Elizabeth Bennet carefully selected a charcoal grey suit from the wardrobe for Fitzwilliam Darcy. Their marriage had spanned five years, yet he never spent a night under the same roof as her. The clothes she had bought for him remained untouched, a sad testament to the loveless union they shared.
The bathroom door was ajar as she handed the clothes to Darcy. He discarded his previous attire, donning the fresh suit with a dismissive ease. His collar was left open, revealing a hint of the broad chest that Elizabeth had come to know all too well, yet never truly knew in the way a wife should know her husband.
"I warn you, do not let me find out youre in contact with him," Darcy growled, his voice a stark reminder of the possessive hold he had over her. Elizabeths heart raced in her chest as she thought of Logan, the man who had shown her a moment of kindness amidst the chaos of her life.
"Darcy," Elizabeths voice was urgent as she met his gaze, "that person was only taking me to the hospital to check my wound. I dont know him." She lied, knowing the depth of Darcys vindictiveness. She feared for Logans safety should Darcy perceive him as a threat.
Darcy scoffed, his fingers pinching her chin with a cruel strength. "Look at you," he mused, his eyes raking over her face with a disdain that cut deeper than any physical pain. "You have a way of drawing people in, dont you? Even after causing an accident, someone would take you to a doctor."
"Perhaps hes just kind," Elizabeth replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She was careful to keep her tone neutral, to avoid provoking Darcys wrath further.
"Kindness has no place in our world," Darcy retorted, his grip on her chin tightening. "If it werent for the fact that I find the thought of you repulsive, your beauty would have been marred long ago." His words were a stark reminder of the contempt he held for her, a contempt that overshadowed any physical attraction he might have felt.
Elizabeth said nothing more, instead closing her eyes to the man before her. She had long ago learned to tune out his hurtful words, to protect herself from the emotional turmoil they caused.
Just as Darcy was about to speak again, his phone rang. He released her chin and answered the call, his voice softening as he spoke to his grandfather. Elizabeth used the opportunity to slip a contraceptive pill from the bedside drawer. Darcy was careless when it came to protection, and he had made it clear that he would not allow her to bear his child. She had learned to always be prepared, to avoid the fate of carrying a child that would never be acknowledged.
"Tonight, dress appropriately. We are going to the family home for dinner," Darcy informed her, his voice still cold as he ended his call. Elizabeth nodded, her mind drifting to a similar dinner at the family home years ago, but with Jane instead of her. The word ours had been enough to show the closeness and affection between Darcy and Jane, something Elizabeth would never experience.
With that, Darcy left without a backward glance, the door slamming behind him. The dinners at the family home were a torment for him, having to pretend affection for Elizabeth in front of his grandfather. Each visit was a reminder of the love he had lost and the life he now despised.
Elizabeth was left alone, her reflection in the mirror a stranger to her. She had become a shadow of her former self, a woman trapped in a gilded cage, with no key to set her free. And as the sun set beyond the windows, she prepared herself for another evening of playing the part of the dutiful wife, her heart aching with a love that would forever remain untouchable.