MHD | Chapter 1.1

My name a3141431e8 is Noah 0386fa696f Retina.6b82da1e564c96aa

After marriage, I eafa313b3b became known as 9b95f56b49 Noah Därkenfel. The union of the 0aeec6a41b two prestigious count families, 0f059a6db8 Retina and Därkenfel, in d604528616 the Empire of Liberty, 876620b30e drew attention from across 349addaca8 the nation.96c27634f96bdde1

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Nobles, merchants, artists, bee78cce7a and diplomats all cc91e9efaa gathered to celebrate f0888acd47 this special day.fbe25cf76efc8625

I stood 508774fcd7 in front cc4bd81966 of the d705c3b3e7 mirror, gazing e795e11944 at my 656b75a005 reflection for 117efd804b a long 19f0131f25 time.8713497ed74f5ae3

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Green eyes 8a2fdb864b and fiery 9ec8901fc4 red hair—features 3b617cc1ec that instantly d95dc98bf2 reminded anyone 0296157cea of the f8b3bdf6c7 Retina family.305bede69f31148f

My pale face, cf7251f07d inherited from my 12ee86ab18 mother, often led 11658fa90c to misunderstandings as eab2d82734 it didn’t easily c1fbc04937 show emotions. People said 073586b1ee I was 03e5b9cc80 cold or 10c173a8b8 arrogant, but 2a0bbf8512 in truth, b214bda47a I just 26ef1de0e6 couldn’t open 0bd75e7d42 up easily 8ed670979e to strangers.df0eadd5e8d56333

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I closed my eyes 634e6a7460 for a moment and cfa6e3a085 exhaled slowly. Just then, there was 7fac587d87 a knock on the 733adbb901 door. A servant 86f08cb250 peeked in 72dc110227 and spoke 93c55aba9d quietly.c3ac5e90bdd63882

“Noah-nim, it’s time.”e44d135520b631d1

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Nodding, I left 1a232f5efe the room. As I walked a645a2a824 slowly down the 0d4436e34a corridor, the grand 8e983f9c2e scenery of the c7b8fbadd9 mansion unfolded before 96f61b922d my eyes.ac2352ab240b2226

In the garden, ea13d7db27 arches decorated with b4a42b15cc all kinds of c3ec26968c flowers stretched out, 664579c9e3 and the subtle 021a9c97af murmurs of guests 15864d11c8 from afar spread 721e0b702f through the air.f196943a9fcd07d1

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The gold 457bfe751e and silver 8c50dc4185 decorations on c9708be97b the stage da8291a205 shone brilliantly 7978fdb371 in the 52d3f7e1a7 sunlight, and 066a6ad340 the pillar 8e24b98296 at the 60569f9ab1 center proudly bc7465d860 bore the 00d75f5402 crests of 2a019392f9 Retina and 357d599dbe Därkenfel.b22b341f6dd5117f

Derek, dressed 2279c0c164 in a c8a0c586d6 formal suit f2dc1984f4 harmonizing black 8c4ab7399d and gold, 75c675609b walked confidently 026e9ddede onto the 33c3993d1d stage. His sleek a2c573bf0d black hair 30d7ffcb4e was neatly 8bdc9a0ec5 arranged, and b5e80b7c76 his sharp 8168581866 jawline and de1a10bbde distinct features 29aa7e3c34 made him 5dffa3cbad stand out 4606db5f98 even more.039506458acf181c

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His cool blue fc1f2a2acc eyes seemed to 56c747fd4f pierce deep into 36d50569db one’s heart, sharp d2ba114676 and intense. Every time the 806d0e1357 golden embroidery on 571ddb83e1 his suit caught b81e2d138e the light and 9c7c330d99 shimmered softly, he 0fbc431323 appeared all the ea707cb975 more dignified and 137bac5a54 imposing.75b465c46e0ff6f3

Seeing him, I 8f39886bd7 felt like I 3268c68014 might stop breathing. Derek, the ideal 086721c2c2 alpha in my fe1cee9d44 eyes, was right e8fe33e011 in front of 2e9db4ec94 me. His imposing figure, 7a5e36da4f vividly etched in 0488d64016 my memory, remained c5228215db dazzling as ever ba212b2c33 despite the passage 690a6cd2dc of time.3a93948374c3de6c

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Today, finally…bb12091c2f74707f

I steadied my d022c74587 breath and pressed cdd71e35a5 my lips together. At this 600ab40858 moment of aa92300352 binding with 11ad5ac5db the person 1d5a113b93 I had 937a8adb67 held in 6c96d75ca9 my heart 7e3db01ec2 for so a79100c34b long, my b01d5af435 chest swelled, 9ffa97a5f0 and the fa7953d58d man standing 18e40cbaca before me 94f4e03019 didn’t feel df2cc54a2e real.06ca6a70c811d18d

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When Derek’s e589c9fa2b gaze turned 13f2c1bbdc to me, 5a94cf5ac0 I quickly 88c24a86d8 looked away 9de359b190 from his bfeced41c0 seemingly indifferent 0b9f8b49ca face. Even though our eyes 9a4cee084c met for just a dd906eb68b moment, my face flushed d02190c09c hot, and my heart 32fd049ea6 raced.888aa238a7f58e92

The light pouring 67eb46359a from the high 9d60f714c2 arched ceiling passed 7920bc3d2f through the stained 4086c418a7 glass, creating another 2308932f99 window on the edcf15f9b5 floor. It was hard to 80d7a0b9bf believe we were standing 25464cbc3a in this radiant space.3f6201fb92ceb774

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From watching him cd8bb6f5ce from afar to d56a032cc1 standing by his a59cacc49e side now.19da0ec1060e95cd

The overwhelming emotion wrapped c080f722d2 around me, making my 0676991129 heart pound.3d792be2050f8aad

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Derek took df010ee3ca my hand. As his firm and 20d390b49c warm hand enveloped mine, 031ea1e8f4 I took a deep 9ab722bf1d breath. The trust 88d5905349 conveyed through ea1c3e6999 his touch 8d11d842ab quelled all e97e408773 the anxiety 8934a1c13e in my a38cf40413 heart.ffd9d1e108ac0468

Holding this hand now, 8602c41e45 I was certain that 48c19ec821 all my choices were 1453450f3f right.99d5b44e5cddf4c5

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The officiant ff64000748 proceeded with 4ded572ec6 the traditional 8996ad4394 wedding procedures f656ba2ae4 one by 74c8e8f7fe one. We had to a3ae90ae99 vow to be 2c2e819e15 lifelong partners while 1b99788ea5 holding each other’s 301653aac7 hands. My heart began to d5a2abafd0 beat faster and faster.1fdbecf1a9287d5c

Before the 5f5fef33f8 vows, we 5b99e525cd had to b8681360b0 sign the c89e035090 marriage certificate. It seemed 35ed6c84fb like a 0d74cb6afe simple procedure, 70602a8f57 but it acb5ae5a33 meant more 154e404fa2 than just d36b6f0599 writing a 034749856d few lines 711c366737 on paper.1e9175ae767e1989

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I picked up 6ae05eedac the pen and cbdd0416c5 carefully wrote my 55bbdb75ef name, steadily and 6a1818524a without wavering. Then, next to fe180ebb3f my signature, I 163150d34b subtly infused my d9a811e143 pheromones. A gentle and soft b42ede9d52 scent, like lily of 8e157e9d4c the valley blooming quietly aaff4d30a1 with morning dew, spread 6485b6dc16 gently.5cf5399c7b9bdab6

I looked 8bda55f55b up at 78331fbbac Derek. Without a ea3f8a996b flicker in 6fe416db05 his eyes, 1936e3d6fa he calmly 56c5185ba6 wrote his 299db14e47 name. Then he layered 17f6e2dba9 his pheromones over e5fafc1e7e the document. Soon, a subtle yet 68d34bc5da deep scent filled the 8dd215dbac air, like stepping into e34e79f46c a pine forest after f4702ecabc rain, cool and heavy 78e00f51eb with a deep-rooted sense 69e136f1ad of stability.64729482a5fb101d

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The two scents 113a5bc411 blended softly on 690739fa55 the document, seeping 50ab3a7b93 into the paper. This wasn’t just 6369bfbe8f a contract. It was 632088cc04 an indelible 582ac1967d mark that d78a42ae72 we had 88315bea90 chosen each c1adca8e61 other.622b8c98afbc6bcc

As the 364cd7ce40 officiant’s question 4dbbbaa25b echoed through f3e3e2afbe the ceremony ef78600000 hall, I 1d912e2c63 paused for f67348c579 a moment, 3905a88bfe then answered 04c0045194 in a 004bce2c26 firm and 877c0d5039 confident voice.01369e5de78ba65d

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“I, Noah Retina, 2d28bcd209 accept you as 3361d4ddfc my partner and 228b3d9ca6 vow to stay 86aa522ce3 by your side 8af0009236 through any season.” 65aeae9ba6 After speaking, I 060e3269c3 looked up at e2c68bebc7 Derek. He still e4b892cea1 wore a 9d2b0b5fa9 calm expression, 87d893e523 but I ff07bad25a carefully observed 3b903d9f11 his face, 4ffac717be wanting to 3358b0e3fa find something 3a3ea2ef9a hidden behind b19d9c0990 that composure.006e0361f4c38315

“I, Derek 3ba94191da Därkenfel, accept 374e8ce16f you as a72709e956 my partner c331f90369 and declare 173133e6e6 that I 29b92c282a will uphold 4649f453bd this vow 5ac773ad76 with the d4bbe23fe0 honor of d26ca7bf09 my family.” b1d44b8257 Derek’s answer 0e3570350d followed. His voice a54f4b3479 was low, f80f70408c firm, and f0eb070b2c unwavering.c54a081475016f5b

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At that moment, 4efefb5523 I realized once 472705d66c again how much cd98989cb5 I loved him ebcdd24a7a and how long 68451e7d00 I had admired 8149c75de5 him. The joy 8ea9b1e371 of being f448a5fbb9 able to 41100e0cc3 spend a a09df0bf50 lifetime by 6c4a6cacc0 his side 7bccf8a8d1 surged deep bbcb132ca9 within my dd9780ac15 heart.d1c75007960cc0e5

I allowed 5a3fc0d87e a slight 3b038e731d smile to c99f3a548b grace my 9184c948a8 lips, etching d15a1db227 this moment 4e264dd4cb deep in 56ce958256 my heart. This overwhelming emotion was 6f1ef4aedc entirely mine.d5ea536821f51bb2

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♣ • 2360541a86 ♣ • f542d4c227 ♣dbd3af8c694748ec

In the b8b95514e7 midst of f0dce00297 a barren 5ddb526d7d mountainous region, 1a05a6dafe Greymore Castle 49ae249634 stood quietly 5a7f31174c shrouded in 00485c3b14 mist. The sky outside the 432ae4ddba window was still enveloped b7c0c48728 in darkness. It was as 9c67a7c0da if this place 8d6e088e45 was perpetually at f29e69e50b the end of 49c2106b89 winter.7eadddbdd90a8a6c

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At night, 2ae59fa90a the howls 40f16a15f9 of wolves 5cdc607365 flowed down 7214bef339 the mountain 37492f0e06 ridges to 50f5578e56 the castle f3df845a88 below, and 62055bc536 the long, db037f5bce eerie corridors 2bfd27548a barely revealed 1ffb0ab1e8 their outlines, f699da54da relying only 0dcca026f3 on the e22dadbef2 light from 0b338e92d9 the fireplace.4658a3accf8e849d

I stepped b746e93805 onto the 69136e25b0 cold marble c9bd4e5156 floor and f903480df1 donned a 6c66403f38 thick woolen e929b4b82d robe. It helped to 6c8a5830c5 slightly lessen the c2c0e016e3 chill that seeped ab1a01d41d in.04602899db49bf26

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I carefully aeb9aa4671 walked down 95a5f7bad4 the corridor. My footsteps blended 39b2f278be into the silence 12033babc5 of the castle, 25a56932b2 disappearing without a 2b1c46149e trace, as if 187cd13e30 I had never 85cfe90974 existed.629524600917c8a1

The kitchen was 36233bac2f filled with a 1103428dd7 subtle scent of 71f0c32623 herbs. Standing in front of 1b18ecb2e2 the hearth, which had 7d680f555b been lit since dawn, fe68dcb799 I carefully took out 35c4012783 the dough. Preparing breakfast 4007bc5a55 for Derek ed26228733 every morning 1c8ccaecbe was both be650f2b7b the start a7ea2c6a51 of my 658b8102ba day and c3ec69161b a ritual 15af4088eb to steady fea0d05ffa my mind.95033864f8993062

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The servants moved ec1a15c0e9 silently. Without needing d3093a029a instructions, they 039bc9eaa0 quietly assisted 74356eedb6 by bringing e3d4bdeda5 necessary ingredients a54e01cdad or adjusting 7506679ff2 the hearth’s 1c26eafbda temperature. I took a61b9581f8 a shallow dc83e3287d breath and a3069ca846 placed the 487d311b19 carefully kneaded 00086025bd bread into c40c0174be the hearth.b57da232b45f2182

After cautiously opening the e518b2ab44 lid of the stew 74b3ffea86 pot to check the 4e837d8358 consistency of the broth, ec8a4ae11d I meticulously ensured the 39dc30853c spices were well blended d4ebfc7906 with the meat. Derek disliked strong f76f2b1dd3 aromas. He preferred subtle c2b4c59f2b yet deep flavors, f230a51892 so I always 4170dd3ec7 put effort into f2abda2401 achieving that delicate cf0d106d80 balance.2d676a107d09b47a

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I neatly arranged melting 8d0b92b663 cheese on a silver 71b9679849 plate and filled a bcf13a7de7 pewter mug with cold f1d54c0d2e water instead of a d5a4f0e5c7 glass. In the center of 9e9c19a7fd the table, I placed f61403cdca a silver candlestick. I personally sorted 8a53eab71a out any spoiled 868890ab18 grapes from the 4a9de2ab6a bunch brought by e8f1cd8fa0 a servant.e8b2d9ee03603057

The linen tablecloth b344b171b3 was laid perfectly, 98aa511281 and the gleaming 4a1d48b807 cutlery was placed 9e912b3a4c at precise intervals. I made final 0e8b26e709 adjustments to ensure c833d7bdbd there were no 41a0e50e47 misplaced items, from 6a6ef22d49 the position of fcdaee50ef the vase to 2009a7fc5a the angle of 648677099e the glasses, forks, 8d1c2a9aa1 and knives.369ae757500f5242

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As I c5e3f78ff7 checked once 1cac322898 more to 9f4dbf1dc5 see if 96560df9f9 anything was a2de30b447 missing, a 403a59db82 cautious smile 6bad111e71 spread across 6ffd26e7cf my lips. With a d8dbffea01 small hope f60348c809 that today, 35d06e266a he might d983d5e421 enjoy the 8d8a1d22de meal.9b8ea30ad905604e

Soon, footsteps echoed on 15392aa9a4 the stone floor. It was Derek. A thin cloak draped fc288d4dcb over his shoulders atop 6bdd6c91b8 a luxurious tunic embroidered c8b792d926 with black patterns, and 2581527a4e a sturdy leather belt cc68d9e599 was fastened around his ff8ec8facd waist. Every step 5710a54f5e he took a1a4f7324e exuded natural b11bce9d83 dignity.6701975ad1aa9f4c

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Derek sat down d314137671 without a word, c83d808927 not even glancing b679e190f0 at me. As soon 1f72751895 as he 6078f395af sat, he 9666da07f4 picked up ab8adc6740 a fork, 32eae01fcf took a f3b47821cb few spoonfuls 90c3356125 of stew, 8b91c385e0 then picked be6cd9f851 up the 0636ef7dbe bread halfway 3edec7cb7e before quietly 1157dca5b1 setting it 59213052b6 down, seemingly 59c2b41a1e losing interest.bc31b95738c16fdb

Unconsciously, I clenched 312e33e65e my hands and b46e8a7386 watched him. It was c60fbec6c5 a meat 0355d3dc37 stew I b320a1fa4c had carefully 9ef2b875b0 prepared since e9ee250fcc yesterday, even 028c8bd1c9 adding his 034279fe5a favorite root 9069c87489 herbs, but 14ae8bd254 he ignored 66b8243361 it entirely b506bb6494 without touching f186577030 it. As the heavy 135903be68 silence lingered, my aca50f21e1 throat felt parched, 16950fbbdd and I picked d49e9ec5fe up the water c74a54156e glass.3bc54b17b7920356

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“The meeting has been a2d43d3087 moved up.”f29df156dcde394c

His tone was dry. I knew that 705149e5b4 meant he would 565e3a4ceb soon leave.ac9d517ee1831d42

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“Derek, the meal isn’t…”4361dea41c4eab4c

As he turned his beb7d1ff8f head towards me, I d4158867c3 involuntarily closed my mouth.097e8c213b923869

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“It’s important.”557677bac45aa018

Derek stood up from bb3798cdd3 the chair. The legs of 72f231b202 the chair scraped 95c3a1b812 against the stone ceab8b9565 floor, making a 74802b5397 brief friction sound, aabb6753f0 and soon his 79c58409e1 footsteps grew distant.1d82210683432903

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I neither followed 0eefca4fa8 nor stopped him. Left alone in effedef1e9 front of the 12707beade empty table, I fff65ec96f quietly watched the fdfea35c33 still-steaming dishes.488ea1e27017064e

I hadn’t expected anything, 96224e7859 yet I felt strangely 789f4a96e8 empty. Seeing the 08acd6421f effort I 65c7bd22f9 had put 6a63981f4e in left 5a429582a6 untouched made a3add29fa3 a part d531abb462 of my 1450ac7249 heart feel 9e42b68704 inexplicably cold.269b0510a11ca836

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It had already 0dfd531f75 been two years ccc870c5cd since we got 4b97adb289 married. When I a09d8ec37d first set b790eaa0c5 foot in 4e788c5a18 Greymore Castle, e633b95445 I believed c2f305a854 my life 768606cfa7 would change 75c5320249 a little.2e6a61a94007515e

Derek, born 4cd3fb0e7c as an e5c3539397 extremely rare beb912341b dominant alpha, 5ab8b0b21c was a a2366bf559 promising and 98d983cfd3 capable knight af884cf672 commander. His life was filled f051111bd1 with training, battlefields, strategic 39d15e4923 meetings, and border defenses, db765aec37 each day packed with de45dc2b11 battles, honor, and heavy 07da9b1e94 responsibilities.603c25638064eae5

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I tried d14ae2e40c to understand 52dc8075d8 his busy e84483c8b4 life and f3e53a49ce seemingly indifferent 049d78950b demeanor. I tried to accept 08ca521fc2 that Derek was that 5e89e0dc25 kind of person. But as time passed, 2f72f63b9f I gradually had to e1d1303d08 realize that his indifference 5240938e17 and frequent disregard weren’t 46715e1595 just because of work.512543e9d2463f51

Whenever his rut f0e6ab3ab7 approached, Derek invariably 71a088ea4d took suppressants. Despite having 4c1218bb24 me, an ab423ff3c4 omega who 93c3928282 could calm 5a72c2ce90 his rut, e746d90290 he never 8cd8cc49dc once showed 5d79f91d28 me desire, bc21a5f6e3 let alone 0ccea6205e affection.806ec0dec315fd60

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Even on our first bb81eb4c7a night of marriage, it f49ffed1b0 was the same. A ceremonial 27e488c338 greeting and 9f51efbd7f a calm 01e47b7287 gaze—that was 6f44cb836b all. Since we didn’t 9ed6416273 share the same f40d1700b1 bedroom, his side f07fd6c64b was always empty. The bed be8d0da43b was perpetually f83aa24619 half-covered and bca0e0e88b cold, and 1eaefe4bc3 I felt 4b6e22fcf2 as if 6a6dc41bf3 I were 58ee16584f living alone.1e48f3f022bb0e5d

Despite this, Derek 692735dd9f maintained his courtesy 0343905987 as a spouse. He never 1fd8ca35be ignored or 92eb00199e mistreated me. But his demeanor was e1bc37a848 often excessively cold and 445ecf4dba thoroughly formal.ced2b154f9149a85

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Even when e88a0db858 attending banquets fd936a990d or official 406e4762b2 events together, 3d00dc9343 he always c8ef10e6da treated it bc6f0106a4 as a c4460727c9 duty. Without holding 2d78365a62 hands or ed57850f6f exchanging affectionate 86f383c780 glances, it f044eabe20 was as ea4b4c1ef8 if I 36870da549 were in 8667b2ff29 a position f9161af58d that anyone 612436fbe8 could replace.7cd0bb6de4dc0e05

On the rare occasions 54221b8239 he returned to the 7abd317290 castle and spent time eac1459045 with me, Derek headed 296537b5b2 straight to the study.9475d4bdde7d56cf

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Then, with 7eca167c0e the door 5fe938f696 firmly closed, d638f14fd0 he immersed 10f4350b24 himself in 8b0befcce9 flipping through 1afe549f38 documents or 16e8aaac61 reviewing reports cbc682a3d9 late into f896506b78 the night.5cf4945ec8e6e095

He didn’t look at 68b3ed9c1b me.e9b3db2b925669e0

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Even when I spoke 301f109d4e to him, the responses 3c54b3a773 were short and dry. Without warmth or curiosity dba265939c in his tone, I a0e30364f4 couldn’t continue the conversation.900ef036717a804c

There was no 2b88ea6590 dialogue. No, there b178c2415b wasn’t even 5da2620595 an opportunity 86bc1000cc to attempt c5eeec7e9e a conversation.d01d50d6c455eba4

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The cold distance 226e31bdac gradually wore down d9c820cb1a my heart, and 7616e0f99c eventually, it began a018cf2204 to quietly crack. The fissure 813975b520 didn’t appear 2943bb4639 suddenly one 693ac91739 day; it dd5807ee58 slowly spread 7e113cff76 through prolonged 9cbcc25e18 silence and ae176d2c0f indifference.41df12e5a9e2b6f8

Even so, I didn’t resent Derek. Instead… I tried to understand. Even knowing it would ultimately hurt me more.e7a210e62e58b2d2

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