He was afraid, but afraid of what?
His father, as cruel as he was, was right. A man like him didn't deserve to be happy, a beast that was simply tamed didn't merit the wife he had in front of him and definitely not that unfamiliar feeling she was pouring on him without warning, despite knowing it could never be given back.
But what was he most afraid of? Her, his wife, losing her. He'd always lost every little thing that could elevate him in the tiniest of ways and Stella, it was much more than tiny, it was too much and he was frightened he might return someday and she wouldn't be home. She wouldn't be in his safe space where he knew he would always find her.
She is his salvation—one that he couldn't give up or live without.
He took hold of her hand, intertwining his with it and brought it to his lips to softly bite into her palm, a melancholic look on his face.