Vincent trudged through the front door, exhaustion weighing heavy on his shoulders. The clock on the wall ticked past midnight as he entered the dimly lit living room. Melissa, sitting on the couch, shot him a piercing look.

"Where were you, Vincent? It's past midnight!" Melissa's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence of the room.

Vincent remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. He had no energy left for confrontation, no words to spare.

But Melissa's tone shifted, her frustration bubbling over. "Don't you dare ignore me, Vincent! I deserve to know where you've been at this hour!" Her words turned into a relentless stream of accusations and...