Dora fell silent for a moment before seeming to accept his answer. They exchanged a few more words, promising to talk the following day and reminding each other to take care before ending the call.Kyle set his phone on the counter and sat at the kitchen table. The pasta steamed in front of him, but he barely glanced at it.Everyone around him seemed to possess pieces of a truth he had never been allowed to see. Eleanor had kept her illness and her past hidden. Sophia had known about Irene. James had known enough to sell what he knew for an envelope of cash. And somehow, Kyle had been left to piece everything together only after the damage was done.Eventually, he picked up his fork and forced himself to eat. The meal was simple, but he barely tasted it. When he finished, he washed his plate, dried his hands, and returned upstairs.He stretched out on the bed, staring at the ceiling as the recording replayed in his mind. James’s low voice, the deliberate way he had mentioned Irene’s n

Kyle tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “What? I haven’t spoken to Harlan. What the hell are you talking about?”The traffic light turned green just then, and the cars ahead began to move.“James is dead," Nathan replied. "The cops found him in his apartment just a while ago.”Kyle eased off the accelerator, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. For a moment, he struggled to process the words, as though he had misheard them.“What did you just say?”“The police have already cordoned off the apartment. His body was badly bruised and battered. They’re treating it as a homicide, and an investigation is underway."Kyle closed his eyes briefly, struggling to absorb the news. When he opened them, his expression had hardened.“I had nothing to do with it. There’s just no way I could have reached Harlan in the short time since last night. I never even tried.”Silence settled over the line before Nathan let out a weary sigh. “Well, Harlan has just shown us again what kind of man he really i

Kyle met Vivian's gaze as he considered his next words.“You can’t fully understand everything happening around us right now,” he said quietly. “There are layers to it that I can’t explain—not yet. Not here in a parking lot, at least, and not while you’re still trying to process everything.”He paused before continuing. “But I can tell you this: Harlan didn’t take over your company simply to restore its former glory or whatever other bullshit he's feeding you guys over there.”Vivian’s frustration gradually gave way to curiosity, though a trace of unease remained.“What do you mean?” she asked, stepping closer. “What kind of plans?”Kyle shook his head. “That’s all I can tell you for now.”He turned toward the open car door, intending to leave, but Vivian stepped forward and raised a hand, stopping him before he could get in.“Then let me help,” she said urgently. “If Harlan is using my company for his personal purposes, I deserve to know. I still have connections on the board. I can

Dora lingered a little longer in Eleanor’s room, chatting quietly with Sophia while Kyle remained beside the bed. When she finally announced that she needed to leave, Kyle rose from his chair almost immediately.“I’ll head out too,” he said.Before leaving, Dora approached the bed and bent down to press a gentle kiss to Eleanor’s cheek. Eleanor’s expression softened with gratitude.“Thank you for coming, both of you,” she murmured. “And thank you for the cookies, Dora. I really like them.”They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Dora turned toward the door. Kyle squeezed his mother’s hand and promised to visit again soon before following Dora out into the corridor.They walked side by side through the quiet lobby, but Kyle soon noticed something was off. Dora kept her gaze fixed ahead, her steps steady and purposeful. At first, he assumed she was simply eager to get home. He quickened his pace slightly and called her name.She didn’t respond or even slow down.Instead, she push

Dr. Irene Voss approached with a warm smile, her tailored dark blazer giving her a polished, professional appearance.“Kyle, Dora. Good morning.” She raised a hand in a brief wave toward Olivia. “Olivia.”Her gaze shifted between them, a hint of excitement entering her expression. “Are we all heading to the board meeting?”“We are,” Dora replied with a polite smile.However, the smile faded as her eyes met Kyle’s. A brief, uneasy look passed between them, neither willing to voice the concern they shared. Dora eventually turned away and pushed open the glass doors, entering the conference room without another word.Olivia followed her inside, with Irene close behind. Kyle stepped aside to let Irene pass, offering her a small, reassuring smile when she glanced back at him. Once she turned away, his expression hardened. He shut the door firmly and followed the others into the room.The conference room was already crowded. Nearly every seat around the long table was occupied, with docum