The Wager Begins

Silas gazed at Astra, rendered speechless. It was true; he had overheard Luna asking Astra for that promise, but he hadn't treated her differently because of it. He truly had no inkling of Astra's hectic schedule and the immense workload she shouldered.

He had assumed that during the week of his mourning, Astra would manage everything, but things took a different turn.

Following that, he spent three days with Sophia after seeing each other again, and they decided to marry. Upon returning home, he expected Astra to be content, thinking she wouldn't bear the workload alone.

He had genuinely believed things were improving for her, but they only worsened. Every time Astra recounted something terrible he had done, he believed it couldn't possibly get worse, yet it always did.