A week had passed since the incident in the conference room. Today, the Horizon Arc Building was more than just an office, it was an administrative war zone. Noah Ryker stood at the head of the room, sporting a tailored suit that cost as much as a mid-level manager's quarterly salary. He was pitching the "rapid execution" project to a group of high-profile foreign investors.Ethan sat in the corner, his steady hands having already built 90% of the technical framework that Noah was now presenting as if it were his own brainchild. Next to him, Tristan nudged his arm."This is crazy, Ethan. That's the data from last week's research, right?" Tristan whispered under his breath. "Noah really has no shame, talking about your research like it was his idea."Ethan stared at his laptop screen, which displayed the efficiency projection curves. He simply shrugged. "The important thing is that the client is happy and the company hits its targets, Tris. It doesn't matter who's standing at the pod

The fine dining restaurant downtown offered a lavish view of the Ston City skyline from the 42nd floor. Ethan smoothed out his suit, which was starting to look a bit shiny at the elbows. It stood in stark contrast to Megan’s satin dress that hugged her curves perfectly, an outfit Ethan felt was a bit too extravagant for people who were just regular office employees.Megan sipped her red wine, then looked at Ethan with an expression that felt… flat. It was a far cry from the Megan who used to get so excited whenever they talked about their future."You’re being too quiet, Ethan. It’s making things awkward," Megan’s voice cut through the silence and the clinking of silver glasses."I’m just taking the night in. It’s been a while since we’ve had dinner just the two of us, Megan," Ethan replied calmly. He hadn’t touched his expensive steak, instead, he was discreetly checking his bank balance on his phone under the table. It was enough to cover this bill, but not enough to fix his car e

Ethan stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out the door toward the old car waiting for him. Nothing had changed at Horizon Arc Building, but for Ethan, the universe had just given a glimmer of proof that doing the right thing, even if it often feels futile, always leaves room for hope.Even if that hope is just a three-day break without having to think about a restless Noah Ryker."Are you still coming along?"Ethan asked as the car door closed."Of course," Raphael muttered from the passenger seat. He was invisible to everyone else, yet he was undeniably there. "I wonder just how far your patience will go before it brings ruin to everyone else.""We'll see," Ethan replied, starting the engine. "For tonight, a good night's sleep is enough.""I'm pretty sure that leather bag costs about three times what it took to replace your radiator, Ethan," Raphael whispered, floating horizontally right above a row of headless mannequins in a high-end boutique.Ethan didn't look over. He

The apartment door clicked shut with a sharp, heavy sound. Ethan walked in without flipping the switch, greeted only by a suffocating silence. The faint scent of dust and the lingering trace of Megan expensive perfume still hung in the air, a cruel reminder that his "little kingdom" had fallen apart from the inside a long time ago. "Well, congratulations. You are officially single in a place full of miserable memories," Raphael’s voice cut through the dark. The angel was sitting at the dining table, trying to take apart Ethan's toaster with a fork. "By the way, I just read the memories of these walls. Spoiler alert, She’s been emotionally cheating for six months, not just since that dinner." Ethan tossed his dirty blazer onto the couch. "I know." "You knew?" Raphael dropped the fork. The toaster briefly sparked before dying out. "You knew she was two-timing you for six months, and you still took her to that fancy restaurant that drained your savings last night?" Ethan walked to th

Ethan woke up to sunlight piercing through the gaps in the curtains, hitting him right in the eyes. Normally, this morning should have been cluttered with "You got this, babe!" texts or Megan's rambling about what he needed to buy for breakfast. Today, there was silence. Absolute silence. A silence that, strangely enough, felt like the first breath of fresh oxygen he’d taken in four years. He got up and made the bed with military precision, because discipline was the one thing no one could steal from him. At the doorway, Raphael was already waiting, hovering effortlessly with that annoying, arms-crossed pose of his. "You just lost a girlfriend, a four-year investment, and someone to split the rent with. According to any angel’s calculations, you should be in the middle of a major depressive episode, or at the very least ordering cheap booze online," Raphael teased, his voice dripping with sarcastic humor. "Are we doing the melancholy scene today where you stare out at the rain and