Racheal froze . She had expected anger, but this... this was different. This wasn’t the man she knew—this was something raw, untamed, and terrifying. Her breath caught in her throat, her fingers gripping the phone tightly as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

"Damian, I—" she began, but her words faltered, caught in the whirlwind of his rage.

"Answer me, Racheal!" His voice boomed, each word hitting her like a slap to the face. "What the hell happened? How did this happen to Jamal?!"

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision as she tried to find the right words. Her chest tightened, the guilt...