The first weeks of marriage had passed in a blur of tenderness, laughter, and the slow rhythm of learning each other’s habits. Jude and Sabina had slipped into a routine that felt warm and comforting, almost like they had been married much longer. They shared coffee in the mornings, whispered prayers before meals, and often ended the day wrapped in one another’s arms, grateful for the peace they had built despite the shadow of Fernan’s recent passing.
But like all new beginnings, the honeymoon stage eventually collided with reality.
It started quietly, almost insignificantly—a bill left unpaid, groceries that cost more than expected, small expenses Jude didn’t think twice about but that Sabina, ever watchful of their budget, noticed immediately.
One Saturday afternoon, Jude came home wi
