Chapter 5 Cracks in the Façade

Sofia is trying to adjust to life at the Blackwood estate. But it is tough to keep up the act of a perfect marriage. At the start of the chapter, she feels lonely in that huge, empty house. Ethan hardly talks to her. He only says what he must. This leaves her feeling even more alone. Even when he's close by, Sofia notices Ethan seems frustrated. He's always busy with work and mostly ignores her. He only pretends to be nice when they need to be seen together. His coldness makes her wonder if she can keep living like this. Things get tense during a quiet dinner.

Ethan brings up a small mistake she made at a recent event. His words stung. Sofia tries to explain, but she falls silent. This moment exposes the cracks in their relationship. Sofia begins to see how hard this is. Ethan feels the strain too. He questions why Sofia gets to him so much. Even when he tries to shake it off, he cannot ignore his feelings. He thinks his frustration is tied to his problems. The chapter wraps up with Sofia sitting alone in the big garden. She thinks about her future. She feels stuck between putting on a brave face for her family and facing the reality that this cold marriage might break her.