Yes. All the time I was faking grievance, she was wondering what she has done or undone wrong. Relief finally enraptured my beloved's face when I confessed that my braggadocio was all an experiment.

Ever since, no matter how righteously aggrieved either of us may be, we never mute our mutual communication channels. (As in, "if e wan' spoil, make e spoil.").

Now, 27+ years of almost ever happily ever after, the wine is not getting older, but more sweeter.