It was ten at night.

After a long, exhausting day at his office, Zad had finally returned to the mansion, showered, and had dinner. At thirty-three, he was one of the wealthiest and most respected businessmen in the country—a tall, handsome, muscular man with tattoos scattered across his body, a sharp mind, and a naturally authoritative presence. His businesses demanded nearly every waking hour of his life, and despite how much he regretted not giving his newly married wife enough time during the day, his responsibilities rarely allowed him a choice.

He and Ava, twenty-seven, had spent five years in a relationship before marrying a month ago. She was the only child of her parents, raised with endless affection and spoiled with everything her heart desired. Naturally dramatic, stubborn, and accustomed to being the center of attention, she now expected the same attention from her husband.

And Zad never blamed her for wanting it.

He knew he was the problem, not her. He knew she missed him, even when they were in the same room. So, whenever she complained, threw tantrums, or even raised her voice in frustration, he listened. He never shouted back. He was mature enough to let her express her anger without making her feel guilty for it. “Shout as much as you want, baby. I’ll listen,” was the kind of man he was.

Dominant in his own quiet, confident way, Zad never confused love with control. He would kneel before his wife to put on her shoes, respect her independence, never dictate what she wore or where she went, and trust her completely—even when it came to her male friends. His boundaries were firm with the rest of the world, but with Ava, they softened effortlessly. He knew how to defend her, silence disrespect, and make it clear that nobody had the right to speak carelessly about his wife.

Women envied Ava for having a man who treated her like his equal, his partner, and the most precious part of his life. And although Zad couldn’t always give her his time when she wanted it, he made sure she never had to question his love.

Tonight, however, another important business deal had him occupied.

The enormous master bedroom was quiet, as was the entire mansion. Zad sat against the headboard of their four-poster, king-size bed, his laptop open on his thighs. Shirtless and wearing comfortable shorts, his tattooed arms and muscular upper body were visible beneath the warm bedroom lighting. His expression was serious, his attention fixed on the documents displayed on his screen.

Beside him, Ava lay on her stomach, dressed in a comfortable camisole and tiny shorts, her long blonde hair falling down her back in soft waves. She scrolled through her phone while Zad continued working, the silence between them broken only by the occasional click of his keyboard.