Frank sat alone behind his desk. The morning sun tried to enter through the tall glass window, but the heavy curtains made the room look dim and cold. A soft breeze came from the air conditioner, yet Frank could feel sweat forming on his forehead. His hand trembled as he held the folder on the desk. The folder felt heavier than any document he had ever touched.The ticking of the wall clock echoed in the silent office. Tick. Tick. Tick. The sound drilled into his ears, steady and merciless. Frank blinked at the first page, but the words kept blurring. He wiped his eyes and leaned closer. The same word stared back at him.DIVORCE.His lips parted, but his voice barely came out. “Divorce?” he whispered, as if speaking louder would make it more real. His breath grew uneven. His fingers curled around the paper, wrinkling the edges.Across from him stood Lily, his secretary. She had worked for him for years, always polite, always respectful, always calm. But today, she was none of tho

Leon lifted his glass slowly, as if every second mattered. His fingers tapped lightly against the crystal, the soft sound echoing in the quiet backyard. The dim garden light above them cast a warm glow on his drink, making it shine like amber fire. When he took a sip, his eyes stayed fixed on Frank, sharp and unreadable.Frank felt uneasy under that stare. His palms were damp. His breath was tight in his chest. Something was coming, something heavy.“Before Mr. Watford died,” Leon began, his voice calm and steady, “he told me something important. Something he kept hidden for years.”Frank’s heart thumped hard. He leaned forward without thinking, as if the words were pulling him.Leon continued, “Your father… Mr. Watford… was not a man who cared much for marriage. But he did care for one woman. Only one. His mistress. She was the only person who touched his heart.” Leon’s fingers tightened around the glass. “When she gave birth, he gifted her a necklace. He said that one day, when th

Frederick opened his mouth to speak again, but Alexa tightened her grip on his arm. She leaned close to him and whispered something only he could hear. Her lips barely moved, yet the words seemed to hit him like a spark. His angry expression vanished, replaced by a slow, sly smile that curled at the corners of his mouth.He turned back to Leon and Frank with a cold, warning stare. “I’ll leave you for now,” Frederick said, his voice heavy and stretched with threat, “but remember this. I won’t let it go. I promise you that.”He tightened his hold on Alexa’s arm. Alexa lifted her chin proudly, almost as if she thought she had won something. Together, they walked away quickly. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the wide hall until the sound faded and the heavy doors slammed behind them.Frank leaned against the shopping cart filled with clothes and let out a small, surprised laugh. He did not laugh because he was happy. He laughed because the sight of Frederick retreating so easily was s

The coffee shop was warm and calm, filled with soft music that drifted like a gentle breeze. People sat at small wooden tables, laughing quietly or speaking in low voices as the smell of fresh coffee floated through the room. The sunlight from the wide windows painted the floor in soft gold. Alexa sat across from Frederick near the window. A faint smile curved on her lips as she tapped her spoon lightly against her cup. For a moment she looked peaceful, as if nothing in the world could disturb her, but then her eyes drifted toward the entrance.The instant she saw who walked in, her smile froze, and her breath caught in her throat. It was Frank.He stepped inside with slow, steady steps. His shoulders were straight, his expression calm.But there was something different about him, something sharp and controlled, something she had not seen before.Alexa’s fingers tightened around her cup until her knuckles turned pale. She leaned forward and whispered sharply, “What is he doing her