His thoughts were anything but peaceful. They were loud, tangled, and far too honest.
He leaned his head back, closing his eyes, trying to breathe through the tightness in his chest. Instead of easing, the silence around him grew even heavier. It settled in the room like a presence of its own, pressing in on him from all sides.
For the first time in years, he felt truly out of control. Not over a deal, a boardroom, or an argument.
This time, he had lost control of himself.
And the worst part?
She was only across the hall, yet it felt like she was miles away from him.
The distance wasn't physical.
It was everything he didn't say.
Everything he didn't do.
Everything she expected, and he failed to deliver.
He opened his eyes again, the ache settling deeper.
Tonight, he felt the gap between them more clearly than ever before.
The next morning, Chibuzor came down the stairs and stepped into the dining room.
