The mocking silence

The heavy oak door of their bedroom clicked shut behind them, the soft thud reverberating through the quiet but Maria didn’t turn around.

She stood rigid, her back to Rene, staring out the large bay window that overlooked the sprawling Rossi estate. The night was dark, with only the faint glow of the moon casting shadows across the room.

Rene sighed, slipping off his jacket and tossing it onto the chair by the door. He could feel the tension radiating off her, even from across the room.

Her shoulders were tense, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. He knew what was coming... she had barely spoken a word to him since they left the dinner.

“I had to do it,” he started, his voice calm but cautious.

With each passing silent second, Maria’s posture stiffened even more, her silence a sharper weapon than any words she could have thrown at him.

"Maria, look at me," Rene called out softly.

The room felt heavy, but finally, after a long pause, she finally turned around, her eyes blazing