Months slipped by in quiet monotony, each day bleeding into the next with numbing regularity. Aria’s life had settled into an endless cycle of stillness, confined within the four walls of home, with nothing meaningful to occupy her time. The weight of inactivity began to chip away at her spirit, making her feel worthless.
One morning, as Zane prepared to leave for the office, Aria mustered the courage that had been building inside her like a quiet storm.
"Zane?" she called softly.
He glanced her way while fastening the last button on his shirt. "Hmm?"
Her voice wavered. "Can I... I mean... would it be okay if I went back to work?"
The brief silence between them thickened with tension. Zane’s expression darkened, and his brows drew together in a disapproving scowl. "Why would you want
