Kathani "Kate" Bridgerton stood on the balcony of Aubrey Hall, the sprawling estate of her husband's family, staring out at the neatly trimmed gardens and the serene landscape beyond. The afternoon sun bathed everything in a golden light, but despite the beauty surrounding her, Kate felt an overwhelming sense of isolation. The social world of the Bridgertons had always been so polished, so perfect, and though she had been married to Anthony for months now, she still struggled to fit into it.

The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "this is me trying" echoed in her mind: "I've been having a hard time adjusting..." It was the truth. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was failing—failing at being a proper viscountess, at living up to the Bridgerton name, at being the kind of wife Anthony deserved.

A soft knock on the door broke her from her thoughts. Kate turned to see Eloise Bridgerton, Anthony's younger sister, standing in the doorway. Eloise had always been direct and curious, but lately, there had been a tension between them that Kate couldn't quite place.

"Eloise," Kate said, her voice strained. "Is there something you need?"

Eloise stepped into the room, her expression hesitant. "I wanted to check on you. You've been... distant lately."

Kate forced a smile, though it felt hollow. "I'm fine. Just... adjusting."

Eloise frowned, stepping closer. "Adjusting? You've been married to my brother for almost half a year now, Kate. If something's wrong, you can talk to me. We're family."

Kate sighed, her shoulders slumping as she turned back toward the window. "It's not that simple, Eloise. I don't know if I'm... if I'm enough for all of this. For Anthony. For your family."

Eloise's frown deepened, her eyes softening with concern. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Kate said quietly, her voice breaking, "that I don't feel like I belong here. I've been trying, but... no matter what I do, it feels like I'm always one step behind. Anthony's world, your world—it's so different from mine."

Eloise stared at her for a long moment before stepping closer. "You don't have to be perfect, Kate. No one is expecting you to be. And if Anthony is making you feel like you're not enough—"

"No," Kate interrupted quickly, shaking her head. "Anthony's been nothing but kind. It's not him. It's me. I'm the one who feels... lost."

Eloise hesitated for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "Kate, you're not alone in this. You've become part of this family, whether you realize it or not. But you don't have to pretend to be something you're not."

Kate bit her lip, her heart aching with the weight of Eloise's words. "I just... I don't want to let anyone down. Least of all Anthony."

"You won't," Eloise said firmly, her voice full of conviction. "But you have to stop trying to be someone else. Anthony loves you for who you are, not for who you think you need to be."


That evening, Kate found herself alone in the drawing room, the fire crackling softly as she sat on the couch, lost in thought. Eloise's words had struck a chord with her, but they hadn't eased the doubt that gnawed at her. She loved Anthony deeply, but their marriage had been complicated from the start. Their relationship had been forged in tension and misunderstanding, and though they had found love in the end, there were still parts of herself that Kate hadn't allowed Anthony to see—parts of her that she feared would make him realize he had made a mistake in choosing her.

The door creaked open, and Kate looked up to see Anthony Bridgerton standing in the doorway, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Kate," he said softly, stepping into the room. "You've been quiet lately. Is something wrong?"

Kate forced another smile, though it felt even weaker than before. "I'm fine, Anthony."

Anthony frowned, crossing the room to sit beside her. "Kate, please. Don't shut me out."

Kate sighed, her heart aching at the thought of disappointing him. She had always prided herself on her strength, on her ability to handle anything that came her way. But here, in this moment, she felt like she was crumbling.

"I'm trying, Anthony," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm trying so hard."

Anthony's expression softened, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. "What are you trying to do, Kate?"

Kate looked down at their joined hands, her voice trembling. "I'm trying to be the wife you deserve. I'm trying to be everything you need me to be. But I feel like I'm failing. I don't know how to be... enough."

Anthony's grip on her hand tightened, and he leaned closer, his voice low and gentle. "Kate, you don't have to try to be anything for me. You already are everything I need. I don't want you to be perfect. I just want you to be yourself."

Kate blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. "But what if that's not enough? What if I'm not enough for you, or for your family?"

Anthony shook his head, his eyes filled with sincerity. "You're more than enough, Kate. You always have been. I love you for who you are, not for who you think you need to be. You don't have to prove anything to me."

Kate's heart swelled with emotion, but the doubt still lingered. "I just... I don't want to let you down."

"You won't," Anthony said softly, lifting her hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "We'll figure this out together, Kate. But you have to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You're allowed to struggle. You're allowed to feel lost. But you don't have to go through it alone."

Kate closed her eyes, the tears finally spilling over as she leaned into Anthony's embrace. For so long, she had been trying to hold everything together, trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect viscountess. But maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to be perfect.

Maybe, as Anthony had said, she was already enough.


The next morning, Kate woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She lay still for a moment, listening to the steady rhythm of Anthony's breathing beside her. He had stayed with her through the night, holding her as she had cried, whispering reassurances in the darkness. It had been a long time since she had let herself be vulnerable with him, and though it had been terrifying, it had also been a relief.

Slowly, she sat up, careful not to wake Anthony, and slipped out of bed. She made her way to the balcony, the cool morning air refreshing against her skin. The world outside was still and quiet, the promise of a new day hanging in the air.

As she stood there, watching the sun rise over the horizon, Kate felt something shift inside her. She wasn't perfect—she knew that now. But she didn't have to be. Anthony loved her for who she was, flaws and all, and maybe it was time she started loving herself the same way.

The lyrics from "this is me trying" echoed in her mind once more: "I didn't know if you'd care if I came back..." But Anthony had cared. He had always cared, even when she had doubted herself.

Taking a deep breath, Kate closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel the weight of the past few months slip away. She wasn't going to fix everything overnight, but she was trying. And for now, that was enough.

As the sun continued to rise, casting a golden light over the gardens of Aubrey Hall, Kate felt a sense of peace settle over her. She wasn't alone. She had Anthony, she had his family, and she had herself.

And that, she realized, was more than enough.