12-12-25 Today marked Sam’s second wedding anniversary with Vanessa. She was carrying his child. He had discovered it weeks ago when he saw the results, though Vanessa had yet to tell him. He hadn’t pressed—he wanted the moment to come from her. And today, he planned a surprise for her, something worthy of the love that had defined him for years. It had been days since he last saw her. Though they worked in the same building and lived under the same roof, their worlds rarely collided. She was the managing director, her days ruled by schedules and power meetings; so she did not come home very often. He was the janitor, navigating the building’s corridors like a ghost. He didn’t resent it—he understood her life demanded all her attention. What mattered was the connection they could steal in the quiet moments. He imagined her reaction when she saw his gift: the warmth in her eyes, that fleeting smile that always made his chest tighten. He longed for it, for the sound of her laugh,

The commotion had drawn Vanessa’s attention instantly. She was still sitting with Lisa outside her office, scrolling through her phone, when a familiar voice—strained, frantic—cut through the hum of the building’s background chatter. “Isn’t that… your mum’s voice?” Lisa asked, her brows knitting together in concern. Vanessa froze, her fingers hovering over her keyboard. “Yeah… but what would she be doing here?” she murmured, a flicker of unease crossing her face. Her heart gave an involuntary lurch. Her mother didn’t just show up unannounced, not here, not in her professional space. Before she could voice another thought, Veronica emerged into view, groaning, her body sagging as though she’d been crushed under some invisible weight. She moved slowly, each step heavy, her hands clutching at her chest as if to hold herself together. The sound of her lamenting cut sharply through the hallway, twisting Vanessa’s stomach into knots. Vanessa sprang to her feet, her patience fraying alm

The car rolled smoothly into the Devanchi Corporation’s driveway just as Sam’s phone started buzzing insistently in his pocket. He glanced down and saw Vanessa’s name flashing on the screen—his now ex-wife. What could she possibly want from me now? he thought, a frown knitting his brow. His stomach tightened, a mix of irritation and dread settling in. “Your phone is ringing,” Susan said calmly, her sharp eyes following the motion of his hand toward the device. There was a quiet authority in her voice, the kind that made it clear she noticed everything. “I’ll get it later. Let’s talk about what you want first,” Sam replied, keeping his tone even. He hated that his pulse was quickening, hated that Vanessa still had this effect on him, even after everything. “Be patient, Mr. Blackwood,” Susan said smoothly, gesturing toward the building ahead. “My office is right there. We can talk about everything once we get in.” There was no trace of impatience in her voice, only calm confiden

Aiden exhaled slowly, a tightness in his chest he could barely hide. “Someone hacked one of our systems,” he said, his voice calm but carrying a subtle edge of tension. Sam frowned, confusion and skepticism mingling with a flicker of unease. He tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair, feeling a chill run up his spine. The office was almost too quiet, save for the hum of the air-conditioning and the faint click of the monitor. “Then call your cybersecurity team,” he suggested, attempting a casual tone, though a hint of doubt crept into his voice. “It’s not that simple,” Aiden replied, leaning closer to the camera. His eyes held a weight of urgency, measuring Sam’s reaction as if trying to read the very thoughts racing through his head. “Do you remember the program we built together during our final year?” Aiden asked, his tone low and serious. Sam’s eyes narrowed. Memories of late nights hunched over computers, takeout boxes piling up, and coffee cups teetering on

Vanessa stormed back to her office, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her chest heaved with anger, a tight, unrelenting pressure that made her fingers tremble slightly as she gripped the edge of her desk. She couldn’t believe it—Sam had the audacity to end the call on her, especially after everything, after hurting her mother.Lisa tried to calm her, but she wouldn’t have it. With a sharp inhale of frustration, she slammed the door behind her and collapsed into the nearest chair, her body sagging as the weight of anger and exhaustion hit her all at once. Her fists clenched in her lap, and she let out a long, shaky breath, trying—and failing—to steady her racing thoughts. Anger bubbled inside her, fierce and consuming. He’s damn lucky I’m not pressing charges already, she thought, her knuckles whitening as she clenched them. I’ll deal with him. He can’t just walk over me like this. Even as thoughts of revenge swirled through her mind, another idea crept in, q