“First love?”

Calvin’s laughter was short and sharp, utterly devoid of humor. His eyes darkened, something volatile flashing beneath the surface.

“My ass,” he spat, the words laced with pure contempt. “That damn bastard was—”

His voice splintered, fury ripping through it like a blade through silk. The sentence never finished. Instead, he inhaled sharply and released a hiss so cold it felt venomous, as though the very air had been poisoned.

Smith stiffened.

The atmosphere in the office grew suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken rage. Even the ticking clock on the wall seemed to falter, hesitant to intrude. Smith didn’t dare shift his stance. Didn’t dare blink...