The days turned into weeks, and the silence between Victoria and Daniel deepened into a chasm that felt insurmountable. Mornings started with a mechanical routine—breakfast prepared, children sent off to school, and obligatory small talk that barely scratched the surface. The emotional distance grew more pronounced, suffocating their once vibrant connection.

One morning, as Victoria sipped her coffee, she noticed Daniel scrolling through his phone again, his brows furrowed in concentration. The sight tugged at her heart. “Are you working today?” she asked, trying to breach the wall between them.

“Just catching up on some emails,” he replied without looking up. “Nothing urgent.”

She nodded, but the disappointment settled heavily...