the evening exodus as employees file out for the day. The silence stretches,

mion's office feels heavier than the last, my nerves tangling into knots. I shouldn't be here, sn

ting long, fractured shadows across the polished floor. I reach t

fore me freez

meone who has practiced the gesture countless times. Their faces are inches apart, and the easy familiarity between the

they both look up-Kaia's expression smug, Damion's startled. For a moment, something flicker

"Isabelle," he says, his tone clipped. "

after hours, darling. You should've known to lock the

o buckle beneath me. "I need to talk to you," I say, my voice steady desp

xaggerated annoyance. "If this isn't the perfect example of bad

aia saunters out, throwing me a mocking glance as she closes the door behi

the two of us. The silence thicke

s desk, his expression cold. "Make it quick, Is

u something important," I begin. The excitement and hope that had carried

d with an energy that's neither relief nor joy. His expression remains

ongue like it's poison. "Is this your latest scheme

s snuffed out in an instant. "What? No-this isn't

is will change everything? That I'll suddenly forget the past year, the failures, and take you back? You're

ak. "You think I'd lie about something like this?" My voice trembles with disbelie

. You expect me to believe that after everything, you show up here, uninvited, w

s isn't a game to me," I whisper, the tremor in my voice betraying the pain tightening around my chest.

is, Isabelle. If you did, you wouldn't be here trying to manipulate me with tales

take a shaky step back. "I shouldn't have come," I murmur, more to myself than

inside breaks, and before I can say anything else, I push the door open and step out into the hall. The coo

ile playing on her lips. "Didn't go as planned, did

d out the front doors of the building, each step faster than t

p moving, the rain turning into a torrential downpour that soaks me within moments. I

breath as sobs wrack my body. The weight of the moment crushes me, the realization that

ugh me like a lightning strike. I pull it out with trembling hands

, detached, but the words that foll

o inform you that your mot