He had built the business from nothing. For seven years, he had poured his savings, his time, and his soul into it. She had been there for the late nights, the missed vacations, the constant hum of stress that underlay every conversation. She had believed in him when he doubted himself. She had told him, a hundred times, that his hard work would pay off. And then, in a single meeting with his investors, it all collapsed. The funding was pulled. The company was done. He came home that evening, sat on the couch, and stared at the wall. When she tried to put her arms around him, he flinched. When she tried to tell him it would be okay, he told her she did not understand. When she tried to offer solutions, he shut down entirely.