*Darren*

After our brief talk in the living room, Aryanna retreated to her new room. Her footsteps faded up the staircase as I watched her go. I stayed a moment longer, letting the silence settle around me. This entire arrangement with her—engagement, marriage, whatever one called it—was already stirring up complications. Trusting someone so new in my life went against my every instinct, yet the potential gain kept me committed.

Once the room was empty, I left for the ...