That morning, sunlight slipped through the window of the modest luxury living room. Nico, with a calm yet excited look on his face, approached Celine who was busy staring at her laptop screen. In a soft voice, he said, "Honey, I'd like to ask permission. I have a sudden assignment from my boss that I need to complete out of town for a week."

Celine looked away from the screen, looking at Nico attentively. "Out of town? What's wrong, Nico? I know you've been busy enough here," she said as she leaned back in the chair.

Nico smiled as he grasped Celine's hand. "Yes, it's a project that requires my...