."

"You two need space to breathe," Angel said gently. "And you need to stop pretending you're okay when you're not. Depression wears many faces, Rora. Silence is one of them. "I'm not depressed," Aurora said quickly, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her. Angel said nothing. Just held her hand.

"I don't know how to be a wife anymore," Aurora whispered. "I don't even know who I am. Sometimes I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself. "Then let's find her again," Angel replied softly. "Together." Aurora leaned into her, tears sliding down her cheeks as Jaiden peeked out from the playroom, watching his mother hold her best friend close.

The silence that followed them home that evening was thicker than ever. Mark and Aurora barely spoke at dinner. They barely looked at each other. But both of them were screaming internally. Both of them were breaking in different languages.