The car hurtled down the highway, the engine roaring like a beast barely contained. Ever since I had uttered the word "divorce," Daniel had fallen into a stunned, impenetrable silence. His face had grown ashen, his pupils dilated as though the magnitude of my declaration had stripped away his very grasp on reality.
For my own safety, my fingers clutched the seatbelt. I dared not say another word to provoke him further.
It wasn't until we reached the grand stone gates of the villa that he finally spoke, his voice rough-edged.
"You were just joking, right? E, you're overtired. You need rest."
I pursed my lips, undecided whether to deny or affirm.
My hesitation, however, seemed to breathe life into Daniel's fragile hope. With unsteady hands, he unfastened my seatbelt, then guided me into
