Derek's footsteps echoed loudly in the polished hallway of Fraser Media Company, each step firm with determination. The sound seemed to reverberate in his mind, stirring fragments of memories he couldn't fully grasp. One of Charlie's bodyguards, tall and expressionless, escorted him without a word, leading him to her office with a precision that made the encounter feel almost ceremonial.

By the time they reached the heavy oak door, Derek's emotions were a chaotic mix: disgust, confusion, and a simmering annoyance. Charlie's recent behavior gnawed at him. If her claims were true, she could have simply filed for divorce. Yet she’d clung to him, claiming to love him for years,...