As Ciara walked into the empty house, she noticed that Gerald was still at the same spot she had left him that morning, his usual Stoic demeanor replaced by a look of concern.

“You're home early…" He said, his voice quiet but audible enough to Ciara's hearing, “Is everything okay?”

Ciara paused, her brow furrowed. “I just needed to get out of the office.” She said, avoiding his gaze, and walked past him to take the only couch in the middle of the large room. “I needed a change ...