I stepped into the building with a somber expression that felt like a permanent mask. I tried my best to interact with the other employees, offering small nods and forced smiles, but it was like they could sense the radioactive cloud of my mood. They gave me a wide berth, sensing that I wasn't in the spirit for the usual morning pleasantries.
The weekend had been a grueling exercise in faking it. I’d spent Saturday bonding with my son, trying to lose myself in his laughter and the simple logic of fishing, but my mind was a million miles away. Sunday had been even worse, spent with Chloe. I tried to be in high spirits, but both of them could see right through my bullshit. They chose not to say anything, but the silence was heavy.
I knew Chloe sensed the tectonic plates of my marriage shif
