Reflections of the choices

Chapter three

"I don't trust nobody and nobody trusts me 

'll be the actress starring in your bad dreams 

Look what you made me do."

Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift

The beginning of the new season brought not only fresh hopes but also old disappointments. Colin's boyish love for Marina was gradually fading, just as his mother and brother had predicted, but now he was a husband and father of twins, and there was nothing he could do to change that.

Shortly after the wedding, Colin began to realize that his feelings for Marina were more akin to youthful infatuation than to true love. What once seemed tender and thrilling was slowly losing its brightness and significance. He had hoped that, over time, his attachment to Marina would grow into something greater, something more mature and profound. However, after the birth of the twins, their relationship underwent a noticeable change. That initial infatuation never blossomed into genuine love. What's more, it seemed that Marina had lost interest in everything around her, including Colin.

The birth of their children brought joy but also introduced a new bitterness. Colin strove to be a good husband and father. He cared for Marina, tried to do everything possible to support her during this difficult period. But the more he tried, the more he felt himself drifting away from her. Time passed, yet Marina seemed still trapped in the shadow of George's loss, the man she had once loved.

Colin often wondered what had gone wrong. He loved his children and tried to be the best father he could be for them. He played with them, read them bedtime stories, and devoted all his spare time to them. But every time he returned home, his heart grew heavy. It felt as if he could no longer reach Marina, as if an invisible wall had formed between them, one that he was powerless to break down.

Marina, in turn, grew increasingly withdrawn. Her eyes were full of sorrow, and she rarely smiled. Her thoughts seemed far away, and Colin could sense that the distance between them was widening with each passing day. He understood that Marina had never truly recovered from her loss, and this had left an indelible mark on their marriage.

Colin tried to fix the situation, but the more he attempted, the more he felt himself losing her. His love for her was flickering like a candle in the wind, and with its dimming light came the realization that their marriage had been built not on love but on obligations and duty. This was a realization that made it increasingly difficult for him to breathe.

Colin knew that Marina cared for their children as well, but her maternal love was tinged with melancholy rather than joy. He could not blame her for this, but each day he felt himself pulling further and further away from her. His heart longed for something he could not even describe—a true closeness, a mutual love that had never existed between him and Marina.

The Bridgerton family had gathered for a picnic in one of their favorite parks. Kate, who had recently become the viscountess, couldn't help but notice that Eloise had been especially somber of late. Her behavior, usually lively and energetic, had become restrained and contemplative.

"Hyacinth, have you noticed anything different about Eloise lately?" Kate asked, trying to discern the cause of her melancholy.

Hyacinth, who had been twirling about with her usual energy, stopped and shrugged.

"She's been like that ever since Penelope left. I think they were very close, and now Eloise misses her."

"Oh yes, it was so sudden," added Francesca, who was seated nearby. "But I hope we'll see her again this season."

Francesca continued, "I'm a little envious of her, to be honest. She has the chance to travel and, more importantly, to be far away from this noisy city."