Dora's breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she sprawled on the plush carpet, the weight of betrayal anchoring her to the ground. Her mind raced, piecing together the fragments of deception that lay scattered around her. With a surge of fury, she clawed her way up from despair, her eyes locking onto the retreating figure of her husband. "William," she hissed, venom lacing her voice as she stumbled forward, driven by a force she couldn't contain. "William Jackson!"

Her hand trembled as she flung open the door to William's sanctum—a study drenched in the rich scent of leather and lies. There he stood, an unmoved monolith amidst...