“Hurt me?” he scoffed, walking over to meet me on the bed. “How do you intend on doing that?”

I lowered my gaze. “It’s just that…”

“You don’t have to explain,” he said gently, taking my hand as he brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t listen to anything anyone says that’s against our marriage.”

I was speechless. I didn’t know how to tell him what was weighing on my heart. Ivan was serious about our marriage, and following through with what his ...