ONE YEAR LATER

A figure sat upright on the edge of a hospital bed, in a dimly lit room. The air was heavy with antiseptic and the low humming of medical equipment. His entire face was covered by thick layers of bandages but only his eyes, sharp and unyielding, were visible through the careful wrappings.

The faint glow from a phone illuminated his hands. His eyes were fixed on the screen, scanning a headline that seemed to taunt him.

“CFO of Caxdon Empire; Shawn Parker ties the knot with fashion model and socialite, Sophia Hamilton in a Grand Ceremony.”

The accompanying photograph showed a radiant Sophia in her wedding gown,...