After the fight, the once - harmonious atmosphere in their relationship was replaced by an awkward tension. Emma started to question whether she could ever truly fit into Ryan's world. She would lie awake at night, thinking about Elizabeth's words and wondering if she was really good enough for Ryan.
Ryan, on the other hand, was torn. He loved Emma deeply, but he also didn't want to disappoint his mother. His mother had always been a dominant figure in his life, and he had grown up accustomed to meeting her expectations. He started to bury himself in his work, staying late at the office to avoid the difficult conversations at home.
Emma, feeling neglected, threw herself even more into her job. She took on extra projects, often working late into the night. Her boss noticed her dedication but also saw the toll it was taking on her. "Emma, you need to take a break. You can't let work consume you like this," he warned.
But Emma couldn't stop. Work was her escape from the growing problems in her personal life. She and Ryan would barely talk when they were home, and when they did, it was usually to argue about something trivial. The passionate love they once shared seemed to be slipping away, and both of them were too proud and hurt to reach out and fix it.