The Shadows of the Past

**Richard's POV**

The days passed slowly, as if time had lost all meaning since I married Vanessa. The routine was monotonous, a succession of commitments I fulfilled automatically, without passion or interest. I was a man in constant motion but with no direction, no purpose. The only thing that still drove me was the shadow of Charlotte, always present somewhere in my mind.

Vanessa did everything she could to maintain the appearance of a perfect marriage. She organized dinners, charity events, business meetings. She was always smiling, always playing the role of the devoted and sophisticated wife that society expected her to be. And I was by her side, playing my part as the attentive husband and successful businessman. But all of it was a lie.

No matter how much Vanessa tried to fill the void left by Charlotte, she never could. There was a part of me that remained inaccessible, locked behind a wall of ice I had built myself. I treated her with respect and courtesy, but there was no love, no warmth. Vanessa knew this, but she seemed willing to accept it as long as she could maintain the status and influence that came with my name.

Despite my apparent indifference, the search for Charlotte never completely stopped. I had ceased using the more obvious resources, but there were other, more discreet means that continued to work in silence. I knew that the chances of finding her were slim, especially after so much time, but I couldn’t give up. She had taken my children, and that was a betrayal I could never forgive.

My nights were haunted by dreams of Charlotte. Sometimes, I saw her as she was before she disappeared—beautiful, strong, defiant. Other times, she was with our children, smiling at me as if nothing had happened. But always, in the end, she would walk away, taking them with her, and I was left alone, unable to reach her. I would wake up in a cold sweat, my heart racing, wondering if this obsession would ever leave me.

Vanessa noticed the shadows in my mood, but she rarely mentioned Charlotte. She knew it would only fuel my anger. Instead, she focused on trying to maintain control of our marriage, as if ignoring the problem would be enough to solve it. But even she couldn’t avoid the discomfort that lingered in the air whenever the press returned to speculate about Charlotte’s disappearance.

The headlines were less frequent now, but from time to time, a new theory, a new “sighting,” would rekindle the speculation. On those occasions, I would lock myself in my office, reliving the pain and frustration of losing everything. It was in those moments that the ice within me grew even thicker, more impenetrable.

One day, as I was reviewing financial reports at my desk, Vanessa entered the office, her expression careful but determined. “Richard, we need to talk,” she said, closing the door behind her.

I didn’t look up immediately, continuing to read the words in front of me without really absorbing them. “About what?” I asked, my voice devoid of emotion.

“About us,” she replied, her voice soft but firm. “About what’s happening to you. We can’t keep living like strangers under the same roof. I understand that you still think about Charlotte, but... Richard, she’s gone. It’s been more than a year and a half. You need to move on.”

I finally raised my eyes to meet hers. There was a mix of determination and desperation on her face, as if she were desperately trying to hold on to what was left of our relationship. But all I felt was an unyielding coldness.

“I’ve already moved on, Vanessa,” I replied, my voice sharp. “I’m here, aren’t I? We’re married, we do what’s expected of us. But if you’re expecting something more... you’ll be disappointed.”

Vanessa bit her lip, the frustration finally showing in her eyes. “I just want... I just want you to see me. To consider me. I’ve been trying so hard, Richard. I’m here, by your side, every day, but it’s as if I don’t exist to you.”

I stared at her, feeling a pang of guilt, but only for a brief moment. “You knew how it would be, Vanessa. This marriage was an arrangement. I didn’t promise you anything more than what I’ve already given you.”

She shook her head, tears threatening to fall. “I thought that over time, things would change. That you would eventually forget her and we could have something real.”

“Forget Charlotte?” I laughed, a sound devoid of humor. “That will never happen, Vanessa. She took something from me that I will never get back. And until I find her, until I recover what’s mine, there’s nothing left to give.”

Vanessa stepped back, defeated. She knew there was nothing more to say. Without another word, she left the office, leaving me alone with my dark thoughts.

When the door closed, I turned to the window, watching the distant horizon. The world outside kept turning, but I was trapped in a cycle of anger and vengeance. And deep down, I knew I would never find peace until Charlotte was brought back.

If she was still alive, if she was still out of my reach, I would keep searching. And if she wasn’t... then I would find a way to move on, somehow. But for now, all I could do was hope that the ice within me wouldn’t grow so thick that no warmth, not even that of vengeance, could melt it.