The Confrontation between Andrew and Annabella.

 Annabella slowly went down the stairs, her heart pounding with each step. She had spent the entire night restless, consumed by thoughts of Andrew's cruel treatment. She knew she had to confront him, even though the idea of facing him filled her with a mix of fear and frustration.

 When she reached Andrew's door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. There was no answer. Gathering her courage, she pushed the door open slightly and saw Andrew sitting at his desk, engrossed in paperwork.

 "Andrew?" Her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly composed herself.

 Andrew barely glanced up from his work. "What do you want, Annabella?" His tone was cold, indifferent.

 She stepped inside, trying to gather the right words. "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked, her voice firmer now. "Why do you treat me like I mean nothing to you? I agreed to this marriage for my mother's sake, but that doesn't mean I deserve to be treated this way."

 Andrew finally looked up, his eyes sharp and distant. "You agreed to the contract, Annabella. This is what you signed up for," he said dismissively. "Our marriage is nothing more than a business deal. Don't make it more than it is."

 Annabella's heart sank at his words, but she didn't back down. "I'm not asking for love, Andrew. I'm just asking for basic respect. You can't keep treating me like I'm beneath you."

 Andrew's expression softened for just a moment, but it quickly hardened again. "Respect is earned," he said bluntly. "You're here because you needed something from me. Don't pretend like you're innocent in all this."

 . "I may have agreed to this marriage, but I never agreed to lose myself in the process. If you can't even see me as a person, then maybe you're the one who's lost."

 With that, she turned and walked out, leaving Andrew sitting in stunned silence.