THE TURNING TIDE

Alexander lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, his mind spinning with thoughts. He could hear the soft, even breathing of Amelia beside him, a sound that usually brought him comfort, but tonight it was just a reminder of how fragile everything felt. He had done everything Sebastian had suggested, gone above and beyond to show Amelia how much he loved her, but there was still that tension, that unspoken worry between them.

He thought back to the moment he had presented her with the car and the gifts. The look on her face had been one of pure joy, but as the day wore on, that joy had faded, replaced by the same distance that had plagued their relationship in recent days. He had hoped that by giving Chloe her own space, it would solve their problems, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Chloe’s reaction had been troubling. She hadn’t even said a word when he showed her the house. The way she had walked away, her face blank, had left him uneasy. He knew Chloe well enough to recognize