Chapter Thirty-two.

The darkness outside seemed to seep into the car, wrapping itself around the silence like a shroud.

The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the occasional creak of the leather seats.

Christopher's eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his jaw set in a determined line. Beside him, Vivienne sat lost in thought, her mind whirling with unspoken questions.

The cold night air seemed to press in on them, making the silence feel almost palpable.

The streetlights cast an eerie glow on the deserted streets, making the world outside feel like a distant, unreal place.

Inside the car, the silence was a living, breathing thing, a presence that seemed to pulse with unspoken emotions.

As they drove, the silence grew thicker, heavier, until it felt like a weight that pressed upon their chests. 

The silence was shattered abruptly as Vivienne spoke up, her voice low and husky from disuse. "Hey," she said, her hand still gently patting their son's back, 'can I ask you something?'

Christopher's eyes flickered towards her, his expression neutral, but his grip on the steering wheel tightening ever so slightly.

'I'm sorry you had to witness all that.' He countered, before Vivienne could say another word, somehow having an idea of what she was going to say to him.

Vivienne's eyes were fixed on the back of their son's head, her voice barely above a whisper. 

'Is there something you should tell me about what transpired tonight?' She questioned. 

Christopher's gaze returned to the road ahead, his jaw working silently as he seemed to gather his thoughts.

'You're were there, babe. You saw everything.' He countered. 

'What more is there to tell?' He queried.

Vivinne's hand continued to pat Sammie's back, a soothing rhythm that belied the tension in her voice.

'You seemed to be holding back on some important information.' She added.

'Can we not do this right now, babe?' Christopher retorted, trying to speak as calmly as he could. 

'I have had enough alteration with my mom tonight already, don't start another.' He voiced, and Vivienne gasped.

'I am not trying to start an argument, Chris.' Vivienne took offence.

'I was only hoping that you would share your problems with me, even if it feels too difficult or heavy to share with your family.' She retorted.

'Isn't that what marriage is supposed to be about?' She asked. 

'Finding solace in each other?' She added.

'I really don't want to talk about my family right now, babe.' Christopher interjected. 

'Really, Christopher??!' Vivienne expressed.

'What are you hiding?' She added almost immediately. 

'What do you mean by that?' Christopher shot back, sparing her a subtle gaze. 

'Are you insinuating that I am keeping secrets?' He fired.

'I didn't say that.' Vivienne muttered, shifting her gaze to her sleeping son again.

'Except that you just said that yourself.' She added, lifting her head to met Christopher's gaze, just as he was about to look away.

'I can not believe you will be saying something like this to me, Vivienne.' Christopher blurted. 

'I told you everything about myself and my family while we were just courting, and you dare accuse me of keeping secrets?' He took offence. 

'Everything about your family except your older sister, of course.' Vivienne commented swiftly. 

'I almost didn't get to know anything about her, except her name and what she studied at university.' She went on.

'At some point, I thought she was no more because you never mentioned anything current about her or where she was. You only spoke about the memories you both shared with Catherine, years ago.' She pointed out.

'Until she surprisingly showed up after your grandmother passed.' She concluded. 

'Why are you bothering yourself so much about this?' Christopher posed a question. 

'If there was something you needed to know about Lina, I would have told you.' He said. 

'Something?' Vivienne's raised an eyebrow.

'I am your wife, Christopher. I need to know everything.' She stated.

'Stop prying into things that is not your concern, Vivienne.' Christopher spat.

The abrupt silence and piercing gaze from Vivienne, which followed after his comment was what made him realise, he may have struck a chord. 

'None of my concern?' Catherine breathed, unable to believe her ears.

'Trying to know your family is not my concern?' She went on throwing rhetorical questions. 

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't....' Christopher tried to speak, but Vivienne spoke over.

'You know everything there is about me, Christopher - my family, myself, the schools I went to, how many jobs I have had, everything about me, Chris, everything. Even the number of guys I dated.' Vivienne voiced. 

'I told you everything about me.' She added.

'I know, Viv.' Christopher voiced sympathetically. 

'I can not believe you would tell me that getting to know my own husband's family, is none of my concern.' Vivienne cuts in, ignoring her husband's side comment.

'You can't possibly expect me to ignore the fact that your sister doesn't relate with the rest of your family like she does with you.' She pointed out.

'Or that she feels more comfortable around you than anyone else.' She went on. 

'You are the only one she listens to, you said that yourself. And tonight, you calmed her down so easily like you have been doing it for years.' She added.

'Is there something between you both that is unknown to the rest of us.' She asked as Christopher was pulling up in from of their house.

'Vivienne,' He called out to her, placing his hand on her thigh, after her parked the car.

'Some questions are better left unanswered.' He said to her, and she smirked. 

'Duly noted.' Vivienne muttered. 

'At least, I know where you have placed me now.' She added, reaching for the car door.

'I will never bother you about this again.' She concluded, and got down from the car.

'Vivienne, don't be like this.' Christopher voiced out to her, but Vivienne slammed the door in between his speech. 

'God, no.' Christopher let out a frustrated sigh and slumped back into his car seat, watching his wife disappear into the house with their son in her arms.