Alice

It’s been two weeks since the night I fell asleep beside Lance, wrapped in his arms, convinced that whatever storm came our way—we would survive it.

That night, everything felt simple.

His heartbeat under my cheek. His fingers are tracing slow circles against my back. The quiet promise in the way he held me, like he was already choosing me over the world.

I thought I was ready for whatever came next, but I was wrong.

I was at MobTech’s Marketing Department when the whispers started.

It was an ordinary morning. The kind that feels harmless. Presentation slides are half-finished on my screen. A campaign calendar is open in...