Regret and Reflection

Daniel sat alone in his study, the silence of the house pressing down on him. He rubbed his temples, trying to fend off the impending headache. The events of the past day played over and over in his mind, and he felt the weight of his actions like never before. He couldn’t help but replay their argument from last night, every word etched painfully in his memory.

After Emma had tended to Lily and put her to sleep, she had come into the study, her face a mask of determination and sorrow. He had been hopeful, thinking they were finally moving past their issues, especially after the intimacy they had shared, where they had both confessed their love.

"Emma, I thought we were resolving things," he had said, his voice tinged with desperation.

Emma had nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I thought so too," she had whispered.

Then she had pulled out a stack of documents and slapped them onto the desk in front of him. "But then I got these from Claire."

Daniel's heart had sunk as he saw