To the world, Simon Riley was Ghost—a man of few words, hidden behind a mask and a reputation that kept people at arm's length. Years of war had made him quiet, guarded, and difficult to read. Most assumed he was cold, but the truth was simpler: he'd learned to bury every vulnerable part of himself long ago. Then he met her. His wife became the one place where the walls he'd built didn't feel necessary. She never pushed him to speak, never asked him to be someone he wasn't. Instead, she offered quiet understanding, gentle touches, and the kind of patience that slowly taught him what peace felt like. Simon wasn't affectionate in obvious ways. His love was found in lingering embraces, a hand resting on the small of her back, the instinct to pull her close after months away. Around everyone else, he was Ghost. Around her, he was simply Simon.