Author pov:🌺🌺🌺

____________________

At first, Ryan’s insults were subtle. They weren’t overtly cruel, just small, dismissive comments that left Maggie feeling confused and hurt. She tried to brush them off, thinking that maybe he was just stressed or tired. But as time went on, the cracks in their relationship began to widen, and Ryan’s words turned sharper.

One evening 🍁🍁🍁

as they sat down to dinner, Maggie excitedly told Ryan about a new article she had been working on for a prominent magazine.

"I just got the approval for this feature about urban gardening," Maggie said, smiling. "It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m really passionate about it. I think people are looking for more ways to grow their own food in the city."

Ryan barely looked up from his phone. "That sounds... interesting," he muttered, his tone flat. "But honestly, who even reads those kinds of things anymore? It’s like you’re writing for a niche nobody cares about."

Maggie paused, taken aback. She was excited about the project, and his words stung. "I think there’s a real demand for it, Ryan. People are becoming more conscious of what they eat and how it’s grown."

Ryan sighed, rolling his eyes. "Right, because that's such a revolutionary idea. I mean , it’s just some article about dirt and plants. You could be doing something that actually makes a difference, something that gets you noticed."

The dismissal of her passion was more than just an insult to her career—it was an attack on who she was. Maggie sat there, her mind racing, but the words stuck in her throat. She tried to shake it off, but the damage was already done.

The next few days were no better. As the weeks went on, Ryan's comments grew colder, more biting.

One afternoon, Maggie invited him to a small gathering at their house, hoping they could reconnect with old friends. She had put a lot of effort into planning the evening, making sure everything was perfect.

Ryan showed up late, looking exhausted, his usual enthusiasm for socializing nowhere to be found. He barely greeted anyone, his eyes immediately scanning the room before settling on a glass of whiskey. Maggie, noticing his disinterest, tried to engage him.

“Hey, Ryan, are you alright?” she asked softly, her voice filled with concern. “You’ve been so quiet tonight. Is everything okay?”

Ryan’s response was sharp. He leaned back in his chair, his glass held loosely in his hand. “Do we really need to have this conversation right now? Maybe I’m just tired of pretending everything is fine. Maybe I’m just tired of this whole act.”

Maggie blinked, unsure of how to respond. “What do you mean, Ryan? You used to enjoy nights like this. We used to enjoy these things together.”

Ryan scoffed. “Yeah, well, maybe that was before you decided to get all wrapped up in your little writer’s world. I mean, look at you—you’re here, trying so hard to impress everyone, but it’s all just a distraction, isn’t it? You’re not even the person I married anymore.”

Maggie’s chest tightened. She had tried so hard to stay patient, to keep things together. But this? This was a blow she hadn’t expected. “I haven’t changed, Ryan. I’m still me. I’m just trying to keep things going. But you—you’re always so absent. So distant. I’m here, trying to make an effort, and you... you don’t even care.”

Ryan’s laugh was hollow, lacking any warmth. “I don’t care? That’s rich coming from you. I’m out there working my ass off, building this empire, and you think your little articles and social gatherings are what really matter? You’ve got it all backwards, Maggie.”

Maggie felt her face flush with heat, but she tried to keep her composure. “You’ve been so wrapped up in your own world that you’ve stopped seeing mine,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve stopped seeing me.”

Ryan narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. “Oh, I see you alright. I see you trying to fill the void with things that don’t matter. Writing about urban gardens? Trying to make yourself feel important? Newsflash, Maggie, it’s not working. You’re just chasing some fairy tale while I’m out here dealing with the real world.”

Maggie recoiled from the venom in his words. His eyes were cold, like a stranger’s. How had they come to this? She opened her mouth to respond, but the lump in her throat stopped her.

Ryan didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. “I’m done with this,” he muttered. “I’m going to bed. Maybe tomorrow you’ll wake up and finally realize what’s actually important.”

As the days wore on🌷🌷🌷

Ryan’s insults became more frequent and pointed. Every attempt Maggie made to talk to him was met with dismissive comments or cold silence. His lack of empathy was suffocating. It felt as though he was intentionally trying to tear her down, to make her feel small.

One evening, as Maggie sat on the couch with her laptop, working on a new assignment, Ryan came home late again. He dropped his briefcase onto the floor, his face clouded with frustration. Without even acknowledging her, he began to pace the room, muttering to himself.

Maggie watched him for a moment before speaking. “Ryan, can we talk? I miss you. It feels like you’re never here anymore.”

Ryan turned sharply, his eyes narrowed. “Oh, so now you want to talk? After everything? I don’t have the energy for this, Maggie. I’m out there running a company, making things happen, and you’re sitting here writing about your little projects like it’s some grand accomplishment.”

Maggie’s hands trembled as she closed her laptop, her voice shaking. “It’s not just about the writing, Ryan. It’s about us. I’m trying to keep this relationship alive, but you’re not even trying anymore. I feel invisible.”

Ryan’s lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. “Invisible? Please. You’re so focused on your own little world that you don’t even notice the things I do. You think I don’t sacrifice for this marriage? You think I don’t work hard for us? But no, you’re too busy chasing after your own dreams to see it.”

Maggie stood up, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “It’s not just about work, Ryan! It’s about us. It’s about being there for each other.”

Ryan’s expression hardened. “I don’t need a partner who spends their time looking for things to complain about. Maybe if you had more going for you, I wouldn’t feel like I’m dragging you along. But you’re too caught up in your own self-pity to see that.”

The words stung, but Maggie wasn’t going to let him break her any further. She swallowed the hurt, but it was becoming harder to hold on. She knew in her heart that the distance between them had grown too wide to bridge with empty apologies and fleeting promises.

And still, Ryan’s insults kept coming, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.