Maria stood in front of her closet, contemplating her outfit for the evening. She had made plans to meet her friend, eager for a change of scenery and a break from the suffocating tension that had settled between her and Anthony.
As she browsed through her dresses, a pang of uncertainty gripped her. Anthony had been unusually cold and distant lately, his demeanor bordering on passive-aggressive. She wasn't sure if he would allow her to go out, but she decided to shoot her shot anyway.
"Anthony," she called out tentatively, stepping into the living room where he was engrossed in his work.
He glanced up, his expression unreadable. "What is it?" he replied, his tone curt.
Maria hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I was thinking of going out to meet my friend tonight. Is that okay wit
