Chapter 18: Disappearance

As Zion stepped out of the house, his mind churned with a restless energy that refused to be quelled. The morning air was crisp and cool, a sharp contrast to the turmoil raging within him. He glanced back at the imposing facade of his home, a silent witness to the chaos that had engulfed his life in recent days.

As he descended the steps, his gaze fell upon Amy, who stood at the bottom, her expression unreadable. There was a distance between them, a palpable barrier that seemed to stretch infinitely, separating them even as they stood mere feet apart.

Amy watched silently as Zion strode past her, his shoulders squared with a determination that bordered on defiance. She felt a pang of regret, a flicker of disappointment that she quickly quashed. This was their reality now, she reminded herself — a marriage born of obligation rather than love.

As Zion disappeared into the waiting car, Amy turned away, her thoughts drifting to the days ahead. She had resigned herself to the fact that the