PHOENIX

CHAPTER TEN

PHOENIX

Jace sat alone in his prison cell, staring blankly at the gray concrete walls. He couldn’t believe how quickly his life had fallen apart. It all seemed like a nightmare that he couldn’t wake up from. He thought about his wife, and how he had let her down. He thought about his company, and how he had worked so hard to build it up, only to lose it all.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of the cell door opening. A guard appeared, followed by Michael.

Michael entered the cell, his face etched with concern. “Jace, I’m so sorry about all of this,” he said, placing a comforting hand on Jace’s shoulder.

Jace looked up at his friend with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Do you think there’s any way we can turn this around?” he asked.

Michael nodded. “Absolutely. We’ll hire the best lawyers, gather evidence to clear your name, and show the world that you’re innocent. We won’t let Frank get away with this.”

Jace let out a sigh of relief. He had been feeling so hopeless since his arrest, but hearing Michael’s words gave him a newfound sense of determination.

“But first things first,” Michael continued, “you need to call your wife. She’s been worried sick about you.”

Jace nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. He had been so caught up in his own problems that he had forgotten about the people who cared about him. He picked up the phone and dialed his wife’s number, hoping that she would answer.

As he listened to the ringing on the other end, Jace couldn’t help but wonder how he had ended up in this mess. He had always tried to do the right thing, but it seemed like fate was against him.

Finally, his wife’s voice came through the phone, filled with relief and concern. Jace explained what had happened, trying to sound strong and in control.

After the call, Jace felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He knew that he still had a long road ahead of him, but with Michael by his side and his wife’s support, he felt like he could face whatever came his way.