It was supposed to be a quiet weekend retreat. A chance to escape the routine of city life, to feel the calm of our country house and breathe in the fresh, pine-scented air. Yet, instead of serenity, I found myself gripped by unease as I drove down the winding dirt road toward the property. I hadn’t told my husband I was coming—this was meant to be a surprise, a casual visit to see how he was spending his weekend alone.