Elias sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts racing as he tried to process what she'd just said. Finally, he stood up abruptly and began clearing the dishes from the table. "I'm going to take a shower," he muttered before disappearing down the hallway, leaving her alone in the living room.

He didn't know why what she'd said had affected him so much. Maybe it was because deep down, he knew she was right. Or maybe it was just the stress getting to him again.

Celia stood in the living room, watching as he disappeared down the hallway. A part of her wondered if she should say something more, try to convince him that his wife wasn't so bad after all... But another part of her knew that it was useless. Elias had made up his mind about Bella, and nothing she could say would change that.

She sighed softly, running a hand through her hair as she turned away from the doorway. Maybe he just needed some time to think things over on his own...