Pear-Shaped Marriage.

Unwelcome Surprise?

Jason rubbed the back of his neck, trying to shake off the exhaustion that clung to him like a heavy fog. It was nearly 10 PM, and he was still holed up in the conference room with Daniel and Laura, dissecting the details of their upcoming big project. But even the excitement of the work couldn't pull him from the deepening pit of worry that had taken residence in his gut.

Where was Sophie? Why hadn't she reached out? He couldn't remember the last time they'd been apart for this long, and it gnawed at him. With each passing hour, the weight of her absence felt heavier, and his thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to their last tense moments together.

Laura's voice cut through his reverie. "Jason, are you even listening?" She leaned forward, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah, sorry," he muttered, forcing himself to focus on the presentation slides. But even the sleek graphs and figures couldn't hold his attention. His mind was shattered, filled with flashes of memories—Sophie's laughter, her teasing smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy. It was all he could think about, and it was infuriating.

"Maybe we should take a break?" Daniel suggested, glancing at the clock. "We've been at this for hours."

Before Jason could respond, there was a sharp knock on the door. It opened slowly, and his heart stopped as he caught sight of Sophie standing there. Her hair fell gently around her shoulders, framing her face, and for a moment, he forgot everything else. The world around him faded, leaving only her.

"Sophie?" he breathed, a mix of shock and relief flooding through him. He hadn't expected to see her here, not after days of uncertainty.

"Why are you here?" he blurted out, trying to mask the surprise in his voice with a hint of irritation. His heart raced, betraying the calm facade he attempted to project.

She stepped inside, holding a container that exuded a delicious aroma. "I just wanted to check on you," she replied, her voice steady, betraying none of her own surprise. "I brought you dinner."

His gaze fell to the container, recognizing the familiar dish. Spinach ravioli with creamy Tuscan roasted red pepper sauce and crab. It was his favorite, and he felt a rush of warmth at the gesture.

Sophie's eyes flickered past him to Laura, who smiled politely at her. "Hi, Sophie," Laura said, her tone friendly but curious.

Sophie nodded, her expression pleasant yet guarded. Jason noted the way she held herself, a certain composure that seemed to speak volumes. She looked calm on the outside, but there was an underlying tension in her posture that didn't escape him.

"Can I take a picture of you guys?" Sophie asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had settled in the room. "I like to see my husband working with his colleagues like this."

The words hung in the air, odd yet earnest. Jason's heart twisted in his chest at the mention of "husband," and he found himself staring at her, momentarily caught off guard. There was something about the way she phrased it that made it seem more like a statement of ownership than a term of endearment, and it stirred a mix of emotions within him—confusion, longing, and an unexpected anger.

"Uh, sure," Daniel replied, oblivious to the tension, shifting his posture as he smiled at Sophie. "Let's all get in the frame!"

Sophie positioned herself next to Jason, her smile bright and genuine. He could feel the heat radiating from her, and it made his pulse quicken. As they posed, he glanced at Laura, who was watching them with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

The camera clicked, capturing the moment, but all Jason could think about was the unspoken words that hung between them. After the picture was taken, Sophie stepped back, her gaze lingering on Jason.

"Is everything okay?" she asked softly, her tone almost vulnerable, and it sent a jolt of realization through him.

"Yeah, just... busy," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But the words felt hollow, and he could see the flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

Sophie bit her lip, her gaze drifting to the floor. "I thought you could use a break," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I miss you."

He felt his heart race at her words, the raw honesty in her tone pulling at him. He missed her too, more than he could express. The tension of the past few days, the arguments, the silence, it all surged back, threatening to drown him.

"Things have been... complicated," he admitted, his throat tightening.

"I know," she replied, lifting her gaze to meet his. There was an intensity in her eyes that made him want to reach out and pull her close, to erase the distance that had grown between them. "But I'm here now. Let's talk?"

Before he could respond, Laura cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "Maybe we should wrap this up," she suggested, glancing at the time. "We can discuss the details later, Jason."

"Right," he said, reluctantly pulling his gaze from Sophie. He felt a pang of frustration, a mix of longing and anger. Why was everything so complicated?

As they returned to the meeting, the atmosphere felt heavy. Jason tried to focus on the project, but every word felt like it was pulling him further from Sophie, further from the connection they once shared. The image of her standing there, her smile bright yet strained, lingered in his mind, igniting a fierce determination within him.

He needed to resolve this. He couldn't let fear or pride keep him from fighting for what mattered.

The meeting dragged on, but Jason felt a shift inside him, a flicker of hope mingled with the chaos of unresolved feelings. Once they wrapped up, he would find Sophie, and he would talk to her. They needed to face this head-on.

As he gathered his things, he glanced over at Sophie, who stood by the door, watching him with those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through him. He felt an urge to go to her, to bridge the gap that had widened between them. But the fear of not knowing how to fix it held him back.

As they exited the room, the air between them crackled with unspoken words, and Jason knew this was only the beginning of a much larger conversation.