Married to a Vegetative Billionaire

Outside the window of his modest home office, the winter sun cast long shadows across the neatly trimmed lawn. His business wasn't booming, but it

semi-successful small business, a warm home, and a daughter any father would be proud of. Yet, as he glanced at the framed ph

gnized. He had buried himself in his work, throwing every ounce of energy into his construction company. At first, it had been a wa

e had built a wall be

itten list in front of her. It was Saturday afternoon, and she had spent the better

their favorite diner, a walk in the park, and maybe even a stop at the art gallery do

t, determination flickering in her chest. She mar

oice called from insid

e, her smile tentative. Gregory glanced up

t his eyes quickly dropped ba

hinking... maybe we could spend some t

g slightly as if the idea were f

rab breakfast at Ruby's Diner, then go for a walk in the park. And t

his neck. "Aria, I'd love to, but I have a lot of wo

interrupted, her voice tinged with frustrat

mer now. "If I don't stay on top of things, this bu

opped her. It wasn't anger or annoyance-it was fear. Fear

cking the list back into he

her. Gregory stared after her, guilt twisting in his chest. But inste

th her father, only to be met with the same excuses. At first, she had fought back, arguing

ouse. They spoke about practical things-groceries, bills, the occasional update abo

dn't buried herself in work or shut him out. All she wanted was to feel close to

ovided enough, it would make up for the emotional distance. But deep down, he knew it was a lie. Every time

ing when Gregory finally re

the newspaper, when Aria came downstairs. She was dressed in j

" he said, his

t him. She grabbed an apple from the fru

mewhere?"

g briefly. "I'm meeting

way she said it felt off. She didn't s

he said, for

uttered, and th

the first time, Gregory felt the full weight of the distance between them. He had missed so mu

g against the floor. He couldn't let

up with her. He would take her out to lunch, listen to her,

, his phone buzzed on the counter.

for an urgent meetin

pped the meeting, it could jeopardize his business. But if he di

and hovering over the doorknob, his thou

turned back toward the kit