There was no "baby," no sweet emoji, and no apology for the delay.
In the past, if Matteo took even ten minutes to reply, he would immediately explain himself and apologize for keeping Adrian waiting.
That day, his response consisted of a single, blunt word.
The difference was impossible to miss.
On a regular day, they would text and call each other back and forth, checking in until the workday ended. But on this day, the chat remained completely silent.
Matteo barely replied to Adrian's messages on time.
It wasn't until late afternoon that Matteo finally initiated a text, keeping it brief:
I'll be heading back to the estate early. I already canceled my plans with my friends tonight.
Adrian quickly typed back: Alright, baby.
With his mind completely consumed by the sudden distance between them, Adrian couldn't focus on his work at the studio. Unable to sit still, he wrapped up for the day ahead of schedule, gathered his things, and hurried back to the estate.
